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Ooc: just something I'm tossing up. It's open to anyone who wants something to do. Decades of what seemed like dead almost silent peace across the globe was disturbed in east Africa by the roar of gunfire, before anyone knew what was going on the government was overthrown and armed militants had flooded the streets of Mogadishu. Firefights between Somali military and armed rogues tore the city apart, and before morning rose a large crowd stormed the Parliament building grabbing everyone inside. Street side executions in the most medieval manner possible were conducted as the unknown armed force tightened its grip on the city. Radio and television stations were then seized, broadcasting the news to Somalia and Africa abroad. A man with several facial scars sat down on a chair and began speaking. "My name, is Abraham Sadiq, I am the leader of the Somalian people's army, and I have come my friends to free us from the shackles of this corrupt and destitute government. These politicians who sit, eat like kings and watch us die in poverty are no longer safe. They promise, time and time again, change is coming oh this day will be different or elect me and we shall bring wealth and prosperity to Somalia....such lies they speak. In just a few hours, I have brought you change. In a few more, I will purge this wretched government that has let our people die and wallow in filth. Today is the first day, of the rest of our lives." Sadiq snapped his fingers and two large men threw a man with a sack over his head in front of him, "you see now, the price that must be paid for a new Somali? Do you see now, why I do the things I do? It's to free us from the conventional enslavement and delusional idea that is western democracy." He removed the sack and grabbed the man from the back of the neck lifting him to face the camera, "meet your elected prime minister, muhammad zadir, a professional failure in all accounts. He promised us, economic growth and unity, but all he has done is allow us to suffer, and pay for his lifestyle." Sadiq then savagely threw zadir to the ground and stood from the chair putting his boot behind the head of the prime minister, "you see now? Zadir. It is over for you, for your family, for everything." Zadir moaned and tried screaming as Sadiq pushed the boot harder into the back of his head. "I invite all of Somali to join us, let this revolution create the country we've all wanted, let it create a better future, and more importantly." Sadiq snapped his fingers again and the two men grabbed zadir from the ground and pushed him against a wall, the camera panned over to him as Sadiq walked to him now holding a knife and putting it to the camera, "more importantly, let us get justice" he plunged the knife into zadir, "for the corruption, for the lies, and for every time someone died under their administration." He continued to stab the prime minister in a horrific manner, until zadir was good and dead, "let us go now my people...and take our country back." The feed died out, and all across Somalia war tore through the country. Armed militants raided army bases and took everything that was needed for an all out take over. Hell broke out in Somalia, and what few stood before it were being burned.
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OOC: This is a character rp within CNRPA that is open to everyone including those who don't have CNRPA nations. The main story arc will be about Jesse and Jake discovering more about the ancient dragons and how what they learn may shape the future of Asia but it may branch off more from there depending on if people get involved and how they want to get involved. Promo for main story arc: The Historian: "In order to find the truth you have to forget the stories, forget the legends. You'll have to do more than walk in their footsteps. For they were more than the sum of their actions. I tell you this, not because I trust you, Commander Jake... but because all our lives are at stake. Because the seeds of our future... are sown in their past." As peace settles over mainland Asia after the defeat of the "Mandarin" Jesse and Jake continue to dig into the history of the ancient dragons. Jesse: "What we can learn about dragon history before even my mother was born may help us against future enemies." However finding that knowledge may be a bit harder than they thought. Mei: "There is a dragon called the Historian. His job is protecting and writing down our race's entire history. However finding him will not be an easy task." And the knowledge they find may be able to save them all from destruction. The Historian: "There is an enemy here on Earth that threatened our race even more than the humans did. If they are not stopped they will kill everyone!" Jake: "Than I guess we better stop them." The real battle for Asia is about to begin. Will the dragons be able to protect Asia from this ancient enemy of their's? Jesse: "They are sending us a message. That they can take whatever they want! Now we will send them a message! THAT THIS IS OUR LAND AND THESE PEOPLE ARE A PART OF OUR FAMILY!"
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While the standoff between Druk Yul and Northland forces over the islands of Sri-Lanka continued Empress Mei of Druk Yul called for a meeting with her son Emperor Jesse of Shanghai. The nations of Druk Yul and Shanghai always had a close peaceful relationship with each other but now Mei believed it was time to take the next big step and reunite once more. If China was to survive the coming storm than it needed to be whole instead of split and now Mei was in the position to help make it whole again but she knew it would not be easy. "The time has come Jesse. We have a chance to reunite China once more and we need to do it before it is too late. Seperate we may be strong but together along with our allies in the East Asian Imperium we will be powerful enough to keep Asia safe from all foreign invaders." "Yes you speak of them as our allies but you seem to forget that war we had with them over a decade ago when they took Macau from us!" "Jesse that was Henry's fault and you know it." "Yes he was behind the start of that one but they still wanted that land and would have tried to take it either way. Even now their troops move into Vietnam, Laos, and many other places down in Southeast Asia but it seems you dont even care about it." "So far they have done nothing which the people of those regions didn't want. They have shown no ill will towards us or the people of Southeast Asia and therefore there is no reason to intervene. And if you are mad about maybe not being Emperor anymore you can still be the Commander of the Military if you want to." "The EAI may have your trust but it will take a while before they earn mine again. As for reuniting China that is only going to work if it is what the people really want as well." "So then we shall put it up to a vote. If the strong majority want a reunited China than that is what we will do." "And if they dont?" "Than we can still remain seperate allies like our nations have been for the past few decades."
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OOC: Based off rl pro-democracy protests in Belarus, including the Jeans Revolution. IC: Public Elections Completed in Lithuania Election results for the recently created Vilnius and Klaipeda Voblasts have been announced. The ruling Stabiĺnasć Party has won 58 of the 60 new House of Representatives seats, with the remaining two going to the Communist Party of Belarus, which supports the President. 15 of the 16 new Council seats have gone to the Stabiĺnasć Party as well. The Republican Party of Labour and Justice, another ally of the President, has won one seat. Local Selsoviet and Raion level offices were also mainly captured by Stabiĺnasć and its allies, although here the opposition United Democratic Forces of Belarus managed to see some success. Meanwhile, governors for the Vilnius and Klaipeda Voblasts have been appointed by the President. These election results come just before the Presidential Candidates begin their own campaign. The sudden inclusion of Lithuania has greatly affected the composition of the electorate, and the Lithuanian populace has become a target for Presidential candidates that are jostling to gain their support. The recent elections in Lithuania demonstrate that the Stabiĺnasć Party and its allies have clearly succeeded in capturing the votes of the new electorate. General elections are also coming up for the rest of Belarus. - Pravda(OOC: The government run media) Public Another Round of Fraudulent Elections Completed The Belorussian constitution clearly states that the President has the authority to appoint governors. The President had been very good at fulfilling that duty. In fact, he has been so skilled at it that he has also gone ahead and effectively chosen who won the Council and House of Representative seats for Lithuania. The Lithuanian people have been effectively robbed of their right to choose their representatives by rigged election and corrupt officials. Charter97's reporters in Lithuania, have, despite the government's usual repression of free media, informed us of fraud, ballot stuffing, and crimes committed by election officials loyal to the Regime. It is doubtful that the Presidential or even the General elections will be any freer than the ones in Lithuania. Vilnius was once a bastion of democracy in Eastern Europe. Now, it is little more than another emerald in Lukachenko's ill gotten crown. - Charter97(OOC: That opposition group I rp'd back in cnrp2. Also an rl Belorussian opposition group.)
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The Sides: Western American Parliamentary Federation: The WCPF is the Rebel movement based in Los Angeles fighting against the California Republic and it's people. The partially-recognized state is headed by an Emperor and assisted by the advisory senate known as the Parliament. The Emperor is the former president of the Republic, David Marxon. This group also has a small group of former senators and representatives acting as his advisory body. California Republic: The California Republic is the official, sovereign nation that encompasses all of California and has Nevada as a Protectorate. It is a republic and is headed by an executive, judicial, and legislative branches that are supposed to balance the power. The WAPF claims that it is corrupt and ineffective, unable to get anything done in a reasonable amount of time. They fail to get outside support. The RP: It was a rainy day today across the streets of a occasionally beautiful city. This was not one of those times. People would huddle inside as the gunfire between the two sides continued throughout the day and throughout the night. The people felt awful, however both sides believed that they were liberating the citizens of this city, and that they would soon be grateful. But the people huddled inside their houses having their ear drums tortured didn't think so. They wanted both sides to leave them alone. Joseph Deuteronomy was a parliament member and commander of WAPF forces in Los Angeles. Their mission was simple: Drive California forces out of Los Angeles and secure it as WAPF land, as well as the capital of the Federation. Possibly the hardest job for him was distinguishing the WAPF forces from the Californians. He brought a squad of troops up to the Los Angeles capital building, and went in, clearing the building. Him and "Shadow Squad" as he called them broke the windows and set their rifles down in the sill, sniping out enemies. Deuteronomy called in to a helicopter in the air a few miles away. "Your Majesty, I have just taken Building 2056, the Capital Building." on the other end was David Marxon, the claimed Emperor of WAPF. He responded. "Good work Joe. Rendezvous with the rest of the troops at the following coordinates." A couple of seconds later, a couple of bleeps went off and he went by himself to the coordinates. At the rendezvous, the commander stood up straight and spoke confidentially to his troops. "Listen up! These orders come straight from the Emperor. We are going to get on top of building 432, 50 degrees to our left, and the tallest building in Los Angeles. Once we reach the top, we are going to stake the WAPF flag on the top. Only 7 of us will go on the top. Keep in mind, we will have very little Federation air support, so we are not sure how safe if will be. It is possible foreign support will come in, but there have been no confirmations." The troops marched down to the building, and Deuteronomy saw the problem. When they became a mile away from the building, he received a notification that Republic forces had taken the air space over LA, and it was possible that Federation air support would be none. This would make it almost impossible to succeed. He understood his mission, and continued to advance.
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With Druk Yul's sudden departure from SEATO Mei could tell something was up. Although the explanation their representative gave was understandable Mei had a feeling something bigger was at play and she needed the answers from the one really in control of Druk Yul. Once she eventually got to wherever Maelstrom really was she would confront him for answers. "It shouldn't have to take a dragon to know that something is up here. You can say I am one of those that can tell when someone was lying and the tells your "representative" gave off where enough for me to know that there is more going on here. I want to know the real reason Druk Yul is leaving SEATO and right now I am hoping it isn't because of something really stupid." -
OOC: Before someone asks, this is not an annexation,or a protectorate thingy. At least not yet. Feel free to join in. IC: Internal If Belarus had fared poorly after the third Great Collapse, Poland had fared worse. The East of the country, which had been held under a brutal Belorussian occupation for decades, would finally see freedom, as Belorussian troops withdrew in order to deal with the chaos that was unfolding at home. However, as soon as the Belorussian administration vanished, so did any semblance of order. The Polish Authority, which had governed with an iron fist, had ruthlessly exploited the country. Many cities were in the advanced stages of deterioration, and vast areas had been strip-mined for resources. The complete lack of local Poles in administrative bodies would create a situation not so different from the the one in the former Belgian Congo, which lacked the infrastructure and skills necessary to create a functioning government. This landscape would prove a perfect breeding ground for communists, ultra nationalists, radicals and extremists of every kind. One of these groups, the Polish White Army, fueled by a dangerous mix of religion, nationalism, and xenophobia, would come to power in large swaths of the Podlaskie region. Public Broadcast From the White Army "The White Army, recognizing the years of intolerance and hatred the Polish people have faced from Minsk, and recognizing the decades of occupation under its so-called Polish Authority, hereby unconditionally demands that the Belorussian government withdraw from the region of Hajnowka County, and cease its oppressive rule there. If our demands are not agreed to within 48 hours, we will unleash a reign of terror on the Belorussian people, the likes of which has not been seen since Polish armies swept through the area after the First World War."
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OOC stuff: 1) If you wish to participate, this is mid 1960s Rapture, city has gone to hell, the fall has happened, and not simply splicers, but zombies, mutants, biological monsters, Rapture was a bastion of superscience, but without proper controls, such things have a funny way of coming out. Create your own back story for your character. 2) Survivors and Splicers are the most likely choices for said backstory, if you have questions before you decide to join feel free to throw me a Query, 3)the intent of the thread is survival horror, I will be the "GM" for the event and hurl whatever randomness at the "party" 4) If you have a specific request for a monster, trap, or scenario that fits into this, suggest it and I'll see what we can do, collaboration! It had been nearly 6 years in Rapture since they had been in the city. Mogar looked out the viewing port upon his creation. The Big Daddies still apparently were doing their tasks, controlled and fed by the computer system, they'd likely be the only residents able to survive even a nuclear strike upon the city, they went past one working on a collapsed tunnel, apparently repairing the broken glass. There were obvious signs of wear and tear upon everything, buildings were dimmed, the true nature of the city was impossible to determine from the outside, they had continued to try to reach someone on the inside, but there was just static. He turned to Antasija, "Something's definitely wrong, the city is far too dark, it doesnt look like anyone has maintained the place for months, maybe years." "Well, that's not quite a worst case scenario, but it's certainly not a good thing." Antasija says, "What's the suggested course of action and how heavily armed should we be upon our entry into the area?" she asks, checking on her choise of outfit to make sure it was all in the right place, tactically speaking. Shaking his head he quickly retorted, "I suppose you can bring the Thompson. Considering I can't get anyone on the radio, and the computer system is either down or being jammed, I'm thinking we should be prepared for a worst case scenario." putting on the various holsters and spare ammunition he'd potentially require, all able to be worn under his dark grey pinstriped suit, he had to remain a certain level of class after all. A female voice came over the intercom, "Airlock connected, All good things of this earth, flow into Rapture." "I was thinking about something a bit more tactical actually, but if you want me to bring the Thompson I certainly can. It doesn't fit with the present outfit though." she opens a briefcase and produces an AK-12 configured for 9x39mm rounds and grabbed a pair of 95 round drums, "Really, I feel it would be less effective than this." Looking through the armory they had been standing in, he ran his fingertips across the weapons, eventually deciding upon an FN SCAR, "You always have a certain style about you, one of these days we're gong to have to actually try that thing out though, maybe it shoots holy bullets or something." he teased, slinging the weapon onto his shoulder, along with a backpack containing breaching equipment, if the city's computer had been comprimised getting anywhere would require a blowtorch or some C4. Antasija cradled her weapon, the barrel of which was almost as long as her torso, "Do you think so?" she asks, obviously asking about the first thing he'd said rather than anything else; the precise makeup of her outfit was a rather form fitting tactical-grey, lightly padded catsuit with a tactical vest over it and a headset, but that was about it, "I'd not take the chance on the holy bullet thing." "I know so, I must have rubbed off on you." he said sticking out his tongue. "We'll have to try it out next time we have to fight something unnatural, can't hurt to try at least, and if so we'll have a weapon that doesn't involve my own variant of vampness." He said unscrewing the door, the smell of the air was musty as it poured into the cabin, "That's always a good sign..." he said trailing off, the lights powered on as they entered the welcome center, trash laying littered everywhere. There was no sign of life, no noises, just the sound of the air filtration system blowing air that was far too old. Antasija flicks an eyepiece down over her left eye. Her vision was exceptional and she already had a certain amount of nightvision, but having a precise rangefinder and a little bit of thermal capability was nice too, "Smells terrible in here." she kicks a coke can absently. The nearest terminal was down of course, he walked away from it with a sigh, the giant television screens flickering static above him. Standing in the middle of the place he looked around, "Let's try to rail line first, I suppose, we need to get back to the tower, that's the only way we're gonna actually find out where the $%&@ everyone is." "That sounds like a good enough idea." she keeps the powerful weapon to her shoulder, ready to blow anything that moved too suspiciously away. "I don't like how quiet it is." With her words, she of course cursed them to regret those words, as they moved quietly to the Station, voices could be heard, putting a finger to his lips they stood and listened. A disheveled woman stood over a baby carriage, talking down to it but making little sense. "Momma's gonna take good care of you, not like your old momma, I love my baby, She didn't scream much, she must not have loved you." the woman rambled on and on. Mogar gave a puzzled look and gestured for her to stay put and keep a bead on the woman, slinging his gun and walked towards the woman, "Hello?" he asked loudly and clearly, wanting to ensure he was not a surprise to the obviously manic woman. she turned and screeched at him, running directly at him with her arms spread, fingernails long and sharp. Antasija, not wasting a moment, put an eight round burst of fire into the woman who was very clearly off her rocker, her weapon's recoil not causing her to waver more than half a foot across her target over the course of the automatic fire. When finished, and sure that the woman was dead, she lowered her weapon, "Cause that wasn't creepy." He quickly went to the baby carriage, filled with empty vials and syringes, "Well, no baby, of course." he said dryly, begining to examine her body, "Gunshot wounds killed her, at least. Obvious signs of severe ADAM usage, mutations within her DNA are likely based upon the condition of her body, someone opened the floodgates of the stuff down here, what she had in the carriage I couldn't use in a year." "Well at least something's alive down here." Antasija says, taking a scan around the area, "Not sure if that's a good thing for us but at least nothing Too catastrophic has taken place." He continued a scan of her body, the amount of ADAM was... incredible to say the least, that she was even able to maintain breathing with that much in her system proved a tolerance could be built up, there was so many unknowns when he had begun the project, it appears he would find one possible scenario, perhaps at too great of a cost. "I don't think that was a good sign at all, the ADAM works like a drug, it does have a certain level of addiction, to have ingested this much and still be alive is impressive, but where there's one drug addict there's plenty more." he said quietly, getting onto the empty looking train, walking through the cabins to check for any unwanted guests before reaching the "engine", and switching the thing on. Antasija dropped the mag and set about replacing the rounds she'd spent and replacing the clip, "Well, do we clear the place out or do we go grab reinforcements?" she asks while she does this. "What reinforcements? You want to travel all the way back to Japan on another Earth to go begging for soldiers from the Empress?" He put on a sarcastic british accent, "Please mam, I want sum soldiers for me city." He shook his head, "We're on our own, maybe we'll find survivors, the city was made up of the best and brightest, someone will have kept themselves alive, and anyone else we can dispatch." "Well I don't $%&@in' know, I figure you've got connections or something." Antasija says, "Where do you want to go from here?" He shrugged, "Fort Frolic is the next stop, and if we don't find anyone there, onward to MoG[Tower], we either find survivors or I figure out what the hell happened." he said, starting the train upon its journey. "Well I think it's obvious what happened, someone got too liberal with the bio-technical gear while you were gone." she says, taking a seat and looking outwards, "Shouldn't be too hard to clear the place." He laughed coldly, "Two hundred and fifty thousand people were in this city when we left, even if 90% of them died, we're still up against potentially twenty five thousand people, all of whom will likely try to kill me due to my body possessing ADAM, you thankfully don't have any in your system due to your little vacation, but they'll be able to smell me out real quick." "So, bullets for the first couple-hundred and a good thrashing for the rest." she shrugs, "Unless they get too grouped together, I don't see a terrible problem. It might be quite a camping trip though, few weeks at least." He looked around the cart, "I'm honestly in the mood to drink at this point, I had figured that maybe the signals were just jammed due to the city's defenses, not that my city had turned into a den of monsters." he stared pensively out the window, a school of fish was swimming by as they blew past in the high speed rail. "We're going to find Fontaine, he's the only one who would have done this." "He might be dead." she shrugged and continued to look out the window, "And if he isn't I imagine he's had a difficult time staying alive." He turned to her, appreciating her pale skin in the green glow of the water and it's inhabitants outside, deciding to walk over to her and wrap his arms around her waist, turning her to face him and kissed her forehead lightly, "I appreciate you going along with me through all of this crazy life we have chosen, it's nice to see you'll help me kill a quarter million people if we needed to." he teased, taking the brief lull in action to relax and reflect upon his strange relationship. "Decrease the surplus population." she says in her best Scrooge impression, "Bah, humbug." she kisses him, "You know, the corpse kinda ruins the mood." He chuckled, "I wasn't planning on going much further than this, we have a city to save, or burn down and recreate, I dunno." Turning her in his arms, he rested his head upon her shoulder as Fort Frolic grew larger. Nipping at her ear he whispered, "Besides, I happen to love when you get that lustful look of battle in your eyes. Talk about turn ons my little vampsicle." "Burning it down would be a terrible waste of resources." she kisses him again, "Personally I'm not a big fan of the times I get that way." Checking his weapon as they entered the tunnel into Fort Frolic, he smiled at her, "Well, I'm thinking you're going to have to learn to enjoy it for the next few days."
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OOC: The other thread will be pretty much the background for the squad but this thread will be the real Delta Squad thread that involves both the squad and Emperor Brian of the Empire of Shanghai as he tries to peacefully unite all of China against possible aggression from Japan. I also would like this to use TidyBowlMan's rules where everything and all wars pretty much have their outcomes planned ahead where it can benefit everyone that is a part of it. "The Shanghai Empire has been in a long era of peace and prosperity yet it still had a very large army of just under 300k strong to ward off any potential foreign enemies. But even then the Empire’s enemies were not always as far away as they thought..." Jesse approached the royal palace alone and the guards bowed down to him as they opened the door to let him inside. The main entrance and throne room had walls covered in gold and Jade and the sun coming through the large windows reflected off the walls causing the side of the wall away from the windows to glow in bright green and gold. Jesse eventually made it to Emperor Brian who was in his garden in the courtyard at the center of the palace grounds. “You wanted to see me my Emperor?” “Please Jesse, the guards already know who you really are so here you can call me your father. I wanted to check on you to see how things were going with your assignment as part of Henry’s Dragom PMC.” “Honestly very slow. Things seem peaceful in the world at the moment. Something tells me that is not the real reason as to why you wanted to see me though.” “You are right. There is tension brewing between our Empire and those of Northern and Southern China. When my father and his brother stood against their own father to give the empire back to the people the war was bloody and very costly. His entire reign was known for bringing the empire back into an era of peace and prosperity yet he died peacefully before he could really succeed in his real plans for uniting all of China under one banner to counter the continuing tensions between us and the Empire of Japan. The Southern China has been more reasonable and peaceful to us than the Empire in the North but I intend to continue the plans of my father and unite us all against our potential foreign enemies.” “Look I know you want to be the best and most loved ruler China has ever seen even though you might not be fully Chinese but you have to be reasonable here. Odds are even though they probably want to unite all of China against Japan as well they probably don’t want you to be the Supreme Leader. The other empires loved your father and probably would have joined under him if he was still alive but he isn’t. You are our Emperor now and I don’t know if they like you as much as they did him.” “My father was Chinese but my mother was American and yes I have pretty much inherited here genes more than my father’s but I am still his son and the rightful ruler of China. I have been a just and kind ruler just as he was and if they can see how much of a threat Japan is just like we do they wouldn’t question me.” “Then I guess we have to hope that they do agree with you otherwise this whole plan could go downhill really fast.”
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The former Imperium of Japan had risen like a Phoenix from the ashes of the nuclear war, where once there was only Japan and the Five Tiger, now stood the Greater East Asian Imperial Co-Prosperity Sphere. the largest nation by population in the world, and along with it one of the largest industrial bases. Macau was centrally located within the Sphere and Her Imperial Majesty had realized the importance of the re branding of the nation, it gave them a chance to work with those who had previously spurned her diplomatic overtures, and give those she did not interact with a chance to see the spectacular nation she had built. She would sent out invitations to the leadership of every nation in the world, inviting them to spend a week in Macau to celebrate the second rebirth of her nation. [spoiler][/spoiler] OOC: CNRP2 Party Thread, come hang out and shoot the !@#$ with one another, let's do some character RP. No major rules, but no character killing without consent, yadda yadda, have fun with it. For reference to those who want all dat realism !@#$ RP is going to originate in The Venetian Macao.
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Maelstrom stood before a press conference at his hotel in Sri Lanka, behind a podium. "My people, it is rare that I speak to you directly, let alone the world at large, but today I have envisioned something new that requires the world's attention. I have had a vision of a way forward that I believe most of the world can get behind and embrace. This great world, shaped by its many dreamers, has often been fought over for land and territory when the real challenge is not how much land you can hold.. or how far you can spread your dreams over its surface, but the quality of the dream they are allowed to live in. Building, not destroying and collaboration, not coercion.. those are the true challenges of this existence. For out of the chaos we call forth order, we shape a world and its boundaries. We define it and we give it life. White space yields to abundant color and life shaped by the greater thought we dream together. In the spirit of that, I have forged this treaty in the words of this world to start as the first step. Dreams should not be destroyed in mass. It is uncreative, destructive, to easily done, and hopes to easily dashed. I hereby give definition to war crimes and what their penalty shall be should the perpetrators fall into the hands of Druk Yul. I welcome the world, its dreamers, and its heads of state to join with me in its signing and put an incredibly destructive era behind us."
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Emperor Ryu Kenji, stands in the foyer of his palace. Looking out upon his miniscule nation. He sighs in a deep breath. Much responsibility has been placed upon his shoulders. Enlightened by the Buddah. He seeks to forge new relationships, alliances, and enemies. He departs to his quarters in wait and anticipation..
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OOC: all posts regarding the situation in Laos will go here The Cambodian air force bombed several LSF encampments near the Cambodian-Helzan border. Reports show that while the militia have large numbers, they're easy to scatter and look undisciplined. An estimated 40,000 are assembling near Attapu and that a large group have been reported digging in near the Helzan border, Cambodian Air Command forwarded the scout reports to Helzan to warn it of the enemy digging in trenches and make shift defenses to stop them North East of Attapu. Aerial photo showing miles of trenches being built to repel the Helzan forces, photo and scouting report forwarded to Helzan to coordinate against the LSF.
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This speech was recently made by Jonah Kanahele, aka Captain Hawaii on the Holonet reaching out to any Imperials who survived the Rebel Massacre. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Stormtroopers and IMPSOC, IMUA!" "IMUA!" The Soldiers shouted "The Great Time has just begun, we have encountered setbacks, we have encountered betrayal after betrayal, but we will rise again! "In the recent voyage from the Old World we lost ten percent of our people, nearly 200,000 men, women and children, including our beloved President Kukahiko, he who founded SOCSOV and liberated our sacred islands. But we were not defeated, and we were not enslaved, we who know that freedom is preferable to death. We would not again yield to the slavery offered us by the bourgeoisie. "And so we came to this Galaxy, surrounded by enemies from the start. We found not a paradise, but a barren world left by those we fled from. And we were immediately besieged. In that dark year, we lost yet another ten percent of what remained of our people. We suffered greatly, but this only forged us into a closer family, a diamond in the rough waiting to be polished. "And it was then that we saw the first Star Destroyer arrive, and in less than a day it had delivered us from the death-grip of the Rebels. Remember with me comrades, the sight of it's brilliant green beams and massive walkers. The Great Emperor Palpatine, Savior of our People, built us back up. It was because of that great man that we have our fleet and our people today!" A sudden emotional roar began among the formed up soldiers, spread into an avalanche of cheering. Fists were raised as the crowd began to chant in one voice, IMUA! IMUA! IMUA! "But our fleet is not our greatest strength, it never will be, Our greatest strength is the unwavering will the passionate commitment of our people to this socialist state, a band of brothers forged in fire and blood. This is not a state that says, only some must give, and others live in luxury, NO! All must give, all must sacrifice to the glory of our New Order, the continuation of the Will of Palpatine. "We said before to the Hawaiian People, and now to the Galaxy, do not ask for help, do not wait for liberation, instead we ask of you, Help Yourselves! If you call for our help, we will shed the last of our sacred blood to see you free. For Imperial Socialism is not to be selfishly held onto by one people, but must be shared with all. And we will Never Forget the sacrifices of those who came before us. "Perhaps history will remember us unkindly, for our victory is not certain. We do not have the benefits of colonies and intergalactic connections. We do not have the amenities that the bourgeoisie systems enjoy. But we have our Pride, our Freedom, and our Utmost Will to win, and this is something nobody will every take from us again! "To our enemies, you can persecute us, you can R.E.T.C.O.N. us, you can even genocide us, but we will never capitulate! Long live the Imperial Socialist Movement!" IMUA! IMUA! IMUA!
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[CNRP2] Flag of the United Soviet Socialist States of Greater Eurasian Union "MARCH OF THE USSE" ANTHEM The United Soviet Socialist States of Greater Eurasian Union OR United Soviet Socialist Eurasia (USSE) ------------------ Banner of the Soviet Bolshevik Party HEADS OF GOVERNMENT General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Bolshevik Party of the Eurasian Soviet Union and People's Commissar for Defense of the Soviet Union: Dacian Putin Chairman of the Committee for State Security (KGB) of the Eurasian Soviet Union: General Andrei Gurlukovich Chief Political Commissar of the Education Bureau: Zibigniew Jaruzelski Minister of Economic Affairs: Dr. Iosef Gregoravich Minister of Foreign Affairs: Baron Von Uberstein --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MILITARY OF THE USSE Personnel: 400,000 Air Force: 180 Front Line Aircraft KGB: Hundreds Navy: 15+ ships --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT (NATO: TOP SECRET) GROUND FORCE COMPOSITION OF THE EURASIAN RED ARMY [This task list is dated and should not be taken as current] HEADQUARTERS OF THE REVOLUTION National Defense University of Warsaw -- Temporary Headquarters [OOC: PENTAGON WONDER] ---------------------------------------- Active Army Regional Commands These divisions are the finest and most experienced in the Red Army and are oriented for all types of warfare. They serve as the hammer of the Red Army, delivering the killing blow with rapid mechanized infantry and armored units. (M) denotes mechanized capability, (T) denotes additional armored Armored BCT attachment (roughly 60-70 MBTs, a third of an armored division). Strategic: SS-21 Scarab-C, SS-23 Spider, S-300 Air Defense Batteries Standing: 60,000/500 Challenger MBTs (listed by Division) 1st Infantry Division (M)(T) - Task Force Warsaw 2nd Infantry Division (M)(T) - Task Force Warsaw 3rd Infantry Division (M)(T) - Task Force Vilnius 4th Infantry Division (M)(T) - Task Force Vilnius 5th Infantry Division (M)(T) - Task Force Krakow Naval Infantry: (10,000) Naval infantry are similar to active army soldiers but are trained to defend the Baltic Wall. 100 Companies of the Wall Reserves: 139,000/1200 Challenger MBTs (listed by Task Force) Reserves tend to lack the experience of the Active Red Army Divisions, but possess the same training and equipment. All Armored divisions are part of the Red Army Reserves. Task Force Warsaw 2 Infantry Divisions (x2M) 3 Armored Divisions Task Force Krakow 2 Infantry Divisions (x1M) 2 Armored Division Task Force Vilnius 3 Infantry Divisions 1 Armored Division Partisans: 50,000 (listed by Task Force or Region) Partisans are Soviet Bolshevik Party combatants, foreign guerrilla forces under Eurasian Command, and independent groups ranging from cells to battalion sized elements who carry the Red Banner. Weapons generally include Small arms, anti-tank weapons and MANPADs, although nearly 100 Challenger tanks are holding urban areas. There are also a large number of armored fighting vehicles, although more often one would witness pick trucks with mounted anti-air cannons or other anti-tank/anti-personnel weapons. Improvised Explosive Devices, including EFP weapons, are frequently employed when outnumbered. Task Force Warsaw (10,000) Task Force Krakow (5,000) Task Force Vilnius (5,000) Northern Baltic States (30,000) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Division Organization Infantry or Mechanized Infantry Division - 10,000-12,000 Boots 3 Infantry or Mechanized Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (3000-4000 each) Infantry Brigade Combat Team: 3 Infantry Battalions (800 each) 1 Field Artillery Battery 1 Special Troops Battalion 1 Brigade Support Battalion Armored Division (2000 boots, 200 Main Battle Tanks) 3 Armored Brigade Combat Teams (60-70 Challenger MBTs each) Armored Brigade Combat Team: 3 Combined Arms Battalions (2 (M) Infantry and 2 MBT companies each) 1 Mechanized Field Artillery Battery 1 Special Troops Battalion (M) 1 Brigade Support Battalion SAMPLE INFANTRY BATTALION BATTALION (800-1000 men) - Command Company (100) -- CO, XO, S1-S5 -- Recon -- Medics -- Snipers - Three Rifle Companies (200 Each) -- Three Platoons per Company -- One Weapons Platoon - Weapons Company (100) -- MANPAD Platoon -- Mortar Platoon -- Combat Anti-Armor Team - Forward Support Company (attached, non-snowtrooper) -- Engineers -- Mechanics -- Support Each brigade is armed with an organic artillery Battery. Mechanized and Armored Brigades have 4-vehicle AS-90 batteries, as well as 2 2-vehicle Tõll (Toell) 305 SPSA batteries. Mechanized artillery also uses Firefinder Radar to assist in counter-battery fire. Reserves have six 4-gun "Half-Batteries" (4 gun, 2 rocket.) Most infantry battalions have a MANPAD weapons platoon or mechanized equivalent. The Combat Anti-Armor Team is armed with RPG-29 launchers, TBG-29V launchers, PG-29V rounds, 2B14 Podnos mortars as well as a RT-20 rifles. Each infantry soldier is normally equipped with: an entrenching tool, a hand grenade, an incendiary thermite grenade, body armor & helmet, MOLLE webbing, a small first aid kit, 1 liter canteen, rain parka, gas mask, communication device, modernized sword bayonet, and of course, their personal weapon and sidearm. Equipment may vary or be added accordingly for environment. A battery of M270 MLRS is attached at the division level. Mechanized divisions are fully equipped with Sisu XA-203 APC's, and are marked with a (M). Other forces rely on the non-APC transportation listed. Tanks are held as 100-tank Armored Attachments, and are attached to divisions are needed. Divisions with an Armored Attachment are marked with a (T). Standard Equipment & Weaponry Standard Caliber: 5.56×45mm NATO Valmet M82 Lahti L-35 Sword Bayonet CETME Ameli MG 3 Kord Machine Gun RT-20 M67 Hand Fragmentation Grenades RPG-29 9K38 Igla Protection: PASGT 81 Kranaatinheitin 71 Y 155mm GH52 APU Sesks (Polecat) AS-90 Tõll (Toell) 305 SPSA BM-14 95 S 58-61 Firefinder Radar Standard Transportation for Infantry Divisions Volvo C303 LTV Sisu XA-203 Casspir Sisu SA-150 GUT Sisu E11T HUT The Baltic Union Army Maintains a force of the following Helicopters. Mil Mi-24 Mil Mi-17 Mil Mi-2 Mil Mi-26 Kamov Ka-27 Kamov Ka-31 K-MAX -
The Executive Branch and the U.S. Congress have constitutional responsibilities for U.S. foreign policy. Within the Executive Branch, the Department of State is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency, and its head, the Secretary of State, is the President's principal foreign policy advisor, though other officials or individuals may have more influence on their foreign policy decisions. The Department advances U.S. objectives and interests in the world through its primary role in developing and implementing the President's foreign policy. The Department also supports the foreign affairs activities of other U.S. Government entities including the Department of Defense, the Department of Finance and Trade, the Department of Homeland Security, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. It also provides an array of important services to U.S. citizens and to foreigners seeking to visit or immigrate to the U.S. The Department of State's purpose includes: Protecting and assisting U.S. citizens living or traveling abroad; Assisting U.S. businesses in the international marketplace; Coordinating and providing support for international activities of other U.S. agencies (local, state, or federal government), official visits overseas and at home, and other diplomatic efforts. Keeping the public informed about U.S. foreign policy and relations with other countries and providing feedback from the public to administration officials. Providing automobile registration for non-diplomatic staff vehicles and the vehicles of diplomats of foreign countries having diplomatic immunity in the United States. The Department of State conducts these activities with a civilian workforce, and normally uses the Foreign Service personnel system for positions that require service abroad. Employees may be assigned to diplomatic missions abroad to represent America, analyze and report on political, economic, and social trends; adjudicate visas; and respond to the needs of American citizens abroad. As required by the principle of checks and balances, the Department also consults with Congress about foreign policy initiatives and policies. Secretary of State Alisha Taitt
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TS//SCI IN PLAIN SIGHT Although HIPACOM had quickly destroyed any sensitive documents, hard drives and secure servers, it was not able to destroy the biological weapons supply in time for the Rapture. With the imperialists poised to launch anti-SOCSOV propaganda defending their invasion, it was inevitable the imperialists would tow the US Imperialist party line. Long before the Rapture occurred, SOCSOV had established international branches of SOCSOV and multiple front operations for recruitment and financing. One movement even took power briefly in Greater Russia due to fear of Japanese Imperialism. Financial assets in overseas accounts totaling tens of billions of dollars were transferred, laundered, disguised and otherwise placed in the hands of a number of legitimate front organizations. This was all organized through the SIPRNET and JWICS infrastructure that was still in place. They ranged from communist parties, restaurants, smaller corporations, eco groups, American Indian lobbyists, and many other smaller organizations. The largest by far was the World Peace Foundation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UNCLASSIFIED BROADCAST ON A CABLE CHANNEL TV SHOW: This is exactly what the World Peace Foundation stands for. "My friends, it has often been said that I like peace. Friends, I like peace. No, FRIENDS, I LOVE PEACE. "I love aid distribution, I love peacekeeping forces, I love habitats for humanity, I love demilitarization, I love disarmament, I love peace protests and I love humans rights summits. Peace in prairies, in streets, in trenches, in grasslands, in frozen tundras to deserts, in the sea, in the air, I love every form of peace that can occur in this world. I love blasting resentment to smithereens with well placed childhood development projects. My heart leaps with joy whenever a protester lifts a sign high into the air in solidarity against imperialist aggression. "My friends, all I ask for is peace. Peace so grand so as to make heaven itself envious. Gentlemen, I ask you as fellow keepers of your brothers what is it that you really want. Do you wish for peace as I do, a merciful, bloodless peace?" "What I need is for you to report all imperialist aggression, including troop movements, militarization, illegal armaments, attempts to squash free speech, civil rights violations, human rights grievances, illegal occupation, and all other forms of imperialism. We need your eyes, we need your vigilance, we need your donations, and we need you to get the word out!"
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OOC: This is the CNRP2 version of Delta Squad and I guess Henry's PMC can sort of be considered a nation for CNRP2 that has no land of its own and instead serves whoever pays them the most money. For the numbers of Henry forces I am doing what I would have if I was making it a CNRP2 nation which is ((29036*.8= 23229)*10) 232,290 officially. This is also not planned to have dragons except for the name of the PMC or any other supernatural stuff in it unless other people want to make it a part of the story. Also rights for Henry's interview kind of go to Sledgehammer Games because it is pretty much the same one from the new COD Advanced Warfare trailer but I added a bit more of my own at the end. Unknown person in the future talking about the Dragon Corporation and Delta Squad: “The Dragon PMC was the largest known Private Military Corporation of it's time and like mercenary groups it usually only fought for whoever would pay them the most money. Commander Jesse and his Delta Squad composing of his best friends Jordan, Nathan, John, and Anthony were known as the best soldiers of the entire PMC and were usually sent on the most important and dangerous missions that the PMC got involved in and some of them seemed to deal with things that went against the laws of science. Now what the squad does is classified most of the time but I can tell you a little more about them. Jesse wasn't married but had a close relationship with Nathan's sister Christine who worked as an Intelligence Officer of the Dragon Corporation and was the one that supplied the team with all of their intel before and during the missions. The rest well... you are gonna have to find that out yourself.” Present Day: The team was didn't do much during their current downtime but were watching a video interview of the CEO of the PMC named Henry who was making a speech about Democracy and how it didn't really work as well as many people thought. “Democracy? Democracy? Democracy is not what people need–hell it’s not even what they want. America has been trying to instill democracies in nations for a century, and it hasn’t worked one time. These countries don’t have the most basic building blocks to support a democracy. Little things like we aught to be tolerate to those who disagree with us. We aught to be tolerate to those who worship a different god than us. That a journalist ought to be able to disagree with the president! And you think you could just march into countries based on some fundamentalist, religious principles, drop a few bombs, topple a dictator, and start a democracy!? *Scoff* Give me a break. People don’t want freedom. They want boundaries, rules. Protection. From invaders and from themselves. People need a leader who could give them both the support and the constraints to keep chaos at bay. You give them that, they’ll follow. And that’s where I come in. My company is used for missions that are too dangerous for their own men to complete and a lot of it had to do with helping them invade whole countries to install a “Democratic Government”. It still has not worked for them yet and probably never will. Now to answer your question: NO. If I was going to rule my own country it would not be a Democracy.” The entire squad clapped as he finished his speech and they all looked at their squad leader Jesse. “So what do we do now sir?” “Now we wait for our next mission. I'm sure something will come up soon.”
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Regional Business Center Trade and Commerce Authority The RBC will consist of a commercial district and an industrial zone, both of which are located in the City of Cork. It is the TCA's hope, along with the Irish Government, that this new economic hub will bring in large profits for the county and those who invest in it. We are estimating that 250,000 – 300,000 people will be working or visiting the complex at any given time and bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. This new center will welcome companies and corporations from all over the world to come and trade with Irish entities as well as other international ones. There is no fee to join the RBC and it is encouraged that companies open field offices and/or manufacturing facilities in nearby areas. Mr. Clayton Danis Commissioner of Trade and Commerce Authority
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Since the formation of the Livonian Duchy silence crept over the country as the government fell into complacency. To the people little changed as the provincial governors of the German Empire paid little attention to the countryside, but the lack of government existence in the far reaches of the Duchy made intellectuals in the cities and villages weary of the future. The obvious weakness of the monarchy could lead to the Russians or Germans retaking the Baltics for their own uses and placing millions of free "Livonians" back to work stripping and mining their country of resources to be sent to Berlin or Moscow. A new freedom existed and it would not be wasted. On the Baltic Coast in a small village called Palanga an old car that made a terrible blast every time it switched gears pulled into the center of town. Old men, scratching their stomachs and spitting into tin pails, slowly stood up from chessboards. A middle-aged woman opened the door and stood on the dusty roads with a worn suitcase in her hand. Her blonde hair held together in a tight braid that sat on her head with a crown as she smiled and bowed her head to the old men. "You missed me, I can tell." The old men, joined by their wives began to clap as Vilkas, the barkeep opened the doors and beckoned the crowd inside. Audra Zujute had returned from Athens, the first person and woman for that matter travel from Palanga to attend school across the continent. "So tell us, Audra," said Vilkas as the old men threw her against the bar and the keep pulled out several bottles of vodka and dark beer. "How did you enjoy your time in the south? When you left you were a German and now you come back and you're something called a 'Livonian.' Though we still haven't figured out what that means." He laughed as a trio of fiddlers began to play near the back of the tavern. "I saw that in the papers, they placed us far in the back, behind all the other wars happening around the world." Said Audra as she took a glass filled with vodka, which omitted a rancid smell that smelt particularly like home. She threw the liquid back and one of the older women slapped her across the face to make her forget the foul taste. "But," she paused, taking a breath from the shot and the pain, "As soon as I heard that the Germans withdrew I came running back. Haven't even finished my studies really, but for what matters at home, I've learned enough." "So what did they teach you down south, girl?" said the keep again, "Something that would make Zujut proud for having missed you for these years?" Audra smiled hearing about her grandfather and more importantly, that he was still alive. "I learned that Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians, can all live together in peace and as 'Livonians' and we can do that without some monarch telling us how to live, how to work, how to shit." The tavern fell silent as soft grins came from some of the old men and women huddled around her. One young face in the back took special attention. Alekzander Katilus, the boy who never forgot the young girl who tended her grandfather's garden as he watched from the road, chuckled. She had a mind now and already the shaky environment that held Livonia together was beginning to break. There were other intellectuals across the country, in Riga, in Vilnius, and on the Russian border who wanted nothing more than the collapse of the Duke and the end of repressive monarchical style governments. Monarchs had reigned on the Baltic for long enough and the fascists were no better, changed needed to happen. Who was to say that the young girl who tended her garden and now had a mind couldn't be that person? "Audra?" he shouted over the fiddles and din of the tavern, "Why do you humor these old men, they don't know what you're saying." He said and jumped down from his chair. Audra's eyes widened in surprise as Alekzander walked over and the old men guffawed and waved their hands at the young man. "He thinks he's in love, poor farmer has to get his hands out of the dirt." "And all of you have to get your heads out of the vodka bottles." He said taking the girl's hands and whisked her from the tavern and out into the square as the sun began to set behind the sea's horizon. He kissed her with a smile and pushed his black hair behind his ears. "I have friends that you need to meet, from Tallinn. If you want to put that mind to good use." "I've missed everything that's been going on, I didn't get much news from Athens as to what is happening here. And I forgot my suitcase in the tavern." "Don't worry about it, you won't need it, if you still have that old spunk in you, we'll go to Tallinn tonight." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a copy of the Treatise on Bolivarism that had originated in Venezuela. "I told them, I had a friend who knows how to write and knows how to speak, they want to make Livonia last this time. Not to let history repeat itself." "I'd like that," Audra said and kissed him again. "Then we should go." An hour later they were in Alekzander's car bumping along dirt paths towards Tallinn. -
Alex Campbell was a professional horse-rider just past his prime at the age of 29. The signs of aging on the frontier were starting to show. His skin was darkening into a solid olive tone, and his green eyes looked tired. His tale begins like any other, in a musty old bar in a limestone mining town called Baker. He was at a table with four nameless folks, chewing the fat and playing a round of poker. He kept his hat low on his head, staring at his hand and waiting for the others to finish betting. "Put 'em down gentlemen," a soft-spoken mexican man said to the table. Alex put down his hand, a flush. The man sitting next to him was slightly perturbed at his loss, but decided to settle his frustrations like a civilized man. "You dirty rotten cheat!" Or not. The man drew his gun on Alex and backed away from the table, aiming for the back of his head. Alex started to stand up when the man said, "Stay where you $%&@in' are." "You're not going to shoot a man in his back now, are ya?" He grumbled, "'course not." "Then can I at least face my accuser? This may be a territ'ry but it's still America, am I right?" "Fine, on yer feet." Jimmy stood at a tall six feet, three inches. He towered over the smaller man, standing a mere yard away from him. "Now," Alex asked, "Can I ask your name, friend?" "I'm not your friend, cheat." "And I'm not a cheat, guy. What's your name?" The man relaxed his gun arm. "They call me Utah. Utah Brooks." "Alex Campbell. Now, can you put your danged gun down so we can talk about this like civil men?" Alex crossed his arms and stared him down. Utah holstered his gun. "You had cards up your sleeves." Alex looked down at his bare forearms, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. "I'm not a scientist, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be possible to hide cards up my sleeves. "You makin' fun of me?" He drew his gun again. This time Alex was quick on the draw as well, producing a very large revolver from his hip. Utah's eyes were almost as big as his palms, now. "Now, Utah, I don't fire this gun very often, because sometimes it'll misfire, the bullets are so big. However when it does shoot straight, it'll leave a hole in your head big enough for a pint. If you don't get your finger off that trigger in three seconds, I'm turning your head into a very large bracelet bead.
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[b]Breaking News: President Romero announces a world tour![/b] Newly elected president Hygin Romero declared that as a part of a his expanded foreign policy goals, he will undertake a tour of nations around the world. President Romero hopes to foster friendly relations with nations, bringing a message of trade and international cooperation in his travels. Governments interested in receiving Mr. Romero should contact the Department of Security in Manila to discuss arrangements. [img]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/29_philip_salvador.jpg[/img] Image: President Hygin Romero OOC: Sign up now and I'll be touring through December into early January. The President can be in multiple places at once (because he's cool like that), so I'll run a thread for each country that's interested. Selenarctos is looking for increased treaties with Pacific nations and trade agreements everywhere, but the President there to visit as well so please show off your nation, your economy, your military, or whatever you like. Edits: Thread links as they go up: [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=114221"]Vietnam[/url] [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=114232"]Socialist Republic of Georgia[/url] [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=114302"]Greater Quebec Republic[/url] [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=114369"]The United Republics of Newfoundland and Labrador[/url] [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=114450"]Tianxia[/url] [url="http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?showtopic=114451"]Ouragon[/url]
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The Imperial Protectorate of Rolsa had always been a shining gem in the crown of the Imperial Commonwealth of Ventnor, over eight hundred thousand square kilometers of raw material-rich lands located about a twenty-five hundred kilometers south of Ventnor on the continent of Delil. Originally the Rolsan Republic, which was made up a confederation of loosely-knit states, and ruled by a Consul, Rolsa had been conquered by the better-organized Empire during the reign of Empress Rebecca III (known as 'The Masterful'). Capitalizing on internal divisions of the states of the Rolsan Republic, where some states wanted more autonomy and less of a centralized government mastering their own, Rebecca III had used her Premier at the time, Thomas Wakefield, along with a group of skilled diplomats and generals along with the well-equipped, well-organized, but moderately-sized Imperial Army to essentially dissolve Rolsa's sovereignty within two years. That had been almost a century before the current Emperor, Barrenger III, had taken the throne, and Ventnor was still able to capitalize on the internal divisions of Rolsa to ensure her dominance amongst the semi-autonomous states. Unlike his predecessors, however, Barrenger III was not as capable a statesman, soldier, or diplomat, and the call for reforms at home with an increasingly larger population and industry base was demanding the attention of his most important and talented individuals. Although these efforts were well-coordinated at home, and ensured the continuance of the Emperor's powerful stature in the state, the events coincided with increasing efforts by Ventnor's rivals, including the United City States and the rival Empire of Theron. With the ability to control Rolsa's coastal provinces, the Empire of Theron and the United City States was essentially shut out of trade from the mineral-rich lands by Ventnor, and with the Neutral Republics of Staveholm and Xavier control the rest of Delil, their options of getting at Rolsa were limited. Staveholm and Xavier were both countries that were better organized than Rolsa, but were insular and isolationist, able to handle their own affairs and stay aloof of global happenings. With a tightly-knit friendship and a long-standing mutual defense pact between the two, they could also check any colonial efforts against one another. Although they were not fond of Ventnor's overlordship of Rolsa, the country had been a thorn in their sides, having had multiple civil conflicts that had seen violence spread into the two countries. In a move of demure strategy, they simply allowed Ventnor to hold sway over Rolsa, allowing Ventnor to handle the rowdy and fractured Rolsa themselves and reaping the rewards of stability. This unspoken agreement between Ventnor, Staveholm, and Xavier checked any other nations' colonial influences in the region, and allowed Ventnor to rule over Rolsa without objection by its two neighbors. This balancing act had been achieved by Ventnor for almost a century, until Barrenger III took the throne, which would begin an erosion of Ventnor's hold over Rolsa, and the arrival of friendly agents from Theron that began helping coordinate leading opposition groups within Rolsa. This led to the recent fall of Ventnor's Colonial Capital in Rolsa, Denali, and the ongoing siege of the formidable Ventnorian Stronghold located ten kilometers to the south, Citadel Gold, along with the capture and holding of a number of Ventnor citizens, colonial administrators, and soldiers, which were being held in Denali. It was why the Imperial Army and Navy had dispatched and marshalled its strength in the still-loyal Roygun District on the coast, almost a full three hundred kilometers south of Denali, where the mouth of the Clearwater River lay. The shimmering warm waters and beautiful flora and fauna of the mouth of the Clearwater River was already lulling a number of the Ventnorian Soldiers and Sailors of the Expeditionary Force into a sense of complacency, it was a beautiful backdrop to a colony that had nearly a century's worth of grievances to make even to their colonial overlords. It was only by the efforts of Theronian agents and advisors that many Ventnor hostages were not dead, instead being held at ransom, but a number had been slaughtered, and the shortening tempers over the lengthy siege of Citadel Gold and the arrival of Ventnorian reinforcements almost guaranteed that frustrations might be taken out on hapless prisoners. "I'm not sure if I've ever seen a sunset this beautiful," said Lieutenant Patrick O'Malley, a lanky Ventnorian Naval officer assigned as the chief gunner's officer to the ironclad monitor, [i]Resolute[/i], with a heavily-freckled face and a flash of red hair cut short to regulation length. Wearing khaki regulation shorts with a short-sleeved tropic tunic, he also wore a blue peaked cap, although its top was puffy, and more of a newsie cap rather than a formal peaked caps, the Navy's emblem with a hawk carrying an anchor was embroidered on its front. He made his comment was made as he stood against a dock support that stood alongside the expansive and bustling quay of Roygun's District Capital, Front Imperial, where large numbers of vessels were tied up or anchored out in the cities' large harbor. "It's always been rather beautiful here in Front Imperial," replied Matthew Rourke, used to the views and subtleties that belied the tough environment of Rolsa's interior, the coast. Matthew wasn't a soldier, he wasn't even in the armed forces, unless it was supposed that you counted the auxilaries, who were more of civilians who could be called upon during times of civil conflict in the colony. He was, instead, one of the most experienced river captains for the Clearwater, knowing all the inlets and sandbars better than most sailors, he had sailed the Clearwater for nearly twenty-five years, since he had been sixteen. The tough older sailor was tall, with tanned leather skin, much like the locals he had grown fond of, longer hair, a grizzled face, and wore a slouch hat to protect him from the harsh Rolsan sun that was compounded by the oppressive humidity. He had also been enlisted by the Ventnorian Navy as the "Chief Local Pilot" of the Navy's relief force, destined for Citadel Gold and Denali. "I can see why you stayed here," replied O'Malley, addressing his newfound chum with a grin. The two had bonded well, as Matthew had been assigned to [i]Resolute[/i], which was to lead the relief force up the river as its lead vessel. "You're lucky the Captain of the ship didn't hurl you overboard when he found you hiding in the hold on the way over though," said the younger Ventnorian, chuckling nervously as he recounted his companion's stowaway experience in his head again. "He wanted to, I was lucky the cook needed a helper," replied the older sailor, as he took a small pull from a flask he kept in his personal satchel. "I'm still surprised that a local like yourself agreed to take the job as lead pilot, all I have heard is stories of death and doom," said O'Malley, looking down at his feet as Matt just sighed, and grinned lightly. "As long as I've lived here, I'm still considered a Ventnorian, I have not been upriver since the revolution began, but I have heard the stories, but remember how bad times can compound how much of an exaggeration a story may be," said Matt, not subscribing to the ferocious and bloodthirsty assessment of the Rolsans. He was friends with many Rolsans, along the entire river, the Ventnorian rule over the land was unpopular in many places, even he had a degree for the corrupt colonial administrators, who always took more than they should have, ruled with a stronger hand than what was necessary, and downright disrespectful. Matthew Rourke was not part of the expedition for the large sum he had been offered by Ventnorian colonial officers, there were reasons that the old salt (if you could call a freshwater sailor that) was part of the expedition that he had not uttered to anyone. The Rolsans had taken most individuals of Ventnorian birth hostage, a number were killed in Denali, as well as other settlements around Rolsa, before Theronian agents stepped in to prevent similar atrocities by the Ventnorian military who would undoubtedly come back with a vengeance. The list of hostages delivered to the colonial offices in Front Imperial included one Elizabeth Maurice, a Ventnorian frontier doctor who served the many outlying communities from her office in Denali, especially along the river. It had been during one of her travels with Matt that the two had become closely knit, and eventually found it in themselves to start building a close relationship, he had just returned her to Denali and had gone to Front Imperial to take a load of goods upriver when the rebellion had begun. Now she was one of those taken hostage, he was now desperate to ensure her safe return from the interior. O'Malley had taken to just basking in the last rays of the tropical sunset on the docks, but Matt's thoughts were now detained by that for his love, and his hand would go to his left breast pocket of his khaki tropical shirt, where a crumpled envelope. Through the canvas fabric and heavy paper, he could barely make out the small cylindrical object that lay there, the engagement ring he had ordered from a well-known jeweler in Ventnor specially, he had sent the gold and diamonds that he had made as payment for one of his trips to the jeweler, who had fashioned the ring for him. He fully intended to deliver it to her, and deliver her to safety, he couldn't give a damn about the colony and what it meant to some Emperor back in Ellsnor, he couldn't a damn about restoring his countries' hold over these lands, he saw what colonialism had brought to the Rolsans. He had served the colonial administration a number of times as a means of transportation aboard his own steamboat, by now, he had a jaded view; it was time that he served his own interests, it was a view that was putting his self-interests before others. He simply didn't give a damn about anything except ensuring his loves' safety, to do that, he would have to lead the Ventnorians north safely, once he was in Denali, he could fend for himself. The rebels and their Theronian friends were not stupid; Ventnor would respond with a ferocious backlash against them, and Matthew was now at the head of the naval assault that would lead that backlash. There was one thing that bound him to his fellow Ventorians who he would lead north; they would both have to run the gauntlet of the Clearwater River... [b][OOC: So, I'm enjoying the other steampunk thread a lot right now, and I'm starting another adventure! This is what I'm now calling the "Ventnor Chronicles" universe, this one takes place probably thirty or so years before the other one. Steam engines are just being perfected and being introduced right now, and have really just become available on a wide scale, this thread is open to anyone who wants to partake, they can join in the river journey north, be one of the freedom-fighting Rolsans, be back in Ventnor, supporting the war, etc., possibilities are kind of endless here, so long as they fit into the story. :awesome: ][/b]
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[b][OOC: So yeah, I've been toying with the idea of doing some literary work with the Steampunk world for some time now, so here's a first effort, this is an open thread, based in a world that is an alternative to our own. Basically, almost like a sandbox kind of world right now, feel free to join in with another country or create another region on what I've already started! If this picks up steam (no pun intended), I'll make an OOC thread, but for now, I'm just flying by the seat of my pants here.][/b] The morning haze over Gears Down was a little more thin this morning, the Capital of the Imperial Commonwealth of Ventnor, Ellsnor, could be seen in all its glory to the north, the spires of the city stretching through the mists that were provided by the River Wexel. The lack of smog on this occasion was, of course, due to the fact that it was the beginning of a new week. The maintainers were the only ones who worked through the weekend, performing vital work on the factories that sprawled across Gears Down. Gears Down, was in fact a district of Ellsnor, a product of legislation that had been passed through the hands of the Imperial Diet and the Emperor Barrenger IV himself, proclaiming that the "mire of industry" was to be kept downwind of Ellsnor. As much as the growth of industry had been a source of power for the Ventnorians over the last half century, with the rise of the driving force of steam power now perfected, it was also a environmental curse. To stay that curse, and prevent the beautiful Capital, the Crown Jewel of the Empire, from having to suffer under the soot and smog of industry, the Diet and Emperor had compromised with the enterprising heads of industry, who had already set up factories in Ellsnor before the legislation was passed. The compromise would lead to the heads of industry agreeing to move their mechanical marvels outside of Ellsnor, down the River Wexel, to an already well-known place of industry, Gears Down, in exchange for taxation subsidies and the promise of further domestic contracts for the Ventnorian Army and Navy. It was morning like these that senior mechanic apprentice, Jack "Slurry" Jenkins, could appreciate the clarity that the weekend brought the skies of Gears Down at the beginning of the week, he would always venture to the top of the tenement, one of many that formed the living spaces for Gears Down, before beginning his shift. The whirring of machinery from the nearby factories was constant, as the stokers brought the steam drive engines up to capacity to provide power for the manufacturing assemblages, which powered the industrial might of Gears Down. Simply put, Gears Down was a conglomerate of five or so massive industrial corporations, along with living spaces for their factory workers, who were provided with tenements for their services. There were other service-related shops, to provide a worker with everything that conceivably could be needed, along with smaller factories that typically worked in conjunction with the larger corporations that dominated the district. Although the haze of industry had cleared over the weekend, Jack could still smell it on the air, and he adjusted his goggle magnification with a touch of a button on the upper rim, focusing in on the trams coming in from Ellsnor on the elevated passenger line rails, bearing the floor managers and operations officers, and the "big wigs" - the corporation executives. That was not to say that Jack was not too bad off, not for a person of his age of twenty-three; he had larger living quarters than some working families did in the tenements, along with better pay, as a Senior Mechanic Apprentice, who was aide to the Diamond Motor Works' Chief Mechanical Engineer, Yves Student. He was fortunate that his father, a clockmaker who was a personal friend of Student, had taught him mechanics and engineering from a young age, and Jack had always excelled in math, it was his forte, and Student had gladly accepted him as an apprentice. Diamond Motor Works was the largest and most powerful industrial giant in Gears Down, it was involved in both producing replaceable parts, as well as being in the transportation production business, assembling locomotives and their engines, as well as engines for all sorts of applications. It also had a large stake in the fledgling aeronautical business, and was in the process of producing a steam-powered airship, despite the relative risks associated with it. Having been with Diamond since the age of eighteen, Jack was looking to the future to becoming a maintenance officer, a group of stellar individuals who oversaw the upkeep of the factories' massive assemblages and motors, which was an important job in and of itself. He looked downriver of Diamond Motor Works, where the great shipyards of Hyde and Sons dominated the skyline, with their steam-powered cranes and great slipways, where ships could be seen under various stages of construction, some vessels for commerce, others for the Ventnorian Navy. Upriver, the spiraling smokestacks of Rennie and Company marked where the small arms manufacturer produced most of the small arms and cartridges for the Ventnorian Army and Navy. These were just two other companies that dominated Gears Down alongside Diamond, the men who ran these companies were some of the most powerful in the country, boasting some of the largest workforces, and arguably richer than the Emperor himself. Jack slipped the combination driving/flash-fuse goggles that covered his brown eyes down, and looked down at his wrist, where his ClimaTime Bracelet rested; it was closing in on six-forty, twenty minutes until he had to report to Student. The ClimaTime Bracelet was something he was proud of, as he and Student had contrived and produced it, and it was a very popular product for Diamond, not only was it a watch, but it also provided ambient temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity indexes. He smiled, and picked up his Newsie Cap that he had deposited on the precipice of the edge of the tenement, and slid it on, heaving a sigh of the slightly acrid, sooty air, before jogging for the stairwell that would take him down to a skyway, where he could cross from the tenement, known as Cog West, to the factory's mezzanine. He snatched up his lunch pail from next to the roof door, and then flung the door open, gripping the railing and sliding it down to the first landing, repeating the process until he ran into a group of workers filing down from the upper floors of the tenament. The elevator grumbled in the shaft next to the stairwell, certainly bringing back lower-tier maintenance personnel (usually known as the Greasers) from their long weekend shifts to their apartments, and ferrying workers down to the skyways access points, which would lead them over to the factory. Jack joined the queue as they descended towards the skyway, smiling and exchanging morning pleasantries with some of the workers. "Fine morn ain't it Slurry?" asked a backup stoker, George "Burner" Turner, a bulky man with a balding head and a gruff appearance, despite being probably one of the most easy-going chaps on the engine line. "Clear as a whistle up top," responded Jack, with a smile, nodding up to the roof. "You can even see the base of the Spires of Ellsnor," he added, referring to the Imperial Residence. "Really? Must have had a good northlands breeze yesterday, clear out the smoke, you got any more tests coming up?" asked Burner, referring to Jack's apprenticeship tasks which he had to perform for Student. "None that he has told me about, but he's one to pop surprises on me, I have to go up to his office this morning," replied Jack, looking at his ClimaTime again. "First thing? I bet he has some task for you then, you're usually moving along the locomotive line first thing." "Right," said Jack, rhetorically, knowing that he didn't want to be late to Student's office. "We're three floors up now, right?" he asked, looking at Burner, before looking down the stairwell. "By my count," responded Burner, with a grimace as more people packed into the stairwell. Jack looked over the railing to the open landing three floors below, and then looked at Burner, "If you'd excuse me." He then grabbed a lead that was clipped on the inside of his coat pocket, and activated it, his heavy work boots hissing as he suddenly rolled over the railing, some of the workers letting out a gasp when he dropped. He braced himself as he flew down the thirty-foot-or-so drop, and landed with a hiss on his SoleCoils, which essentially were a series of hydrualics and springs which absorbed impacts on the bottom of specially-made boots, which were powered by air pressure that was built up from walking on the boots themselves, he unbent his shaky knees, and as he stepped forward, the enlarged sole of the boots would snap back to normal size again as he took a step. One of the security officers, Daniels, a lanky looking man with a flash of freckles and red hair, who was armed with a baton and the standard police wrist revolver. He wore a navy blue uniform tunic, light blue cavalry breeches and and a matching forage cap, along with identification stripes and sewn patches on his lapels to identify him as a Diamond Motor Works security officer. Daniels, and his fellow officers were part of the security detail that kept order as the workers filed onto the skyway that would lead them over to the factory, would shake his head. "One of these days, Jenkins, you're going to land on someone doing that," he said, his tone dismissive, but his face amused. He would add, sharply, however, "Don't do that again." "Sorry Officer Daniels." "Run along, boyo." Jack smiled a little inwardly to himself, as he took off at a jog, passing through the large groups of people, as he ran across the skyway towards Diamond Motor Works, eager to meet whatever challenges Student would bring his way that day...
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A missive was sent out to the nations of the world from the Imperial Court of the Tianxian Celestial Empire. Bearing the Imperial Seal it was to be delivered to each nation's head of state by the Tianxia Ambassador personally. It read: [quote][center][img]http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/9774/ghazanseal1302lettertob.jpg[/img][/center] O' Rulers from Lands Far Away, Here the Voice and Behold the Splendor of the Just and Virtuous Celestial Court, The Children of Heaven, the Emperor and Empress, rulers of this most harmonious realm have put out the call to rulers around the globe or their champion to come participate in a contest of skill in the Imperial Tournament of Kings in Dengfeng. They shall be the personal guests of the Imperial Court. This contest of Martial Skill shall be held on Mount Song, the home of both the training grounds of the Imperial Knights and Martial Arts. The winner of this contest shall prove their worthiness and be rewarded greatly, with both the favor of heaven as a ruler, and a prize from the Imperial Treasury. Those who have the mettle are invited to come and prove their worth in this most auspicious of contests. [center][b]Signed:[/b][/center] Wei Hai, Imperial Grand Vizier and Keeper of the Imperial Seal[/quote] In the wake of the missive, elaborate preparations were made in the mountain town of Dengfeng. The Empire would put on the games to great fan fare, renovating restaurants and hotels, bringing in master chefs and craftsman to prominently display the cultural power of the Empire. Stocks of fine wines, spirits, and teas were brought in from the furthest corners of the Empire, and silk clothes were prepared for guests. Austrian Orchestras from Ehestadt were brought in alongside traditional Chinese ones from the finest concert halls of Shanghai and Beijing. The Empire would display its cultural primacy for this grand event. In the tower of the Imperial Knights headquarters, Jia stood overlooking the preparations in the town below. Even now the smells of the great feasts being prepared for the opening ceremonies wafted up. He smiled. It had been some time since the Empire had displayed its high cultural side. Many had forgotten the need to display cultural greatness, at times even the Emperor himself. It felt good to unwind. He looked down at the stadium below, being prepared. It stood outside the great Shaolin Temple. He turned to Theresia smiling proud of himself. "I suppose these displays of cultural superiority are pretty standard for the Austrians, how is your old court liking the celebrations?" he asked her. "I've been thinking of entering this tournament myself even." he said proudly.
