Murmurs in the Howling Winds

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Classified[/b]

 

Despite possessing a large swath of land in northern South America, the Council of Shields have begun to move forward, with the blessing of the High Council, with its' newest adopted defense measure; the Strategic Depth Initiative, in order to improve and ultimately strengthen the Stormlands' defense infrastructure. Although the country already had invested and was utilizing defense infrastructure built upon by regimes that had been active in the region, this would be the biggest effort yet to devise a national-wide strategy to ensure that even in the face of the most ferocious of strikes from strategic weapons, the military forces of the Stormlands would continue to be able to operate at a "satisfactory level, conducive with national defense goals and maintaining the integrity of the nation".

 

Although there was much emphasis on aerial power in this day and age, these reforms and improvements would be extended to all branches of the armed forces, ensuring the ability for all of them to continue to perform their basic functions in defending the nation in the face of a massive multi-front war. This meant putting an emphasis not only on protecting existing assets like aircraft at airbases, barracks, motor pools, and shipyards, this meant strengthening the supporting facets for these facilities. To protect this vital supporting infrastructure meant relocating and reconstructing existing structures, like constructing reinforced underground fuel tanks at air fields and major military bases, building strengthened underground arsenals with climate control systems to control interior moisture and keep stored systems at an optimal temperature, building underground spare parts storage lockers in strengthened structures, and keeping spare electronic equipment within specially designed electromagnetically-cloaked rooms to resist electromagnetic pulse attacks.

 

These constructions, particularly of fuel tanks and strategically-placed spare parts bunkers, would take place away from main runways and the flight line on air bases, with fuel lines being drilled and installed to fuel distribution points along the tarmac or at refueling truck stations. Fuel could be distributed to these strategic refueling tanks from offsite connection pipelines, whose location was usually masked by some sort of utility access point. The sites on the bases were specifically chosen out of the way of the main facilities to help mask their true use in wartime, and construction of the facilities was typically done in conjunction with nearby buildings being built for other, less important uses. On top of these measures, many bases were provided with large, very basic electrical generating equipment, that could still function after a spate of electromagnetic attacks, and be used to produce power for emergency floodlights and other basic working equipment that would be extremely useful in restoring base operations after an attack. Other efforts were made to ensure that spare equipment could be kept in off-base locations, and the military would ensure this by keeping notaries of large warehouses and storage facilities in areas that could have containers moved on site in relatively short periods of time.

 

To protect against large aerial strikes, aircraft shelters were constructed utilizing the most advanced construction techniques available, including deep short-span castellated steel beams with tension connections, embedded in thick reinforced concrete and supporting steel framing with attached dampers to flex under the weight of sudden shockwaves. With reinforced steel doors and an earthen construction on top, these shelters could typically hold one to two fighter-sized aircraft and dotted the landscape around a base runway system. Although not completely immune to attack, it would typically require an attacker to target these structures individually, rather than be able to wipe out whole lines of aircraft along a tarmac system with one or two weapons. These structures also provided security from overhead surveillance and sheltered maintenance crews when doing routine work on their aircraft. These efforts were made in a conjunction with added air raid shelter systems to protect support personnel at bases around the nation, along with military families that resided on the bases themselves. These facilities would be equipped not only with strengthened overhead and sidewall protection, but also security against NRBC threats in the event of an asymmetric attack.

 

This effort would be made in conjunction with efforts to provide the national armed forces with a "superlative and satisfactory" number of spare parts for all forms of military equipment in peace time in order to "ensure that a necessary stockpile was available in the event of conflict".

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Private[/b]

 

Although the steady loud whirring of the helicopter blades drowned out most normal voices, if it didn't completely give you a migraine headache, it didn't drown out the voice of thinking in ones head. This was something that Rhaemon Rhys'gar was thankful for as he wistfully peered out the open side door of a medium utility helicopter at the sea of green beneath him. The helicopter was bearing he and his associates, belonging to the newly-formed 330th Lancers on a routine sovereignty patrol along the relatively poorly-demarcated border of the Inner Amazonas Grand District, and Euphaia. Although he was certainly not required to participate in such escapades, field commanders were generous with their praise that a high ranking Council member accompanied the soldiers on patrols. These types of moves were not only a small boost to morale, but also a boon for political propaganda purposes, showing the nations' leaders about being concerned in day-to-day operations of individuals and a credible security concern that was relevant to all Stormlanders.

 

'And they say democracies are the only ones who care about the welfare of a state, Pah!' though Rhaemon, his lips upturning into a slight smirk as they overflew a couple clearings. Some of the operators accompanying him seemed to get a little more observant when they passed over such openings in the thick green canopy of jungle beneath them.

 

Rhaemon was a staunch supporter of the system of governance that the Stormlands possessed, anything less of what they had now, was appalling within his own mind. He was a man who was of the opinion, that any government that claimed to have its fate in the hands of the people, was either lying, or completely ignorant of how governments actually worked. Some of his fellow High Council members thought that the system of government was too stringent, and had bowed to give the people a representative court to voice their opinions in. That was all well and good, and as far as Rhaemon would ever want to see it. The oligarchs who sat on the High Council made the decisions that needed to be made, because they were the decisive people that knew their roles, knew how to perform them, and were there for a reason. Why did they need to be replaced if they were doing their jobs?

 

Rhaemon had been one of the few people who had laughed following the mediation failures between the Commonwealth and Quebec, not because it was a failure of diplomacy, but of what kind of terms the Commonwealth was forcing on another country. Rhaemon had very low opinions of military dictators; regimes made from former officers and leaders of men were typically rigid, not compassionate enough, and thought that martial abilities and organization that the military brought with it could save or run a country. There was little truth in that, sure, a military dictatorship that turned into one run by professional civilians who could control the military was one thing, but military dictators who just clung to power were nothing more than autocrats with little sense of vision or nationalism. Promoting liberal democracy was all well and good in his book, but if it wasn't going to create effective governance, than the people who were decisive enough to ensure that effective governance should take the reins.

 

Democratic governance did not make sense to people who didn't care to understand it, nor did it make sense to people who felt disinclined to be part of the system. It was why the Stormlands had developed in the way that it did, most average citizens did not care who was in charge, so long as they could do their jobs, ensure that they had a chance to at least have a semblance of comfortable life, and try to enjoy the luxuries they could get their hands on. This was typified by the Inner Amazonas that Rhaemon was now flying over, this was a region run by local strongmen and individuals who held sway over other citizens, it wasn't democratic, nor would it respond well to democracy. Sure, it had representatives at a district and national level, but at the basic level, this region was one where tribalism ruled supreme, and for someone like Rhaemon, it was a reason why the Stormlands existed. Strongmen who had too much power, or did not answer to the state had been driven off or forced to relinquish their power, in their stead, it was people who were loyal to the government that kept the peace, that kept the social structure in order.

 

Citizens had created the state, in the first place, to protect them and their families from harm, it was one of the most fundamental reasons for communal governance since the dawn of man. For a man like Rhaemon, the state created order, purpose, and opportunity, it would help those who wanted to be helped and actively sought it. It didn't tolerate unproductive members of society, it protected the weak who needed protecting and would keep in check those who would intentionally harm others. That was the duty of a Council member, who was not just an oligarch, they served the nation as a whole, they were a servant of the people, whether the people realized that or not. They kept their jobs based on the merit of their service to the people. It was this fundamental understanding that Rhaemon had, that gave him scathing opinions of those who would dismiss forms of governance just because they might not have elections for national leaders or referendums. The people in governance were there to make decisions for the good of the people, not just one part of society.

 

Rhaemon smiled as he looked out at the seemingly lawless sea of green beneath him, and then at the soldiers that sat around him in the helicopter. Like them, he was a keeper of the peace, like them, he held a great power, but that came with supreme responsibility. These were burdens he would bear until he was dismissed or old age took him, but it was a burden and a challenge he ultimately enjoyed altogether.

[TheShammySocialist]

Semi-Classified

 

With much conflict about peripheries of the Stormlands' region of interest, the new development of large, mass-scale exercises in the Caribbean by Tikal was, to some extent, a concern. Although both Tikal and the Stormlands had a seemingly positive line of exchange, this did not detract with the concerns that the High Council had with general developments throughout the Atlantic world, and particularly the Caribbean, which represented almost half of the coastline and offshore islands that the Stormlands possessed. With this logic in hand, the Council of Shields was given permission to use whatever means it had at its disposal to monitor these large-scale exercises, so long that it "did not infringe upon the sovereignty of other nations to attain surveillance".

 

To this end, the Council of Shields would assign the responsibility of this monitoring operation to the pilots and crews of the Stormland Navy's [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems_Nimrod_MRA4]Orca[/url] Maritime Patrol & Surveillance aircraft. A full squadron of twelve of these aircraft would be rotated into the naval air station located near the city of Crystal Waters in the northwestern portion of the great district of the Grand Headwaters. Flying with standard modular ELINT/SIGINT surveillance packages equipped, the large ungainly-looking Orca aircraft would fly in relays of three into the Caribbean, to monitor the large-scale exercises ongoing there. This surveillance would be round-the-clock, and would be supported by aerial refueling tankers positioned strategically to keep the aircraft in the air for eight hour shifts.

Edited May 3, 2014 by TheShammySocialist

[TheShammySocialist]

Private

 

After intense discussions within the high echelons of the Stormlands Government, the Council of Shields have internally issued its first defense review and official statistical review, named the 'First Stormyear Defense Forecast'. The purpose of this new report is to detail the military forces in raw numbers breakdown, including significant revisions made since the last defense report, which is now considered outdated. The numbers that the Council of Shields included in the report included systems or statistics that are considered to be target levels, and may not be presently met, but are expected to be met within the next eighteen to thirty-six months.

 

As requested by the High Council, the Council of Shields broke down its statistics across the branches of the armed forces, and provided simplification for ease of understanding.

 

Stormlands Ground Forces (SGF)

 

• 1.2 Million Combat Soldiers (Current Active Duty/Reserve Ratio 1:2)
• 100,000 Special Combat Personnel (Tier 1/2 SOFs, Domestic Security Support Personnel, Irregular Forces, CBRN Response/Direct Action Specialists)
• 6,000 Main Battle Tanks
• Circa 4,000-6,000 Artillery Pieces (All Types, most mortar systems not included)
• Circa +/- 7,000 Armored Personnel Carriers
• Circa +/- 4,000 IFVs
• Circa +/- 2,000 Helicopters (All types)

 

Stormlands Air Forces (SAF)

 

• 1,500 Special Combat Personnel (Tier 1 SOF Operators, Air-to-Ground Special Operators, Irregular Forces, Combat SAR Infantry)
• 700 Arrow Stealth Air Superiority Fighters
• 1,000 Dart High Performance Multirole Fighters
• 450 Thunder Strategic Strike Bombers
• 240 King Raven Stealth Bombers
• 300 Eagle Tactical Strike Fighters
• 400 Javelina Combat Strike Aircraft

 

Stormlands Navy (SN)

 

 

Naval Assault Troops

• 175,000 Naval Assault Troops
• 2,500 Special Purpose Troops (Tier 1 SOF Operators, Boarding Personnel, Special Combat Response Infantry, Underwater Clearance Personnel)
• 684 Main Battle Tanks
• Circa +/- 500 Helicopters (All Types)
• 150 Javelina Combat Strike Aircraft
• 200 Lightning-B Stealth Multirole STOVL Fighters

Combat Operations Fleet

• 5 Deity-class Air Combat Carriers (CVGs)
• 4 Arsenal-class Heavy Amphibious Assault Carriers
• 8 Inflexible-class Landing Helicopter Docks
• 5 Stork-class Amphibious Assault Ships
• 9 City-class Heavy Cruisers
• 15 Devastation-class Destroyers (13,000 Ton Class)
• 35 Cyclone-class Destroyers (10,000 Ton Class)
• 5 Windcall-class Light Destroyers (5,000 Ton Class)
• 25 Faithful-class Multipurpose/ASW Specialized Frigates
• 20 Victory-class Guided Missile Frigates
• 60 Swift-class Multimission Light Surface Combatant
• 25 Hunter-class Diesel/AIP Submarines
• 15 Shadow-class Diesel/AIP Submarines
• 20 Porpoise-class Nuclear Attack Submarines
• 10 Kraken-class Guided Missile Submarines

Stormlands Naval Aviation

 

• 550 Dart-N High Performance Navalized Multirole Fighters
• 450 Stormcrow Stealth Multirole Fighters

 

[OOC: Formulated with substitutions made for various equipment, full substitution record available upon request.]

Edited May 17, 2014 by TheShammySocialist

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Classified[/b]

 

As per orders from the Council of Shields, as outlined by the 'First Stormyear Defense Forecast', another facet of progress that was to go into effect was effectively managing and surveiling the Stormlands air and sea approaches. To do this, overarching long range radar would be needed to manage both air and surface approaches, whilst being supported by more tactical systems and civilian radar systems.

 

The result of studies by the Stormlands National Technical University at Stormsend, along with a design team from Condor Aerospace, would be the "Spyglass" Multistatic Over-the-Horizon radar. Utilizing multiple receivers and transmitters with a relatively low transmission power rate, but with enhanced signals processing and highly advanced electronics. This is coupled with utilizing relatively low radio frequency, averaging around 15 MHz, but varying as low as five, and as high as thirty, which is low compared to both civilian and other military radars. The radar network can be utilized for both air and surface search missions, and is well suited for anti-ballistic missile cooperative engagement missions, counter-stealth air search, and general air defense. For optimal frequency transmissions, a highly advanced ionosonde network was developed to provide a real-time map the ionosphere every five minutes, which then dictates the frequency at which the radars should operate at for optimal performance.

 

The Spyglass system can be used in conjunction, or, in a situation for whatever reason the network goes down, be replaced temporarily by the Stormlands Ground Forces' Starsearch Monostatic tactical OTH system. This system is road-mobile, and can be set up within four hours of arrival on site after tower erection and electronics and signals processing is complete. This system is able to provide a highly detailed picture of the airspace around the site within a thousand kilometer diameter. The Spyglass OTH Network is also supplemented by a newly-deployed high frequency surface wave radar system, used for monitoring sealane approaches and managing seaspace defenses and surveillance capabilities.

 

In an intense effort to bolster aerial defenses against penetration attacks from the air, particularly into the interior of the nation, which gives the Stormlands its overall strategic depth, the National Technical University at Stormsend has also begun work with the Air Forces to deploy the Tripwire Counter Penetration Radar Network. This network of large numbers of relatively cheap receivers and transmitters is built as a counter-aerial-siege method to whittle down penetration raids by aircraft and missiles, including stealth/low-observable weapons, by analyzing backscatter and "voids" caused by the passage of aircraft and weaponry. The system is extremely hard to eliminate, and relatively easy to maintain and procure, and can dispatch high-speed surface-to-air, or through cooperative engagement systems, air-to-air missiles or interception forces to deal with a threat. Although only useful against targets that actually penetrate the radar beam paths, it is to be an important asset in the countering of aerial raids that intend to penetrate the country.

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Private[/b]

 

Through a stupor of haze from the eyes, and a splitting ache in the head, the sound of a certain tune that was somewhat familiar to Rafael Sha'am dragged him out of dreams and a fitting sleep. His hand sought out the source of the sound, hoping to either crush whatever the sound was in his hand, or at least quell it, his hand smacking at the table beside his relatively large bed. He felt a slight chill from the open door beside his bed, leading out onto the large balcony of his residence, and he grumbled something about cool jungle nights, before his fingers found the source of the sound. He grasped it, his eyes opening as he held up his mobile phone, that linked into the secure encrypted mobile network of his residence before transmitting or receiving, to ensure he had secure communications with whoever he spoke.

 

His eyes, bleary but focusing a little, recognized the name, and he heaved a loud, audible sigh, that elicited a moan from a blanket-covered form next to him. He looked at the form for a minute, trying to piece together the night before, his ears still ringing slightly from the blaring sounds of the speakers that were blaring music at the concert he had attended, having joined several dozen of his younger aides and staffers who had surrounded him in the event. It had been a raucous affair, and he probably had some bruises as a result of the large numbers of people around him, from the sheer crush of the crowd, it had been a nightmare for his security, but it boosted his morale and got him out in the general public.

 

He hit the receive button on his phone and held it up to his ear, "Yeah?"

 

"Lord Protector, its Fetter," boomed the voice of Fetter Childress, the Exector of Internal Affairs, a man with a voice that could perhaps kill him at this point.
 

"Ungh, inside... inside voices, Exectuor Childress," groaned Rafael, holding the phone away from his ear quickly.

 

"I apologize my lord, I am sorry to bother you, I am aware you had a late night," apologized Fetter, in a lighter tone, that Rafael could begrudgingly accept.

 

"If this is about last night, I already got a lecture from your protection detail, I don't need another one from y-."

 

"Its not about last night, my lord," interrupted Fetter, stopping the head of state.

 

"Fine, so what are you phoning me at...," started Rafael, looking over at the clock. "Four-fourty-eight in the morning for? I thought my office hours were six to six now for the winter months?"

 

"Unfortunately for you, sir, even hard-rocking Lord Protectors never truly have actual 'hours', you're a parent of a newborn, perpetually always on call," chuckled Fetter, causing Rafael to smirk and roll his eyes.

 

"I think I'll use that example whenever anyone asks me what I could compare my job to, now, you have something for me? Or are you just calling me to give me material for when I have to explain my job to people in layman's terms?" grumbled Rafael, rubbing his fingers over his eyes. He found a spot of stickiness on the right side of his temple, and then sniffed his fingers, instantly crinkling his nose when he detected a faint, but telltale smell of hard liquor. This left him wondering for a split second when and how he got this, when he was interrupted by Fetter clearing his throat, and the sound of papers shuffling.

 

"As you are aware, my lord, we were investigating several representatives, popular ones, from the southern reaches of the Southlands, we had some allegations that there was misrepresentation and some disloyal activity in the region. We just had a crack in the case, and we have some serious concerns on hand now. If you remember, there was an Archbishop in the southern reaches, Mendoza, who has been speaking out against the religion of the state leaders, we've already spoken to him about his fiery rhetoric, he toned it down recently. Unfortunately, he toned it down, because he's been making inroads with two representatives to the Grand Council of the Free Citizens, Culcera, and Hert, which extends down to the Great District Assembly as well, with several representatives from the area, as well as wardens in the region," explained Fetter, seemingly reading from a report.

 

"So, he's made inroads with Culcera and Hert? That doesn't make them culpable for anything for being associative with him, personal relationships are not frowned upon," asked Rafael, frowning as he listened to Fetter.

 

"That's the problem, sir, we dug a little deeper, we have unfiled reports of voter fraud in the southern reaches of the Southlands that got shoveled under the table, logs of complaints from rural workers who aren't getting paid enough and possible abuses by employers. A relatively large number of urbanites support the representatives, both to the Great District Assembly, and the Grand Council of Free Citizens, but even there, it seems as though there are reports of bribery by local corporations for government-allocated funds that will better their businesses. There's a whole slew of allegations here sir, mountains of them, systemic corruption, and the representatives are well-entrenched as well, with the security forces, as well as with a well-knit community of supporters," continued Fetter, making Rafael sit up on an elbow as his mind started to tick.

 

"So not only do we have systemic mass fraud and misuse of public funding, as well as possible public rights allegations, we also have to face that this is entrenched and well-supported," murmured Rafael, biting his lower lip as he thought for a moment.

 

"Correct, sir, this is a problem, especially with local security forces involved with this entire system," responded Fetter, who sighed on the other end of the line.

 

"Contact Rhaemon, I need you to brief him immediately on the situation, and inform him that I would like to hear from him around, lets say, seven-thirty. Your office has done a good job investigating this, Executor Fetter, I need you to work with my Fist now, to deal with this unacceptable situation," ordered Rafael, his voice taking on a more assertive tone, more typical of the Lord Protector.

 

"Thank you, I will do so immediately, my lord. Enjoy the rest of your night, if that is possible, I apologize again fo-."

 

"Your apology is unneeded, Executor, I will speak to you in short order."

"Good night, sir."

 

Rafael sighed as he lay back on the pillow, with a heaved sigh, putting the phone down noisily, causing another moan from the form beside him, and he pursed his lips, and grasped the sheets, and pulled them back. The pulling back of the covers revealed an almost alabaster-skinned Priestess of Thaksus, admittedly Rafael's most favored cult, for obvious reasons, from the pantheon of the gods, looking up at him through bleary eyes, her face breaking into a smile when he looked at her. Her blonde hair, rife with light blue turquoise highlights, fashioned specifically for the show they had gone to, was askew.

 

"And its times like these that I pity the Fist of the Protector," chuckled Rafael, with a smirk on his face as he pulled the covers over both he and the priestess this time around.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

Together with Minister of the Exterior de Pétèvellier, another person would make her way to Stormsend. Long gold-brown hair and matching amber eyes, a young woman going by the identification of Henriette Vermillon, part of the diplomatic delegation. She would hand the Stormlands authorities a sealed letter, adressed to the Lord Protector.

 

Monsieur Sha'am,

 

I'm writing you this letter, hoping to be granted a bit of your time and attention, to adress matters pertaining the ongoing conflict between the American Commonwealth and the Laurentine Union. As the Premier ministre of the Laurentine Union, I would like to first thank you for your efforts up to now and also for your willingness to host another round of negotiations. Our people will not forget this effort, which hopefully might save many lives on both sides of this conflict.

 

As we are however quite disappointed by the last round of negotiations with the Commonwealth, which, as you fully well know, have not brought about the aimed for peace, I would like to avoid a similar diplomatic deadlock this time. It is my opinion, that while the Stormlands are a mediator in this conflict, your country most likely also has an interest in finding a resolution to the conflict which has caused us so much concern. I would thus like to request a meeting between the two of us, to possibly discuss maybe not concrete solutions, but at least concepts of a lasting post-conflict order in the Americas. Please consider my request carefully, given that while one may lose precious time, should it turn out to be a misguided effort, it is still better than losing much more possibly because such efforts have never been made.

 

With friendly regards,

Liselotte Wiltord

[TheShammySocialist]

The letter dispatched by Liselotte Wiltord to the desk of the Lord Protector was one that sparked a fair amount of debate amongst the highest echelons of High Council, particularly amongst Rafael Sha'ams so-called 'National Security Board', made up of a number of officials including both civilians and military leaders. This group was particularly important in the formation of the Stormlands foreign policy, and there were a number of concerns pressed by members over whether a meeting would compromise the neutrality of the Stormlands as the mediator of any outstanding peace talks. In the end, it would come down to the decision of Rafael to receive the request of the Quebecois leader and bless it with a positive response. Leaning on his Executor of the Exterior for assistance in the matter, Taman Volcer would sit down with the Lord Protector before the meeting to establish a line of discussion that would hopefully maintain the Stormlands' balanced approached to mediating the crisis in North America.

 

With the movements of the foreign delegations in the Stormlands being of course kept tabs on, and actively protected, a sealed letter would find its way back to Liselotte in short order.

 

[I]Minister Wiltord[/I]

 

After some deliberation, I have decided that in the interests of securing a lasting peace in North America, that your proposal for a one-on-one meeting with myself, will be granted to you. We are hoping that this round of negotiations produces a much more positive result than last time, and hopefully stays the conflict that has enveloped this hemisphere and whose effects are felt as far south as the Stormlands. This conflict has put our nation in a relatively tough spot in its dealings with other American nations, and for that reason, it is in our best interests that it is concluded in what we hope to be a timely manner.

 

Therefore, it is our opinion, that agrees with your own, that discussing the coming negotiations in a private setting could provide some solutions and perhaps strengthen the possibility of a positive result of the next round of peace negotiations. The hopes and desires of the Stormlands future foreign policy in the Americas is relatively irrelevant at this point, our aim is to bring both the Commonwealth and the Laurentine Union to the same table and achieve a peace that is acceptable and lasting. Making such a peace one sided would only lead to future conflicts, concrete incentives and concessions will have to be made, and most importantly, the desire for peace must be there in the first place to achieve peace.

 

It is thus that I invite you to the Rook's Nest, my official residence, for discussions.

 

With best of regards,

 

[I]Rafael Sha'am[/I]

[TheShammySocialist]

Classified

 

As per request of the Council of Shields, the Stormlands Air Force has responded with a report on significant progress in "the completion of the Stormlands' operational satellite constellation", the network "committed to the facets of the national security and defense of the nation".

 

Utilizing the old refurbished facilities at Fort Paez, the Air Forces, in conjunction with several state administrations, have put dozens of satellites into orbit over the past year and a half to build up the orbital presence of the Stormlands. Most of these satellites have been aimed at increasing the secure communications and datalinks abilities of being able to communicate with Stormlands forces, if they ever have to be put abroad or are on patrol in far regions of the world. Secure communications are ensured through the use of standard twelve-hour rotating keywords that establish the encryption patterns, and set patterns for that time, and all datalinks are secured through multiple level passcode entries that compartmentalize communications completely. With the new constellation of satellites, the Stormlands are able to quickly communicate and relay information to globally-deployed forces when and if needed, and provide the necessary infrastructure to support extensive combat operations between a theater of operations and the homeland. These satellites are supplemented by meteorological satellites built specifically for monitoring weather systems and providing often-overlooked, but important weather data that could be game-changing in any situation of warfare. Similarly, navigational satellites provide directional guidance for military systems, utilizing encrypted code to transmit to a receivers' location and provide accurate navigational data for both troops navigating on the ground, ships at sea, aircraft in the air, and of course, weapon systems.

 

These satellites are supplemented by satellites belong to both the Air Forces, as well as the Administration of Internal Affairs, these satellites handling strategic reconnaissance and monitoring to provide the nation with data meant to ensure the protection of the nation. These include high-resolution imaging/SAR satellites for photo reconnaissance in low earth orbit, as well as air and sea traffic monitoring. Interception satellites, built specifically for communication collection and dissemination, are operated by the Administration of Internal Affairs for monitoring and surveillance purposes, and are typically stationed on tracks over the nation during peacetime. Able to monitor both civilian and military grade transmissions, they are an asset that can alert authorities to impending internal or external threats to security, and provide a measure of use in counterespionage and counterintelligence operations. Other satellites on station are to provide monitoring for ballistic missile launches and tracking, as well as monitoring launches into orbit and locations of such deployments and "tag" the new orbital arrivals to track other nations' satellites, particularly low-earth-orbits for countering intelligence missions over the Stormlands.

 

The deployments of these large numbers of satellites also comes with similar deployments of space track facilities within the Stormlands' borders itself, which monitor orbital movement of satellites over the nation for obvious reasons. The active temporary real time "blinding" of satellites over major military installations is ongoing, and efforts to prevent photo reconnaissance of key military installations is one of the Air Forces' unspoken duties. Many military installations employ simple overhead canopies along the tarmac flight line, particularly at air bases, to mask aircraft deployments and locations, and most aircraft, when not in the air, are under these canopies, in hangers, or in their respective reinforced shelters that dot the edges of bases. Given that strategic assets such as surface-to-surface conventional ballistic weapons are all road-mobile within the Stormlands, these vehicles are relatively easy to hide with simple camouflage netting and move under the cover of darkness to rotating deployment sites or are kept at their bases in storage facilities.

Edited May 13, 2014 by TheShammySocialist

[TheShammySocialist]

Semi-Private

 

As part of full disclosures to the High Council on the military, the Council of Shields has finally produced documentation on the ship classes of the Stormlands Navy;

 

Deity-class Air Combat Carrier (CVG)

 

75,000 Tons Full Load
2 A1N Maritime Reactors
30+ Knots
Weapon Systems; 50 VLHSCMs, 120 MRSAMs, 12 Dual CIWS Autocannon/SRAAM Stations (14 SRAAMs per station), multiple crew-served weapon system pintel mounts
Aviation Facilities; 48 Aircraft Total (surge conditions), not including six ASW/SAR helicopters, and four support aircraft (CBAWACS/CBTAs)
Transport Capacity (as LHA); 1,000 Troops standard, 1,800 (surge conditions)/(as operational CVG); 300 Naval Assault Troops/Special Operations Forces

 

Arsenal-class Heavy Amphibious Assault Carrier
 

60,000 Tons Full Load
2 A1N Maritime Reactors
25+ Knots
Weapon Systems; 48 MRSAMs, 6 Dual CIWS Autocannon/SRAAM Stations (14 SRAAMs per station), multiple crew-served weapon system pintel mounts
Aviation Facilities; 26 STOVL Fighters and 10 ASW/SAR helicopters (surge/sea control mission package); 20 medium utility helicopters, 4 heavy assault helicopers, 6 STOVL Fighters (typical loadout)
Transport Capacity; 2,800 Naval Assault Troops standard, 3,600 (surge conditions), 90,000 SQ FT Cargo/Vehicle Space, 4 LCACs or 18 LCMs

 

Inflexible-class Landing Helicopter Dock

 

30,000 Tons Full Load
Combined Diesel/Gas Propulsion/Electrical System
25 Knots
Weapon Systems; 24 MRSAMs, 4 Dual CIWS Autocannon/SRAAM Stations (14 SRAAMs per station), multiple crew-served weapon system pintel mounts
Aviation Facilities; 18 medium utility helicopters (maximum hanger space); 10 STOVL fighters and 4 ASW/SAR helicopters (surge/sea control mission package)
Transport Capacity; 1,100 Naval Assault Troops Standard, 1,600 (surge conditions), 35,000 SQ FT Cargo/Vehicle Space, 6 LCMs
 

Stork-class Amphibious Assault Ship

 

18,000 Tons Full Load
4 NMC Diesel Engines
20-25 Knots Maximum
Weapon Systems; 3 Dual CIWS Autocannon/SRAAM Stations (14 SRAAMs per station), multiple crew-served weapon system pintel mounts
Aviation Facilities; 10 medium utility helicopters (standard load), 14 medium utility helicopters (surge load), can support VTOL aircraft
Transport Capacity; 700 Naval Assault Troops Standard, 200 Vehicles (including 6 MBTs and 7 AAVs), 2 LCACs or 4 LCMs

 

City-class Heavy Cruiser

 

28,000 Tons Full Load

2 C1N Nuclear Reactors

30+ Knots

Armor; High-Tensile Steel Armored Keel, fragmentation and light armament shielding, armored bulkhead and belt surrounding reactor facilities

Sensors/Processing Systems; TWISTER Integrated Combat Management System (missile and gunfire targeting and tracking), FRENZY Electronic Warfare Suite, Hawkeye Multifunction D-Band Air and Surface Search Phased Array Radar (Littoral Warfare Module Upgrades Included), Skysweeper L-Band 3D OTH Air Search Phased Array, BERKUT Active/Passive Sonar Suite

Weapon Systems; 2 - 6.1" (155mm) Advanced Gun Systems, 8 - 25mm Typhoon Automated Weapons Platforms, 3 - Dual CIWS Autocannon/SRAAM Stations (8 SRAAMs per station), 2 - RAM SRAAM Missile Launchers (24 RAM Missiles per station), 2 - Quadtubed HUNTER Torpedo Stations, 4 - Enclosed Quadpack VHSASM Launchers, 280 VLS Strike-length Tubes (80 Forward, 80 Midships, 120 Aft)

Aviation Facilities; 2 - Medium Utility Helicopters (ASW/SAR), 2 - Light Attack/Reconnaissance UCAH

 

 

Devastation-class Heavy Low-Observable Guided Missile Destroyer

Cyclone-class Guided Missile Destroyer

Windcall-class Light Guided Missile Destroyer

Faithful-class Multipurpose/ASW Frigate

Victory-class Guided Missile Frigate

Swift-class Multimission Light Surface Combatant

Hunter-class Diesel/AIP Submarine

Shadow-class Diesel/AIP Submarine

Porpoise-class Nuclear Attack Submarine

Kraken-class Guided Missile Submarine

Edited May 23, 2014 by TheShammySocialist

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Private[/b]

 

Following a thorough review of the Stormlands' foreign policy, it was determined that in line with recent efforts of proactive, Stormlands-requested, diplomatic meetings with several nations across the world, this would be matched by a similar approach in terms of movements and actions. This marked a significant shift from the Stormlands being relatively insular in mind, reactive to regional and world developments, rather than meeting them head on, to doing the exact opposite.

 

To this end, after deliberation between the High Council and the Council of Shields, the Stormlands Navy was put to sea once again, with the [i]Dahromo[/i] and [i]Grockall[/i] carrier battle groups, reinforced with surface and significant submarine support forming the nucleus of the convoy. These ships would be accompanied by two [i]Arsenal[/i]-class Heavy Assault Carriers, and three [i]Inflexible[/i]-class LHDs, bearing the balance of the reinforced 1st Provisional Naval Assault Division, formed from the elements of four Naval Assault Expeditionary Units (NAEUs). Further ships in the convoy included four large fast-moving roll-on/roll-off vessels loaded for bear with humanitarian aid supplies with ship-to-shore amphibious support ramps added, several at-sea fast replenishment vessels, a handful of depot vessels, and a depot vessel converted into a hospital ship.

 

These vessels would depart from various ports along the Caribbean coastline, and sail eastward, the convoys rendezvousing east of Trinidad, and tracking east-north-east, before making a bearing due north, once a safe distance away from the outer Caribbean islands.

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Classified[/b]

 

In response to large-scale military drills being undertaken by the Empire of Brazil, the scale of which unseen before by the Stormlands, the Council of Shields, after an emergency meeting with the High Council, has raised the nations' military ALERTCON Status to [b]CONDITION [color=orange]ORANGE[/color][/b].

 

The large maneuvers of amphibious forces just southeast of Trinidad and Tobago would bring an immediate deployment of one airborne division and one infantry division from the eastern Catatumbo Commonwealth to Trinidad. These units would be used to reinforced the large Naval Assault Forces presence on the islands, and include additional strategic air and naval defense units to bolster the islands' defenses, the deployment of these forces being done under the cover of darkness utilizing large LCACs and LCU amphibious craft deployed from Trinidad City. This would complement the departure of the Stormlands' Navy from its base in Trinidad City, deploying surface assets westward under the cover of darkness, whilst subsurface elements deployed into screening positions to the east and southeast of Trinidad, with orders to remain on station and limit noise and movement for the time being. Autonomous underwater search submersibles would be deployed from small bases in the Orininoco Delta to track any subsurface movements into Stormlands waters, including the EEZ.

 

Infantry and armor units, seven in total, would be moved to bolster the eastern border with Brazil, moving into spread battalion bivouacs away from the border, but close enough to counter any movements across the border, whilst light infantry formations would reinforce, supplement, and beef up border security patrols. These patrols would be supplemented by helicopter and UAV patrols back away from the border, tracking movements from Stormlands' airspace, whilst additional tactical mobile radar units would be brought up to supplement existing radar coverage in some locations. Strategic reconnaissance aircraft, including SIGINT and ELINT aircraft would be deployed to the border regions as a response to large Brazilian aircraft deployments. The Stormlands Air Forces would enact its measures to beef up Sovereignty and Interception Air Patrols (SAIAPs), with various fighter aircraft deployed with large air-to-air missile complements, whilst leaving their own active scanned arrays off to mask their electronic signals.

 

Deployments of ground units would balance towards the eastern portions of the Stormlands, shielding the rest of the nation, as reserve formations were briefed and brought to full activation for movements, the mobilization occurring in the early evening and overnight hours.

 

Attempts to enact any breach of airspace, including by high altitude aircraft, or sea space of the Stormlands would be met with verbal warnings broadcast over open channels, before interception and engagement envelopes immediately assigned. Strategic surface-to-surface weaponry would be immediately dispersed from bases to predetermined positions as the Air Force enacted its STOCKPILE protocol, moving surplus weaponry and parts to their predetermined storage sites. Naval assets were deployed from bases along the Caribbean Coast to defensive war stations in the Central Caribbean, including the two remaining carrier battle groups in the Atlantic Theater, whilst the Pacific Fleet was dispatched towards the Panama Canal, to be ready for immediate transit be needed. The [I]Dahromo[/I] and [I]Grockall[/I] Battle Groups, screening a convoy of ships in the North Atlantic, would be forced to turn around, along with the attendant convoy, for redeployment back to the Stormlands.

 

The movement of Brazilian assets would also force the immediate departure of Rhaemon Rhys'gar from negotiations in Brasilia, bringing him back to Stormsend.

 

The movements of the Brazilian forces, despite the warning, would draw a strong public reaction from authorities in Stormsend, which would be internationally broadcast, for such large maneuvers taking place close to the borders of the Stormlands. Notices of Stormlands movements would be broadcast over secure channels to Tianxia, the Athenians, American Commonwealth, and Tikal, informing them of the defensive nature of the movements.

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Stormsend[/b]

 

The High Council has announced, after a referendum put to the citizens of the Stormsend Metropolitan Region, the creation of the Stormsend Autonomous Capitol Region, which now encompasses the entirety of the Stormsend Metropolitan Region. A long planned move, the creation of an autonomous region now essentially makes Stormsend and its surrounding lands into a Military District of the Stormlands, allowing martial law to be declared without a formal action made by the High Council with the "simple consent" of the Grand Council of the Free Citizens. The creation of the autonomous region also allows for the government to better control the movement of certain goods in and out of the capital, which already has strict laws prohibiting certain materials and chemicals from entering parts of the city itself.

 

Although this will not effectively make Stormsend a "closed city", the measures are expected to tighten security and make military and police presence more visible to the general population of the city. The city's population, despite what are expected to be strengthened security laws, were optimistic in polling results, with 84% of the population voting for the measure. One optimistic citizen, a government worker, said, "We understand the concerns that the leaders have about attacks against the government, Stormsend is like the brain of this great nation, would you want to have terrorists or external threats having easy access to such an important part of ones body?" Government workers make up close to eighty-five percent of the population in Stormsend's Metropolitan Region, and their loyalty to their administrations and the government typically falls into the category of 'unwavering'.

 

Some Representatives have decried the move as "totalitarian" in nature, but most Stormland citizens have been generally approving of increased security, particularly in the aftermath of attacks in Europe and the Middle East.

 

***

 

[b]From the Administration of the Exterior[/b]

 

The Administration of the Exterior has issued a statement condemning extremism in the wake of a wave of deadly attacks in Europe and the Middle East, targeting the Athenian Federation.

 

Executor of the Exterior Taman Volcer stated in a press conference that, "The idea of nationhood, at its core, is to protect the lives and interests of her people, safeguarding them against corruption, against usury, against exploitation, the good of the people, to protect them. Extremism is barbarism, it flies completely in the face of such laws and order, it seeks to destroy what others build up in the interests of peace and protection, attacks against normal citizenry and the people who serve them are unacceptable.

 

The Stormlands heartily condemns the violence in the Mediterranean periphery, and stands abreast its' partners in Europe to face such attacks, and pledges that it is ready to assist in the interests of executing justice on those who would provoke terror in the streets of civilization."

 

***

 

[b]Fort Paez, Catatumbo Commonwealth[/b]

 

The Stormlands Air Forces announces the successful rocket-assisted-launch of its manned Typhoon Spacecraft today at Fort Paez, bringing the first Stormlanders into space, two years to the day after Rafael Sha'am announced his intent to "put as much resources as economically feasible" into space exploration and orbital technology. Although the Typhoon Spacecraft was only in orbit for what would amount to a total of twelve hours, the Typhoon Spacecraft performed "admirable" in its work, and demonstrated the ability to deliver a payload into space, these being three "miniature" satellites, built for strategic communications purposes. The crew of four voyagers on the Typhoon Spacecraft was led by Brigadier Xavier Flogera, former commander of the Stormlands' Air Forces 3rd Fighter Wing.

 

Flogera reported in a press statement that, "... riding the rocket into space was a dream come true... nothing compared to it, not aggressor or interceptor training in the Air Forces... nothing..." The mission commander continued by saying that, "The mission was a short one, it wasn't intended to be long, it was intended to test the abilities of the Typhoon Spacecraft, and it did that without a hitch. Everyone made it back to the surface safe, and we all had to kiss the ground when we did, it was the ride of a lifetime, and I can't wait to do it again." The Typhoon Spacecraft success comes on the heels of an incident that almost claimed the life of the program a year ago, when a test rocket with a satellite module, testing the boosters for the Typhoon Spacecraft, exploded only twenty seconds after takeoff. After internal investigation into the failure, the Stormlands Air Forces' Orbital Division has been run by the intrepid Esteemed Executor Doctor Marianna Comex, whose exhaustive efforts in coordinating the program up to this point earned her respect amongst her peers at the High Council, and a public notation of congratulations by the Lord Protector on an open broadcast evening broadcast.

 

Comex has hinted that the Typhoon Program is "just beginning" and that the Stormlands "will be making a much more high profile missions into orbit in the future". Experts have stated that a variant of the Typhoon Spacecraft is expected to not require being launched from the pad, and could be launched, using booster assistance, from a large airstrip.

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Classified[/b]

 

Following what appeared to be Brazil standing down its military after what were quite provocative drills, the [i]Dahromo[/i] and [i]Grockall[/i] battle groups, with their attendant convoy, would refuel at sea, and redeploy north again. Dubbed Task Force "Northstar", the large convoy of ships would sail to the east of Bermuda and west of the Azores, making for the open North Atlantic almost due east of Newfoundland and Labrador.

 

Comprising of significant surface and subsurface combatants, along with a large fleet train of auxiliary vessels, including additional surface assets that had joined the convoy after it had reversed course back to the Stormlands, it represented the largest gathered fleet the Stormlands had since put together. The 1st Provisional Naval Assault Division would remain embarked throughout the journey, whilst additional ships carrying humanitarian supplies had been added when the opportunity had presented itself.

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Public[/b]

 

In response to increased Euphaian helicopter patrols along the Euphaia-Stormlands border, flights of [i]Javelina[/i] Strike Aircraft have begun active patrolling along the Stormlands side of the border. These will be accompanied by standard helicopter-infantry patrols that have been continuously active over the past year.

 

The flights have been ordered in response to a general call by citizens in the Amazon territory concerned with border security, as well as strange broadcasts that were abruptly cut off about calling people to arms against their government.