by Max Barry

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«12. . .3,6503,6513,6523,6533,6543,6553,656. . .3,7493,750»

Let's Build a Nation

Queen Lydia has requested the formation of a Belkan National Forum, made up largely of Belkan political representatives, to renegotiate the Belkan Federation. The previous constitution will be more or less set in stone; in order to change the previous clauses, a unanimous vote from the four parties (Belkans, Titans, Rechians and Teronians) is necessary. All additions however, Queen Lydia insists, must be left to the Belkans and should be decided by a simple unanimous vote.

Ayamir Calls for Church Presence in Belka
With a renewed appareance from the Keribus, the new Ayamir has called for a Knights Vigilate armed incursion into Belka.
Vigilate personnel are already present in Belka carrying out peacekeeping and aid operations, as well as academic missions to recover the Ark of Rysariael and other artefacts. Emperor Ishan has demanded the church send armed forces to Belka to "protect the last vestiges of the Korahlian Empire" and to assist in recovering the Ark, said to contain the First Prophet's weapons that he used to defeat the Feral Gods.

The Seraphic Church has made no official statement.

Recheve

Well the week just got a whole lot rougher so I'm not at home meaning my posts will have ZERO LORE-BASED REFERENCE besides what is in my head or in factbooks. Of course, what is in my brain is supposedly wrong anyway so who knows? Not me apparently!

But anyway. Happy to moderate in the meantime.

Uelvan, Teronia, Greater Istanistan, Recheve, and 1 otherShrive

Some advice for anybody who actually reads my posts, purchase Ace Combat 7, or at the very least read the wiki. As of the 18th I shall likely begin the next four years of references.

Teronia and Shrive

OOC: I'm gonna update my airforce factbook because it's stupid, take a look at it now if ya want so that when I update it you can see I didn't upgrade any of my planes or anything. Cheers!

The Battle of Nodan Sea, Part 1

The XF-13B Siren banked shallowly to the west, the autopilot keeping the plane on low throttle. Normally, such an expensive plane wouldn't be used for reconnaisance, but it was designed to be able to outrun missiles, and tensions were high. The pilot was logging a sticky throttle in her notebook when the radar sang. Swearing to herself, she took manual control and peered out of the bubble canopy at the vast expanse of ocean below. She saw several small dots right on the horizon, and, telling the HUD to zoom in on them, her stomach dropped. She'd drilled with the Meridian Navy enough to recognize their ships anywhere. She saw her range from them, and realized they were outside Meridian Territorial Waters. Ohhh no, she thought, nonononono. She opened up her mike, and reported the Meridian fleet to her Carrier. Then, ordering her plane to find her a carrier, she shut off her coms and had a thought. She was a very good pilot, but the closer she got to a ship, the easier it would be to shoot her down. Pondering this, she throttled up and pulled her plane nearly vertical. She climbed higher and higher, until she could see the curve of the earth below her, and then nosed down. The Meridian fleet hadn't noticed her yet. She pulled out her Rōka, and quickly found the right page - she'd been looking at it a lot recently. Procedures for an Honourable Combat Death. She made sure her plane was still streaming information to her carrier, and then she put her book on her lap. Her plane pinged - enemy target lock. It was time. SHe threw the throttle into afterburner, the high gees slamming her back into her seat. She grunted. Her plane's launch alert started wailing, a triple pulse - three missiles had been launched. She threw her plane into a fast roll, and was able to spot the trails of the three missiles. They got closer and closer. As much as she wanted to take evasive action, she had to wait. Wait... wait... now! She rolled her plane over and pulled it straight down. Her vision turned red - a blood vessel must have popped in her eye from the high gees. She also felt an incredible pain in her shoulder - she must have dislocated it. It didn't matter now. One eye closed, she glanced into her HUD to the rear camera. Two of the missiles hadn't made it. Her plane was accelerating faster and faster. She was faster than mach three at this point. The last missile couldn't keep up to her, and detonated as it ran out of fuel. She saw the deck of the carrier getting closer and closer. She figured she would be stopping its planes for a while. She smiled, and closed her eyes.

The Shriven Naval Battlegroup started shelling, and Lt. Era Sema-Ritsu became the first casualty of the war.

Recheve

OOC: Factbook is nowhere near complete, but I'm starting the process now. It was bound to happen eventually.

Rechian Armed Forces Form Agoge

Long described as a Warrior People, the Rechians made good use of an Agoge system prior to the 20th Century under the Nordics, and have maintained a strong military culture paired with aggressive foreign policies and nationalistic tendencies. As of this week, the Senate has announced that the Agoge system will be re-implemented, filled with volunteers but maintaining periods of conscriptions from the ages of 10 to 12 and 18 to 20. For these conscripts, the education will largely resemble that of the Public System, though lessons of leadership, discipline and responsibility will also be taught. In addition, the 10 - 12 year olds will be trained in performance drill and military competencies as Cadets, while the 18 to 20 year olds will learn some basic military tactics, strategy and philosophy, while also attending what is essentially a Post-Secondary institution with some mandatory History, Politics and Language courses. While volunteer students of the Agoge will attend from the age of 8 straight through to the age of 22, they shall do so on a volunteer basis, and until the age of 14 shall not receive extreme military education. Rather, their lessons will revolve around traits and abilities, creating well rounded and dedicated individuals, capable of either succeeding in civilian life or of becoming excellent soldiers.

This system will only apply to the "Heartland," and Nordica shall retain its typical conscription and volunteer processes. The end goal of the Agoge is to fully realize the Rechian people as warriors, bringing this ancient process into the modern age to fully reconcile a conflicted Rechian identity. While the Rechian Armed Forces will be expected to perform on an elite level, the Agoge is as much about life as it is about war; it will create an educated, informed, responsible population, and will teach lessons that will hopefully elevate Recheve to a status beyond what its previous system had sustained.

Kamikaze as a regular strategy gang

Teronia and Korahlia

Shrive wrote:Kamikaze as a regular strategy gang

What a weeb

Operation Second Wind

Phase One

The first targets were the BBLRMAs along the East Coast, not nearly as effective as Lucifer and yet still a threat. If the Rechian Armed Forces were to maintain an efficient campaign, these lumbering but imposing weapons would have to be eliminated, and as quickly as possible. This task fell to the Rechian Ghosts and Pathfinders, who had been on the ground for well over five months tracking Warendrop, and who had been issued with a carefully drafted plan of attack. The principle weapon for this assault would be modified D-2 RRs, rocket launchers that fires high velocity modified projectiles, in this case enhanced armour piercing rounds with delayed fuses. The rockets were fired as close as possible to the guns and locked onto barrels and power sources, hoping to knock the guns temporarily out of action.

Those installations that survived were immediately targeted by the newly drafted Trailblazer units, which hurtled from disguised satellites in orbit, their shock pods smashing into the ground around the guns. Essentially drugged-up and heavily armoured paratroopers, the Trailblazers pressed the assault relentlessly, assaulting the guns with D-2 launchers and heavy explosives, hoping to knock out the facilities as quickly as possible before withdrawing from enemy territory. Casualties were heavy and the damage went unreported for the moment, though these elite units coordinating a sudden and devastating surprise assault from behind enemy lines would surely ensure a high degree of success.

Phase Two

With the long-range artillery distracted- if not destroyed- the Rechian Expeditionary Air Force went to work. The first strikes were long range Nape of the Earth missiles, moving using geographical data collected by advance survey teams and reconnaissance from the previous war. Though some collided with unexpected obstacles, the majority worked their way past the coast and through rural region, gaining altitude rapidly as they approached their targets and then descending before countermeasures could effectively engage. The targets of the stealthed-out missiles were communication hubs, identified headquarters, radar installations and airfields. Some long-range artillery was targeted as well, especially sites further inland. The sudden and brutal strikes were launched without warning from offshore, and immediately following impact the Meridian networks were jammed. Jammers erected by Rechian special forces, as well as by airborne GS-88JM stealth bombers, flooded the Meridian channels with false signals and disconnected certain systems- blinding, spamming and spoofing whatever they could.

As chaos unfolded, the Air Force moved in. Stealth fighters and bombers operating from the Rechian base and from the carrier groups around Meridian infiltrated hostile airspace, exploiting jamming patterns to move in at low altitudes in the night. They crossed over Meridian at speeds surpassing Mach 8, dropping precision guided ordnance onto targets like uplinks, barracks, airfields, communication facilities and radar installations. Anti-aircraft positions were engaged by GU-20A Worthwhile "HAVoC" flights, which used jammers onboard to neutralize enemy detection equipment before making runs with long-range AGMs.

As the element of surprise faded, the Rechians started taking casualties, but the sudden and overwhelming assault paired with extensive jamming and use of long-range ordnance made the strike as lethal as any launched in modern history. When Meridian fighters climbed to meet the Rechian attackers, they were met by the newest GS-109Es and 109Rs, stealth fighter capable of hypersonic speeds armed with new airburst and GH-2097 missiles, more agile and clever than the previous models experience by the Meridianite pilots. They were of course supported by combat and targeting drones, as well as GU-20As loitering offshore loaded to the brim with delayed-guidance touchstone missiles, like the GH-2105 Cleareye extreme velocity LRAAM and the GH-2099 Redeye enhanced agility hypersonic LREMM.

Operation Reclamation

Even as chaos reigned over the skies with Rechian fighters rising over the coast to appear as though from nowhere, Phase Three had begun. With an initial bombardment largely made by Schildkröte B.2C3s, the Rechian 5th Army advanced from their base, the 1st Royal Guard Armoured Corps leading the way and escorted by gunships, helicopters and ground attack craft. Heavy air cover maintained itself over the force which advanced outwards from its Eastern position in three prongs, while Dajjal, Hedgehog and Schildekröte armoured vehicles fired ruthlessly at any Meridian aircraft that came into range. The strategy seemed to be focused upon rapid advances, the Curatrixes and Praeliators advancing quickly and engaging enemy forces with heavy ordnance as they moved, seeking out weak points and blasting through them. Those areas they bypassed were strafed and bombed by the escorting attack aircraft, before being bombarded at long range by Ungeheuer and Schildkröte super-heavy tanks and assaulted by disembarked heavy infantry.

The advance was rapid and powerful, the elite veterans of the 5th Army and its Royal Guard Division picking their battles and leaving the scattered remnants for their support units to deal with.

Rechian Senate Demands Meridian Concession

Intervening on behalf of the EU, the Rechian Armed Forces have deployed three Armies, three battlegroups and one of their two separate Air Forces to the theatre. Having launched a sudden- if not entirely unexpected- strike into Meridian, and with another large force approaching in naval transports from Sand Island, the Senate has announced that the initiative has been seized, and that Recheve will not yield until Meridian surrenders. If Meridian's treasonous leaders emerge from hiding and acknowledge EU-Shriven joint patronage over their nation, favourable terms shall be granted.

Until the government does so, the advance will continue. As of right now, the aforementioned naval force is moving, having embarked just prior to the commencement of hostilities. The handful of Corps from Sand Island, escorted by a force of Cruisers and Corvettes, will land behind the Reclamation force and will begin advancing into Meridian ahead of the reserves. Meanwhile, Rechian fleets maintain evasive movements, hoping to confuse the Meridian Navy into assaulting its main force. Heavy fighter cover and aggressive submarine escorts await any threat from either high above or far below the ocean surface, while HAVoC patrols maintain recon superiority, engaging any Meridian scouts they encounter, exploiting their range and speed advantage to easily outduel and outrun the enemy.

^ Those two posts are simultaneous btw.

The great union of meridian

Give me about a few hours to finallize all my post, ill have one big one which addresses the battle in Nodan (mostly stating my forces present and the opening moves against shrive), Adressing Uelvan's old post about them raiding Meridian asteroid mining, Rechs old post about GRF-00 and now this post by Recheve. sorry its taken too long because college started and im getting some computer upgrades in soon as well as some clarification between Shrive and I over some OOC stuff

The Belkan War is Over?

The Imperium was delightfully surprised by the fact that the Belkan Liberation War was over, it was a blatant reminder of how the recent economic disaster had affected the speed of military operations, as the counter-attack was still in the process of being prepared and approved when the war had ended. Due to it lack of operation for the offensive war, the Imperium has decided to bring forth its contribution in to the war in terms of Humanitarian and Reconstruction Efforts with new drafted plans incorporating the complete reconstruction of the Belkan State. Due to the requests from the Recheve Government for the re-establishment of a Belkan Federal government, the Imperium has pushing this as a gesture of good will towards the new Belkan Federation one that is hoped to establish the basis for a peaceful co-existence of its many ethnicities as the Imperium plans to hire individuals from every part of Belka in order to rebuild it.

Unacceptable

Although the Imperium had up until this point remained neutral in the conflict between Shrive & Meridian on the behest of their Meridian cousins, despite the fact that the Imperium showed a clear disdain at every part of the volatile and clearly aggressive nature of the Shrivan state. A nation whom seems to lack any sense of honor, a statement clearly expressed through their back stab of a nation they supposedly considered an ally, but were clearly ready to throw to the curb if push comes to shove.

However with the Entrance of the Recheve State into the conflict on the side of a state whom clearly only wishes to upset world peace by meddling in conflict and problems that do not concern them, neutrality is no longer an option. The Imperial Army and fleets now no longer pre-occupied by the Belkan liberation war are being re-deployed to stop what is likely an intervention not supported by the Eastern Union. The Futuro Canal will be closed off to Recheve military vessels moving in from taking a shorter path to the West-winds through the Charvakia Channel.

The Imperium Navy is being moved in blockading position between the Imperial Homeland and the Uelvani Held Marmoria and currently occupied Northern Belka. Further fleets are being moved to initiate a stand off near Meridian with the Sand Islands Recheve Fleets. All units have been order to hold fire unless fired upon, but that does not mean the Imperial Force are not ready for a skirmish if the Recheves do not leave the Imperium's distant cousins alone.

Charvakian Canal Closed to Rechian Military Assets

Given the tension built up over the war and the impending Titan intervention, West Charvakia has come together with East Charvakia in a rare but understandably important meeting. It was here the two states agreed to bar any Rechian military forces from accessing Charvakia for the duration of the war. This does not mean that Uelvan or either Charvakia has commit themselves to war, but it does mean that Uelvan clearly stands with her allies. This command likely came from the Grand Protector herself, but the nature of such things are hard to tell in Uelvan. It should still be noted that Rechian civilian ships are granted free passage through the canals and only regular searches are conducted (when they even are conducted because let's face it, you can bribe a guy and they won't even search you).

OOC: Quick response. Don’t really know why you’re doing this.

Apologies Given

The Rechian government would like to apologize to the Titan government for any misconceptions regarding the conflict in Meridian, which is a support operation on behalf of the Symbiotica to maintain Eastern Union interests. With the explicit permission of the EU, the Rechian Armed Forces promised the Shriven government that they would intervene on their behalf, following the unjust withdrawal of Meridian involvement in the mutual alliance. The conflict in Meridian has been undertaken with the express goal of removing the officials from power who have violated strict agreements and international law, this subjecting their nation to turmoil and betraying their Shriven counterparts. From the Rechian perspective, the Shriven and Rechian forces are not fighting an offensive war, but rather are removing an offensive regime from power.

Rechian involvement will end once the regime has stepped down, and the Rechian Armed Forces would like to take this opportunity to promise to the entire world that as soon as the leading officials of the government step down, even if the fighting has not subsided, Rechian forces will withdraw in their entirety. This war was a favour to a friendly power in Shrive, and is not worth an international conflict.

However, the Rechian government has been deeply offended by the Titan actions, which were undertaken immediately and without even consulting the Rechian or EU leaders on the issue. This action is typical of the history Anti-Nordicism the Titans have expressed on many occasions, even after the Rechian Armed Forces sacrifices millions of lives to liberate Titan people under Belkan occupation in Belko Titanus. It was the impression of the Rechian Senate that the Titans and Rechians had established bonds of friendship, and this latest knee jerk response contradicts that notion.

The Rechian forces currently in Meridian are self-sustaining and have a substantial fleet present, and the Titan Strait has not been an important Rechian waterway since the last time the Titans attempted to strangle Recheve. The scale of the intervention will be toned down, and no fleets will sail from Sand Island as a show of goodwill, but needless to say many officials are very upset.

Blood runs Thicker then Water

Emperor Koldus has accepted the Recheve apology and has risen to provide one of his own,

"Old habits die hard, the Imperium has still not gotten used to the whole diplomatic channels between East and West as it has barely been a decade and the Imperium has been rather isolationist over the coarse of its history. As such the Imperium has for centuries provided its opinion on the matter with action not words, however I do understand this can come off as simply a repeat of the Imperium's anti-Nordic past but I assure you this is not the case. In the Imperium family is of the greatest importance as the saying goes "blood runs thicker the water", and the Meridians although distant are related through blood to the Imperium's people, to not act would have been the same as abandoning family. Thus just as the Imperium Intervened to help Vanparians in the past, it intervenes to help Meridians now.

However I do understand this is created a new rift as the action was rash and clearly not reasonable, this I why I offer a whole hearted apology for the rash action taken instead of words."

The Imperium has expressed that the actions of the Recheve Armed Forces in Belka was indeed a means to establish a bond of friendship, one which the Imperium do not wish to accidentally destroy because of its conduct, thus it has back off all of its fleets in response to the Recheve tone down of its intervention. It has also offered to pay for all repair needed in Belka and Northern Recheve as a result of the Belkan Liberation War, a counter gesture of good will to try and show its intention was not sever or destroy ties.

As such the Imperium has, for the first time in 200+ years, decided to send diplomats to a foreign nation in order to try and talk instead of continuing conduct its natural response to issues occurring on the globe.

Greater Istanistan, Recheve, and Shrive

National Understanding

Greatly appreciating the displays of friendship made by the Titan government, the Rechian Senate has welcomed the delegates with open arms, and to acknowledge the monumental occasion there shall be a great celebration in Wittsburg, privately financed by the Senators. Rechian politicians have confirmed that this conference is far more important to the government than the Meridian intervention, and thus a withdrawal is certainly on the table. It is hoped that a quick resolution can be made with regards to the current events, and that the representatives from both nations can move on to discuss ongoing partnership in supporting the re-implementation of the Belkan nation.

More Than Man, Less Than Gods
I'm not rewriting that whole explanation. 3 people will read this anyway, I'm only writing it to make it official canon.

With a new nexus appearing, the vigilante known as Duskwatcher knows he cannot face this threat alone. After enlisting the aid of supervillainess Heteroclite, he has tracked down and rescued both Empress Irelyn and the members of Duskwatch. Together with an assortment of heroes and villains they travel to Elara to confront the returning evil. With Irelyn's inherited powers, could she successfully close the nexus? If so, could she reverse the damage caused by her mother?

Somewhere in Elara it's not inportant
The team exited the aircraft and split into three teams. First, Captain Triumph would lead the heroes (Riptide, Patriot and Vigilant) In a direct assault of the nexus with Irelyn. Second, Miss Magpie would lead the junior heroes (Kid Prometheus, Bluebottle, Smoke and Mirror) to protect the deployed KLR forces in the area and help evacuate everyone in the vicinity. Finally, Duskwatcher would supervise the villains (Heteroclite, Viscount, Proxy and Spoiler) to engage any monsters that emerged from the nexus. Together, hopefully they could seal the breach.

Team 1: Captain Triumph
Reaching the Writhing Nexus was harder than Silas thought. Whether he approached on the ground or flying in from above, the infinite tentacles of the beast seems to anticipate his movements and swat him down, though he never stayed down for long.
Patriot stayed on the ground, batting at the tendrils with her fists, hoping to open up a path towards the centre of the behemoth. Her reflexes enabled her to dodge and weave through the swinging tendrils but she could barely advance five steps before ducking back away from her quarry.
Riptide had the hardest time. Without a large body of water, he was reduced to Patriot's strategy, though at least he could pin tendrils with his bident, allowing Patriot to move closer.
Vigilant, armed only with his sword and his faith, charged on in his hi-tech armour, slicing and twirling through the tentacles. But like Patriot, he could only move so far before being forced back, and he could not cut through the tentacles faster than they were replaced.
Irelyn watched on from the base of the hill, trying to focus the energy inherited from her mother, desperately trying to help.

Team 2: Miss Magpie
The Inheritors were having better luck with their mission. Under the instruction of Duskwatch's leader, they managed to evacuate the Kori and Rechian soldiers at the hill and in the town. Miss Magpie watched from above, his right over the town and using her extra-sensory abilities to locate anyone trapped or wounded and directions her team to help.
A horde of Fiend-Class monsters had flooded the town, waving medieval weaponry and snarling through fanged mouths. Some even scurried along walls and leaped across rooftops, weapons flailing wildly in rotted hands.
Mirror conjured walls of reflective light to shield the fleeing civilians and confuse her enemies, and Smoke became ethereal to slip through these barriers to reach those left behind, hiding himself and the victims in impenetrable darkness. The twins worked well as a team, but the same could not be said for the others.
Kid Prometheus could use his pyrokinesis to burn through rubble and destroy barriers to reach trapped victims, but he ran the risk of collapsing buildings on himself and others. Bluebottle was expertly using her array of corrosive chemicals to safely bypass obstacles and the pair argued all the while. This battle for leadership would only temporarily end when Miss Magpie swooped down to scold the young heroes and direct them to cooperate.
And so, Kid Prometheus would focus on keeping the unholy soldiers at bay and leading civilians to safety while Smoke phased into buildings and Bluebottle prepared for safe exits. Mirror had two jobs: Create barriers to guide the civilians out to Kid Prometheus, and also use her mirrors to hold up rubble and buildings so Smoke and Bluebottle could get people out safely.
Over time, the enemies began to lessen as they were drawn back to the hill where the other teams fought.

Team 3: Duskwatcher
The villains were doing what they did best, with little persuasion from Duskwatcher. Heteroclite cast balls of scorching green fire at the monsters, conjuring tendrils of her own in a circle around her. Her eyes flashed with the same emerald light, a truly terrifying sight to behold.
Viscount had been permitted to to partially drain Captain Triumph's power during the flight, granting him the speed and strength to slice through the hordes with talon-like nails. The harder he used the borrowed powers the faster they would drain, so he conserved his energy as best as he could.
Proxy seemed bored, using his powers to control the limbs if his enemies and turn them clumsily on each other. His hands raised as if commanding a giant marionette, the young villain easily kept himself out of harms way, protecting Spoiler as he fought.
Spoiler stood behind Proxy with a vague expression on her face, occasionally calling out advice to her colleagues as she sporadically sensed events in the immediate future.

With Spoiler's advice, Duskwatcher and the villains began their own March up the hill to where He-Of-All-Wombs was tossing Captain Triumph around like a ragdoll. Proxy and Heteroclite turned their powers on the tentacles of the Feral God and Viscount rested a hand on each if their shoulders to borrow their abilities. Together, the three villains managed to hold open a group of tendrils and expose a path right up to the nexus that He-Of-All-Wombs was still only partially through.
When the junior heroes arrived soon after, Mirror conjured her own barriers to push back more tentacles and protect Irelyn, but she was clearly struggling against the strength of a god. Duskwatcher took Irelyn's hand, wrapped her fingers around his belt, and led her forwards. As they advanced, Vigilant fought his way to their side, chopping through any tentacles that slipped round Mirror's barriers. Together, they protected the Empress on her way up to the nexus and as they drew closer they could hear terrible screaming from somewhere up ahead. They reached the crest if the hill just in time to see Patriot get ensnared and lifted up into the air. From her vantage point she could see down straight into the nexus. For a moment she was silent, eyes wide and mouth agape. Then she started screaming again, flailing and shaking her head, desperate to escape what she had seen. He-Of-All-Wombs held her too tight, and she was slowly drawn in towards the nexus. Just before she disappeared from sight, Patriot lowered her head to her chest, sobbed, then threw her head sharply up to the left. Irelyn swore she heard her neck snap. The heroine went limp immediately and was drawn into the nexus.

With the combined efforts of Mirror, Proxy, Heteroclite and Viscount, the team established a camp amongst the writhing tentacles of the lesser god. Vigilant and Riptide stood guard, slashing and stabbing at the tiny, snake-like tendrils that wormed towards them.
"What the hell happened to Helen?" Riptide demanded, lashing out at an encroaching vine.
"She looked into the nexus." Irelyn said bluntly. Everyone turned to her with blank stares. Irelyn saw the expressions and explained. "A nexus is a sort of portal to Nil, a shortcut that bypasses the Void. According the scripture, Nil is the very essence of nothingness, it is an empty kingdom. From what I know, that's not quite accurate. Nil is more like a... Reflection-"
"A reflection of this world?" Duskwatcher asked.
"A reflection of every world," Irelyn corrected, checking her wounds. "Nil is the vast expanse that lurks beneath every single reality. Some even think Nil stretches out beyond the infinite realities, if such a thing is possible. But imagine a world where everything that is, isn't, and everything that isn't, is. As if our shadows were solid and all matter was empty space. And of course, everything that exists is finite. There is a finite amount of presence in the universe, but an infinite amount of things that don't exist. So your friend..."
"Helen" Captain Patriot offered morosely.
"Helen saw that. She saw the vast infinite existence of Nil, but not how our brains can process existence. Mortal minds were not designed to comprehend the infinite something of nothing".
"I'm not sure I understand that," Proxy drawled, keeping the tentacles at bay with one hand while spoon-feeding baby food to Spoiler, "but I don't have to. Can you close it?"
Irelyn nodded, then shook her head. "Maybe. In theory. Not while this... Thing is halfway through. It has to come all the way through or go all the way back."
Everyone now turned to Captain Triumph. His pristine white uniform was stained with blood from their adversary, and ripped through where he had battled the behemoth. He paused for a moment, then decided. "We push it back." He stated.
"How?" Miss Magpie asked, "We cannot move it. Even Proxy and Heteroclite can barely move it. We need something other than brute strength. Something smart."
Viscount stood up, "I will go. I will confront the beast and distract it while you all figure out a plan." Viscount made to leave the group, but Captain Triumph stopped him.
"This thing is the god of unborn children, Kovar," he said, "You know I'm familiar with your history. It has leverage over you."
"All the more reason for it to listen to me," Viscount replied, flashing a fanged smile with sadness in his eyes. "How long have we fought, Captain? How long have I tried to have you kill me? How long have I tried myself? I cannot be killed by mortal means, and this thing is the closest I may ever get to an audience with the gods. Let me do this, Captain. Let me die."
Silas lowered his arm, extending his hand to shake Viscount's. "No," the villain said, "Varod Kovar, the villainous vampiric Viscount of Vasiroth does not shake hands." He looked over his shoulder at the group. "Be seeing you." And with that, he marched into the sprawling tentacles, shouting all the while.
"So what do we do?" Captain Triumph asked. He turned to Duskwatcher, "Any thoughts?"
Duskwatcher stared back, featureless through his mask, only blank white eyes boring into Silas. "I don't fight gods. I fight muggers." He in turn addressed Irelyn, "Well?"
Irelyn paused, "He-Of-All-Wombs draws his energy from two places: Nil, and fertility. If I start closing the nexus around him, maybe that would weaken him enough to just... Punch him through?"
"What was that about fertility?"
"Oh, well, if he gets desperate he might drain our ability to have children."
Duskwatcher had no interest in a family. Miss Magpie's children had already grown up. Proxy was sterilized by government experiments. Vigilant's religion forbid it. Riptide and his husband planned to adopt anyway. The others were willing to take that chance.

"Hellbeast! I demand audience!"
Varod was lifted off the ground by one colossal tentacle, raised high above the hill, the monster, and the nexus that lay somewhere beneath it.
"I see your pain, Varod Kovar. I see what you have lost."
"What must I do to reclaim that which is lost?" Viscount asked.
"Your curse cannot be lifted by any but Phobyr. The will of one god cannot be broken by another."
"I don't care about living again. I care about dying. I wish to see my wife again."
"And your daughter?"
Varod froze. He didn't think the conversation would go so far so fast.
"They are here, Varod. Both of them, here in Nil. Would you like to see them? Hear their voices? The voice that could have been your daughter?"

Irelyn focussed every atom of her being on the nexus that was hidden beneath the behemoth. Captain Triumph rallied the others to launch their attack. Despite the interference of its many tendrils, He-Of-All-Wombs seemed to not notice them at all. They slashed and stabbed and punched their way forward, brining Irelyn closer.
"Remember," Irelyn called out, "if you look into it, look away as fast as possible. Don't close your eyes; you need to replace what you saw with something new!"
Soon they were at the base of the monster, and the demi-god's body was no bigger than that of a large tree. Irelyn reached out, as if to grab the nexus between her fingers, and tried to bring her hands together. She couldn't move her hands, as if an invisible force was pulling back on her arms. She planted her feet, braced her back, and pulled with all her might. She lost all vision of her surroundings, but her teammates were guarding her vigilantly, chopping down any sentient tendrils that snaked her way. As the nexus was slowly closed, they all heard distant screams.
"What was that?" Captain Triumph called.
"Don't listen," Irelyn grunted, "whoever you can hear, don't listen. They aren't real, you can't help them."

Varod Kovar was looking down into the nexus. He saw the vast expanse of nothing, and how real, how something the nothingness seemed to be. He couldn't see her, but he could feel Natalya reaching out to him, just out of reach. If he could just each a little bit closer...
"Varod!" a voice called out, "I'm here! We're just down here!"
Varod clambered from his tentacular bonds and stretched down.
"Varod!" Irelyn shouted, "I'm here! Just down here! Varod!"
But Varod couldn't hear her, and he was dangerously close to falling into the nexus. Irelyn couldn't release the nexus, so turned her head to her allies. "Proxy! Get him!"
Proxy looked up, nodded, and raised his own hands. He took control of Viscount's limbs, restraining him and pulling him away from the hellmouth. "He's fighting!" proxy snarled, "If I'm too rough he could break his own legs!"
"I don't need him walking, I just need him awake! Do whatever you have to do!"
Proxy began reeling Viscount in, who began screaming and thrashing erratically. Something snapped and Viscount tumbled down to the ground, where Riptide and Vigilant dragged him over to Irelyn. The empress held out her hand to Viscount, who was dazed and uneasy, his eyes wide and wild.
"Varod? I need you help. Take my hand and help me here."
Varod didn't speak, taking Irelyn's hand and taking some of her power. With her instruction he helped take hold of the nexus and start closing it. But now that Varod was freed, He-Off-All-Wombs had turned his attention to the group assembled below him. His giant, horrific foetus-like face loomed over them.
"What are you doing?" he hissed, "You cannot stop him. Defeat me and you only incur his wrath. There are many gateways before me and many more to come..."
The demigod continued to drone on but nobody was listening. The heroes scattered, striking the body of the beast from above and below while Irelyn and Varod closed the nexus around him. The smaller the nexus became, the weaker the monster became and the easier it could be pushed back.
"... And the wholesale slaughter of Ranarus' children will summon the wrath of the Painkeeper. The The Kinstealer will bring your children to me and the Lieweaver will tear you apart. The Feral Gods are returned and the Seraphs themselves cannot be saved The Age of Beasts has begun and the War of Nine Pillars shall be-"
"Oh shut up." Irelyn snarled, tightening the hellmouth around the behemoth. The rift between everything and nothing sliced through the bulging flesh of the foetus monster, spilling green blood onto the hilltop. In response, the monster attempted to pull itself right through the nexus, only to be beaten back by the heroes. Captain Triumph took off, disappearing into the sky.
"What's he doing?" Duskwatcher asked.
Miss Magpie shook her head sadly, "Something very stupid."
"Will it work?"
"Will it work? Yes. Will he survive?" She faltered.
The nexus was now so tight that the monster had to move forward or back to survive, and the bombardment from the front was making Nil seem safer.
"You cannot stop us. We are god. You are barely man."
"We have something very close to god." Spoiler proclaimed in a moment of lucidity.

At that moment, when was a loud boom and something above broke the sound barrier. The clouds split and a dark maroon streak hurtled down. Captain Triumph hit the monster with such force that his fists punctured the flesh and he disappeared into it. He-Off-All-Wombs screamed and was pushed backwards with the force. It slipped through the shrinking nexus like an octopus through a keyhole. The nexus snapped shut and all was silent.

Captain Triumph was nowhere to be seen.

Greater Istanistan, Eclipsed sun, and Shrive

Writhing Nexus Reportedly Closed
After Vigilate Forces were ambushed by unknown "demonic" soldiers, a group of Duskwatch superheroes arrived and battled the behemoth identified as the Always Unborn, He-Of-All-Wombs. The nexus was reportedly closed and the invading demigod was repelled. The assembled heroes ensured the Kori, Vigilate, and Rechian troops were safe before leaving. Eyewitnesses reported the presence of the Duskwatcher, Captain Triumph, and several supervillains including "that vampire one" and "the green witch lady". These reports have not been confirmed.
Some have said that Empress Irelyn was present and may have played an important role in closing the nexus. This is also unconfirmed.

Greater Istanistan, Eclipsed sun, and Shrive

The international union of twc

For security purposes, the International Union recommends Titan and Rechian representatives speak on the Citadel

Advances Halt; Fighting Continues

The Rechian Senate has ordered the Armed Forces to halt their offensive and hold ground, though Meridian counter-attacks are still being repelled and hostilities continue. If the Rechians are to disengage, the negotiations will be made with the Titans, not the Meridians. The Rechian negotiations also have no bearing on the Shriven actions, as the Rechians were involved solely on a support basis.

Becoming
Krossman Agoge, Rechian Belka
1st Royal Cadet Regiment, 1st Cadet Division
0500 Hours

"LINE UP CADETS! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"

The boys scrambled out of the door of the Citadel and formed into several rectangular formations eight men deep, shoulder to shoulder and packed tightly together. It was the third day and they still had no Cadet officers; every boy was in the ranks, wearing olive green fatigues and standing rigidly at attention. In front of them, the scowling Gunnery Sergeant paced back and forth his eyes seeming to pierce each Cadet they drifted past. Suddenly, the Sergeant lunged forward into the centre formation, grabbing the Cadets and tossing them this way and that as he dug towards the rear.

"FOWLER YOU'RE OUT OF PLACE! GET THE F*CK OUT OF THE PHALANX!"

The Sergeant grabbed a scrawny boy by the collar and hurled him towards the front of the formation, walking over to him and giving him a hard boot in the stomach as he lay on the floor.

"ALWAYS KNOW WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CADET!"

Fowler coughed and clutched his stomach, but the Sergeant kicked the hand away.

"GET WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE!"

The Cadet pushed himself up and scrambled back into line, getting back to attention and trying his best not to pant too loud, lest the Sergeant hear. The other boys quickly returned to position around them under the burning glare of their NCO. He continued pacing, inspecting each boy and shouting every time he caught a flicker of the eyes or a flex of the hands. After what felt like an hour he walked back front and centre, giving the Division one last glance and ordered them to stand easy. The Cadets performed the appropriate movement and then relaxed their bodies, which were throbbing from the tension. The Sergeant nodded.

"Getting to a spot and standing still is the easiest thing you will ever do here. If you can't even master this basic drill, you will never be a soldier in the Queen's Army. When I was a Cadet, we stood at attention for hours on end. So will you. Get used to this, because you'll come to savour these moments."

The Sergeant reached into his pocket and withdrew a list covered in scribbled handwriting.

"As promised, we have selected your NCOs. These ranks are provisional, and shall be stripped on the spot if warranted. If you hear your name, please step out of formation and fall in front and centre. DETACHMENT, OPEN ORDER!"

The Cadets marked time twice and then began walking forward, the rear ranks halting at two pace intervals. When they had finished, the Sergeant began bellowing out names.

"CADET SERGEANT MAJOR! LUCAS!"

Cadet Lucas, a tall, muscular boy marched out of line an gracefully trod over to the Sergeant, halting sharply directly in front of him. As the remaining names were called out, the boys fell in behind Lucas.

"CADET GUNNERY SERGEANT! THOMPSON! CADET SERGEANT! PORTLAND! CADET SERGEANT! GREGS! CADET SERGEANT! OLIVER! CADET SERGEANT! DRAKE! CADET SERGEANT! IMMELSTEIN! CADET SERGEANT! ADELAIDE! CADET SERGEANT! ROGERS! CADET SERGEANT! MACGILVRAY! CADET SERGEANT! HOPKINS! CORPORAL! UNGER! CORPORAL! JAMES! CORPORAL! ROSE! CORPORAL! TAUPER! CORPORAL! DALE! LANCER CORPORAL! QUINN! LANCE CORPORAL! BAKER! LANCE CORPORAL! YATES! LANCE CORPORAL!..."

The Sergeant looked over at the scrawny boy.

"FOWLER! LANCE CORPORAL! CHASE! LANCE CORPORAL! JACKSON! That's it Cadets. If you've been promoted, don't f*ck up. If you haven't been promoted, don't f*ck up. Those are standing orders. DISMISSED!"

Freshman Scrimager Canal Turns Shrive Vessels Away

The Scrimager Canal turns away Shrive vessels away. With the war in Meridian a clear and present threat to Freshman economic interests in the area, Friday Freshman sees no interests in allowing Shrive Vessels any access to Freshman territorial waters. Additionally, any military action or movement through Freshman territorial waters including large parts of the Sea of Nodan, be it supplies for the war effort or military units, other than Recheve military action in designated areas as dictated in the Sand Island Accord, by any Eastern Union member will be consider an act of hostility and will be responded to as such.

A Shifting Society

In light of social changes since the Rechian Wars, Rechian intellectuals and statesmen have made some groundbreaking conclusions regarding Rechian citizenship and civic duty, which are already beginning to change policy and legislation. These are merely suggestions that have been made, and have not been implemented or even drafted into legislation.

Ideal Society

True citizens will not love and support their society solely out of coincidental association, or out of some geographic sentiment. A proper citizen will support their fellow citizens as a whole, will support the fundamental values upon which the state is constructed, and shall never oppose the state. However, a true citizen will also never cease to criticize the state, to attempt to change it, and shall always remain active in the components of the state.

In this manner, citizenship is not an inherited trait, and must be reaffirmed. Likewise, those born in Recheve are no more Rechian than immigrants coming to Recheve, who are as dedicated to the state as any currently inside the nation. None who believe in the Rechian spirit should ever be turned away or belittled in comparison to others, and no Rechian shall value his or her own loyalty over the loyalty of another, as long as belief in the national project is pure. The only important identities are ideals.

Paramountcy of Service

Those who enter the Armed Forces on a volunteer basis, and who are accepted, symbolically sacrifice their lives to the state. For this reason, members of the military hold a special status above all others, and while they serve the citizens of Recheve, they are entitled to a special status both during their service and following. Those who enter the military have given every contribution to the state that can be asked of them, and thus they must be exempt from certain state requirements including taxation, judicial summons and other non-vital civil responsibilities.

Hierarchy of Citizenship and the Issue of Consent

Not all citizens of a nation consent to surrendering certain freedoms to the state, and not all benefits a state provides its citizens are solicited. Thus, citizenship must be divided, and the population divided between Citizens and Subjects.

Citizens shall pay higher taxes, but in return shall receive access to single-payer healthcare, access to public education, welfare potential, and all further benefits available to those who participate in the state's functions. Citizens also have the right to vote, and can obtain certain licenses that are not available to subjects. The act of voting implies Citizenship, and following each Consular Election, citizenship is either granted or reaffirmed. One can apply for citizenship at any time, though this process typically takes long periods of time.

Subjects pay lower taxes, largely property tax, and receive none of the superfluous benefits of citizenship. They are not barred from any functions of the state, though they must pay for the services. They also do not have the right to vote, for voting mandates citizenship.

Both citizens and subjects are equal under the law and receive equal access to emergency services, though subject will be billed for some services. Both populations are entitled to security of the person, freedom from discrimination based upon this status and to freedom from arbitrary arrest or mistreatment.

Status is inherited by children, though in certain cases children can become citizens with their parents' approval, or vice versa. At the age of 18, during the beginning second period of conscripted military service, children either consent to citizenship or refuse to consent, thus becoming subjects. Both citizens and subjects are subject to constitutional conscription.

Mandatory Conscription

All residents of Recheve must perform a total of four years of service. Typically the Agoge recruits citizens from the ages of 10 to 12 and from 18 to 20, neither period mandating service beyond training and labour, but the latter period offering a combat volunteer alternative. For residents who are absent during these periods, require alternative accommodation, come to Recheve following these periods of conscription, or who for any valid reason are excused during a period of conscription, service is made up in other ways. The options include combat volunteer service- typically in non-combat roles depending upon age and ability-, alternative "valuable" government service as a clerk, staff member or emergency service employee, or other civil service contributions. These alternatives are not selected, but are rather assigned based upon case requirements.

Teronia and Shrive

IU Proposal Considered

The Rechian Senate has considered the IU recommendations, and have expressed their interest in holding discussions in IU facilities. The dedicated spaces for exactly such events would be helpful, and while the negotiations are expected to be relatively easy and beneficial, a neutral location is the custom. The delegates await Titan input.

«12. . .3,6503,6513,6523,6533,6543,6553,656. . .3,7493,750»

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