News from The Nation of Selenarctos

[iKrolm]

Public:

Candidates for the Presidency of Selenarctos have been announced, and Greater Manila is an uproar as a result. As expected, President Hygin Romero will represent the National Conservative Party as he seeks reelection. Father Adan Nieto, an ordained Catholic priest from Manila will represent the Catholic Central Party. Father Nieto is a popular spokesman often quoted in media to provide the Church's oppinion on matters in Selenarctos, but his nomination is more a token run than a serious bid for the presidency.

The first surprise comes from the Democratic Party of Selenarctos' nominee, Rabulas Davila. Mr. Davila is the presently serving Secretary of Humanities under President Hygin Romero. Mr. Davila has kept his personal political views away from media attention since he accepted the position on Mr. Romero's staff, but the DPS assures us that Mr Davila has been a party member the whole time. For those concerned that this may be an attempt to rig the election in President Romero's favor no matter which way the vote turns, rest assured that the Democratic party would never let this happen willingly, and Mr. Davila's record speaks for itself: Mr. Davila personally led the effort to loosen immigration rules and expand assistance to the Selenarctos Protectorate Zones.

President Hygin Romero and the Conservative party had not yet released a statement when the next surprise came: the National Socialist Party would nominate Governor Matthew Galvez of the Free Philippine for the Presidency. Many, the Manila Times included, were prepared to write off the Outer Philippines influence in the upcoming election after their negligable contribution in the last election but the inclusion of Governor Galvez could change this entirely. The territories of the Outer Philippines have held decreasing popularity in Greater Manila since the Diokno Resolution granted them a sort of semi-autonomy and extra-legal status from the national government of Selenarctos. Governor Galvez has run a moderately successful socialist-style government out of Calbayog since the founding of the Free Philippines. He accepted the National Socialist Party's nomination promising a greater degree independence to all of Selenarctos, stricter regulation of the economy, and measures to decentralize the center of economic growth from Manila to include more of Selenarctos. The initial reaction to Governor Galvez's campaign has been very loud and very mixed, from those who those who instantly condemned his push to keep the Outer Philippines sepearate to acknowledgement that his economic approach might actually be beneficial to Selenarctos as a whole. With Greater Manila split between the Conservative and Democratic parties, Governor Galvez just might be able to garner enough support from the Outer Philippines to make a serios play for the presidency. We won't place any guesses on the final result just yet, but at the Manila times we're willing to bet this will be one of the most interesting elections in Selenarctos' recent memory.

-The Manila Times Edited October 10, 2013 by iKrolm

[iKrolm]

Public:

No yearly update from Electric Horizon?

Electric Horizon's stock price fell as investors worry the company's progress may have stalled. CEO Martin Jairo was not available to comment on the news, but after yearly updates the sudden silence is disconcerting from the copmany that founded amidst great fanfare with the goal of bringing artificial organs and body parts to the market. Critics claim the silence is due to a lack of progress in a field many claimed unobtainable in Electric Horizon's self proclaimed timeline, while proponents point out that Electric Horizon never said to expect yearly press releases and point out that there evidence towards stalled progress or to the contrary.

Rumors of progress or not, Electric Horizon's fate will almost certianly influence the Presidential Election. Though President Romero has not weighed in on Electric Horizon's goals, the Department of Security was one of Electric Horizon's early supporters, a decision made by President Romero's Secretary of Security Abaco Magana. A blow to Electric Horizon's reputation could hurt the President's reputation when it matters most.

-The Manila Times



Public:

The Department of Securitywould like to nofity interested parties that the elements of the Selenarctos Armed Forces will be preforming training excercises in our Pacific Protectorate Zone. The exercise will involve live ordanace, including cruise missiles with a range of less than one thousand kilometers. We ask that the water and airspace over the Micronesian archapelago be cleared for the duration of the exercise.

[iKrolm]

[b]Classified:[/b]

Per the request of the Secretary of Security, a need-to-know change is to be made to the final two Lhuillier class submarines. The SS Calasiao and SS Puco will have their guided missiles launch tubes replaced by long range ballistic missile bays. Each submarine will carry up to eighteen missiles built by the Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium with a range exceeding ten thousand kilometers and the ability to carry thermonuclear warheads.

[iKrolm]

Public:

Since the approval of funding to construct a new class of stealthy guided missile submarines two years ago, the Navy has been asking to replace the aging Sirena class attack submarines as well. Today the national government acknowledge the request and approved funding for the construciton of for a new class of attack submarines. The Bonifacio class, named after the first First Director of the Security Division Marcelo Bonifacio who signed the Oceanic Union Pact, will have an initial production run of eighteen submarines. Like the Lhuilier class submarines, each Bonifacio incorporates the latest electronics, underwater stealth, nuclear, and engine technology developed by Selenarctos' own scientists and engineers. The submarines will be manufactured in a collaboration between the Artega Group and Fieres Shipyards, Inc. The Sirena class submarines will remain in service until all eighteen Bonficacio class submarines enter active duty.


Edited November 3, 2013 by iKrolm

[iKrolm]

Public:

Secretary Zelaya announced today that the national government was preparing to resume nuclear research at the Dinalungan nuclear research facility, home to Selenarctos' fusion power plant. The fusion power plant was built in cooperation between Sri Lanka/CRo Ceylon and Selenarctos over thirty years ago. Though the power plant continues to supply to the city of Dinalungan and part of the orbital launch loop today, none of the allotted follow-up plants were constructed as the government at the time opted for more cost efficient coal power plants instead.

The Dinalungan nuclear facility, in association with the University of Manila, will hold primary responsibility for research and development. Selenarctos already knows how to build nuclear power plants of course, so research emphasis will be placed on reducing upfront and lifetime costs while improving safety and scale. Nuclear fission is cheaper to implement, but the philippines' reserve of fissionable material is relatively small. Nuclear fusion on the other hand is much more expensive, but the Philippine trench of the east cost of Selenarctos contains one of the largest deutrium reserves in the world. Proposed areas of studey include cold fusion, cold fission such as pebble reactors, and town- and factory-scale microreactors. Fissionable material will be imported for the experiments, but all other nuclear-related components and technology will be produced in Selenarctos.

Secretary Zelaya said the change was a response to the poor air quality around Manila, but critics were quick to suggest President Hygin Romero pushed the policy forward to earn favor from Manila voters before the upcoming presidential election.

-The Manila Times

[iKrolm]

Classified:

The Air Force has reevaluated its lunar test. Citing increased interest in lunar expeditions and mining by a number of nations, the Air Force is no longer certain that a detonation can be safely accomplished without collateral damage. As such, the test has been relocated to the L5 earth-moon Lagrange point. Two sets of sensors and other scientific apparatus, originally planned to accompany the lunar test, will be launched from the orbital launch loop and boosted out of earth’s gravity well to L5 on board a small unmanned spacecraft virtually identical to the Mars satellites’ third stage, and the Air Force package launched from Freeside on board third such craft within the next week. Data from the sensor packages will be broadcast to the Air Force’s laser comm receiving array and upon successful completion of the test both sensor packages’ orbits will decay sol-ward until the packages eventually fall into the sun.

[iKrolm]

Classified:

Near the Earth-Sol Lagrange point 5, after carefully scanning the area for active hardware from any current nation and choosing a safe distance away if any was found, the Dinalungan prototype device was maneuvered into it’s terminal course and the Air Force’s count down started.


Public:

Public Announcement:

“Selenarctos announces that in one hour’s time we will detonate a nuclear test device near the Earth-Sol Lagrange Point 5, a safe distance away from all active space craft and Earth itself to avoid dangers from radiation and electromagnetic pulse effects. The test is an experimental warhead with an estimated yield of one hundred megatonnes; we have no plans to build a second such device, this detonation was purely a proof of concept.”

-Abo Raya, Chief of Staff to President Hygin Romero


Right on schedule one hour later a new star appeared in the sky, glowing for a brief moment before extinguishing itself from view.

[iKrolm]

Public:

With the outbreak of hostilties between the Pure Lands and Tianxia, the national government of Selenarctos announced that citizens and planes and vessels registered to the Pure Lands will be prohibited from entering Selenarctos waters and territory. Citizens of the Pure Lands currently in Selenarctos will be permitted to remain until the expiration of their visa, but are prohibited from entering government buildings and are advised they may be placed under heightened watch as the situation develops. Edited November 23, 2013 by iKrolm

[iKrolm]

Private, Not Classified:

Bulldog Armored Vehicles has finished reverse engineering the STHAL artillery interdiction device, and is preparing to lease factory space from the Artega Group to begin construction production models. The Bulldog STHAL is a laser close-in weapons system mounted on a trailer capable of disabling artillery rounds, mortars, bombs and missiles in flight within a four kilometer radius. The system is self-sufficient, powered by diesel generators and targeted with an on board radar/visual/millimeter tracking system. Advanced tracking computers, co-developed by Luzon Electronics, allow the STHAL system to plot the trajectories of incoming rounds and assign target priorities based upon where the round is expected to land, while simultaneously ignoring rounds fired from friendly positions. Unlike conventional CIW systems like Phalanyx and Goalkeeper, the STHAL system eliminates the collateral damage caused by solid projectiles that miss their target and is well suited for use near urban deployment. The Army and Peacekeeping Force have each placed an order for fifty STHAL units with the option to purchase more, and the Air Force is considering STHAL systems for airfields.

Edited November 30, 2013 by iKrolm

[iKrolm]

Public:

The Mindanao Territorial Government announced that is has granted Davao Arms, a small weapons manufacturer in Davao City, rights and permission to manufacture the SG 550 series of assault rifles and contracted Davao Arms to supply the 2nd Mechanized. This move runs contrary to the national government in Manila, recognizes Southern Firearms’ patent on the SG 550 series for all of Selenarctos. Unsurprisingly as Southern Firearms reduced its presence in the Outer Territories to concentrate on sales in Greater Manila and abroad, the 2nd Mechanized need a new source of supplies and armament. With this contract and presumably more to follow, Davao Arms is well positioned for growth but the Manila Times must warn our readers that the National Government has placed an advisory against investment in business located in the Outer Territories.

Southern Firearms is expected to file a token lawsuit against Davao Arms, but under the Diokno Doctrine the dispute falls under the jurisdiction of Mindanao Territory courts that will almost certainly side with Davao Arms.

-The Manila Times

[iKrolm]

Public:
Investor News: Bulldog reports record sales!


Bulldog Armored Vehicles, a registered corporation in Manila, announced the closure of a record deal to supply the Irish Armed Forces. Estimated at over forty-nine billion NSC, the contract for military hardware surpasses previous international single-sale records held by the Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium. The Bulldog executive who made the announcement reaffirmed BAVs commitment to continue to bring reliable, affordable military systems to domestic and international markets.

[TheShammySocialist]

Secure Transmission

 

[b]To: The Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium

From: Polish Ministry of Defense (PMOD) - Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning

 

Subj: RFI - A400M Tactical Transport Aircraft[/b]

 

To whom it may concern,

 

The Polish Government is in the process of selecting international candidates for a purchase of thirty-two tactical transport aircraft to be added to the Polish Air Forces. After reviewing several aircraft that come from around the world, we find that the A400M is one of the closest to meeting our current requirements in our bidding program. The aircraft must have a rugged and capable design to fulfill several roles within the Air Force, and we think that your company might fit the billet in that regard.

 

We would like to make a Request-for-Information (RFI), into regards whether the A400M is capable of hosting modular mission support capsules, which would allow it to partake in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), electronic attack/warfare, Psychological Operations (PsyOps), refueling, and other similar highly important support roles.

 

We look forward to receiving a response from you.

 

Best of Regards,

 

Helena Plock, COL PAF

Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning

Polish Ministry of Defense

Edited December 14, 2013 by TheShammySocialist

[iKrolm]

Classified:

Bulldog Armored Vehicles has begun distributing information to select parties in the Selenarctos Department of Security about a next generation Main Battle Tank in development. The PL-01 is envisioned as a replacement for for the venerable but aging M1 Abrams. In addition to enhanced computer and networking systems, the PL-01 features highly modular armor and is coated with a layer of advanced radar-absorbing material. The project is still a ways from producing a combat-ready prototype, but the PL-01 project has been greeted positively by DoS staff.


Conceptural Rendering of the PL-01

[iKrolm]

Secure Transmission
 
To: The Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium
From: Polish Ministry of Defense (PMOD) - Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning
 
Subj: RFI - A400M Tactical Transport Aircraft
 
To whom it may concern,
 
The Polish Government is in the process of selecting international candidates for a purchase of thirty-two tactical transport aircraft to be added to the Polish Air Forces. After reviewing several aircraft that come from around the world, we find that the A400M is one of the closest to meeting our current requirements in our bidding program. The aircraft must have a rugged and capable design to fulfill several roles within the Air Force, and we think that your company might fit the billet in that regard.
 
We would like to make a Request-for-Information (RFI), into regards whether the A400M is capable of hosting modular mission support capsules, which would allow it to partake in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), electronic attack/warfare, Psychological Operations (PsyOps), refueling, and other similar highly important support roles.
 
We look forward to receiving a response from you.
 
Best of Regards,
 
Helena Plock, COL PAF
Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning
Polish Ministry of Defense

Encrypted Reply:

Dear Helena Plock,

On behalf of the Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium, please allow me to thank you for your interest in the A400M Tactical Air Transport. The A400M is a light, agile, and reliable plane that we believe can meet all of your needs. It is readily capable of aerial refueling and deploying paratroopers, vehicles, and cargo as the Selenarctos Air Force regularly uses it to do. The A400M has some of our more advanced electronic warfare suites, but is not a stealthy aircraft so we recommend air defenses be softened by stealthier and/or longer-ranged aircraft before sending in A400M. In the gunship role, the A400M can be equipped with any armament you would expect to find on a modern gunship including 105 mm howitzers and still offer superior speed and maneuverability compared to an AC-130.

The basic A400M tactical air transport is available at unit price of eighty million NSC.

-SAC

[TheShammySocialist]

Encrypted Reply:

Dear Helena Plock,

On behalf of the Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium, please allow me to thank you for your interest in the A400M Tactical Air Transport. The A400M is a light, agile, and reliable plane that we believe can meet all of your needs. It is readily capable of aerial refueling and deploying paratroopers, vehicles, and cargo as the Selenarctos Air Force regularly uses it to do. The A400M has some of our more advanced electronic warfare suites, but is not a stealthy aircraft so we recommend air defenses be softened by stealthier and/or longer-ranged aircraft before sending in A400M. In the gunship role, the A400M can be equipped with any armament you would expect to find on a modern gunship including 105 mm howitzers and still offer superior speed and maneuverability compared to an AC-130.

The basic A400M tactical air transport is available at unit price of eighty million NSC.

-SAC

 

 

 

Secure Transmission

 

To: Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium

From: PMOD - Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning

 

Subj: RE:RE: RFI-A400M Tactical Transport Aircraft

 

Given your description of the plane itself, we are quite interested in the A400M, we are aware that the aircraft would probably not be the best weapon in front line SEAD missions. That said, we intend to use these aircraft in a support role, over a wide area, supporting more capable and agile aircraft in such an important role. The modularity of the aircraft sounds sufficient for our purposes. We would like to inquire that if we purchase thirty-two units, we can guarantee the eighty million NSC price for a further sixteen if we feel the need to invest more in our tactical transport fleet in the future?

 

If so, than we can begin the process of funding a procurement order, if the government of Selenarctos approves this sale.

 

We look forward to hearing your reply.

 

Helena Plock, COL PAF

Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning

Polish Ministry of Defense

Edited December 15, 2013 by TheShammySocialist

[iKrolm]

Classified:

"Ah Mr. Cartell, please come in," Abo Raya, Chief of Staff to President Hygin Romero, glanced up at the man who knocked on his open door.

"Thank you, sir." Georgio Cartell entered the room and accepted the Cheif of Staff's halfbow and handshake with a return greeting of his own, the door closing itself silently behind Georgio as he passed through.

"Please, have a seat. Did you have a chance to retrieve the files I requested?" Raya gestured to a chair, and took another for himself.

"Of course. Do visitors often answer summons to your office without bringing that which you summoned them for with them?" Georgio asked, passing a memory card to Abo as he sat down.

"No, no they don't," Abo chuckled as he set the memory card onto his table's computer, a short-range wireless transmitter powering the memory card on to sync cryptocodes and transfer the files to Abo's computer.

"If I may..." Georgio Cartell took control of the Abo's computer, opening files to show the Chief of Staff as he spoke. "What we have here are original plans for the Selenarctos Strategic Defense Corporation's MIRV payload. The design called for a trio of five megatonne warheads, based off of the Alpha series of nuclear warheads. The SSDC didn't take the design lightly: the missile would have boasted a range of roughly ten thousand kilometers, all of the electronics were EMP hardened, each warhead contained multiple redundant navigation systems, and the missile featured a launch-time override of the mid-flight self-destruct sequence. It was a nasty piece of work designed as a last-ditch line of defense when all else had failed, but the missile never went into production. The SSDC shelved the plans when it became clear that Selenarctos' nuclear program would be more limited in scope. When Carlos Burke's interim government broke up the SSDC the plans were transfered to Hernandez-Segura Systems. Why? I am not sure, but Special Projects grabbed the MIRV plans along with several other odd projects the SSDC had been pursuing and I've held onto them ever since."

"My congratulations on your forward thinking. Supposing the President were interested, could we use the SSDC's plans to build a flight-ready MIRV missile?"

"Is the President interested?"

"The President is busy winning an election. I have more pressing concerns."

"In short: yes, we could. THe SSDC was nothing if not thorough in the planning but I ran the design past my staff who modernized the design and made a few changes. Let's call this version the Mark II. First, we swapped out the five megatonne warheads. They were excessive anyways and with smaller warheads, say between two-hundred fifty kilotonnes to one megatonne, we can fit more warheads on each missile. We also propose significant changes to the warhead's reentry vehicle. More recent technology than the SSDC had access to would allows us to independently guide each warhead during reentry: a maneuveralble reentry vehicle offering increased accuracy and preformance against anti-ballistic missile systems. And with modern rocketry, and increased range for the Mark II isn't unresonable."

"How big of missile would you need to accomplish this?"

"Fully fueled, we place the weight around fifty tonnes for six independently maneuverable reentry vehicles carrying a one megatonne warhead each. It's big and not particulary covert, but the Mark II, or the Mark I for that matter, wasn't designed with stealth in mind."

"To big for a submarine, I presume?"

Georgio raised an eyebrow. "A ballistic missile submarine? Yes, if Selenarctos had a ballistic missile submarine, the Mark II would be unlikely to fit. The design could probably be modified fit in a submarine with fewer warheads and a smaller range-- I would need to run the details past my staff, but I am certain we could produce a workable design."

"Do so. My staff will supply you with the submarine specifications; I want you to pursue both the land and submarine variants of the Mark II, and Dinalungan will handle the warheads: I've already begun covertly redirect suitable nuclear material from Selenarctos' small mining operation to meet their needs. As for the conventional designs I asked you to look into, I'm sure you are familiar with the Navy's P-5 and upgraded P-700 missiles? Both are in active service aboard our warships as well as shore batteries. The P-5 no longer meets our needs and will likely be scrapped in the near future. Plans are in the work to upgrade the P-700 missile again to keep it relevant to our Navy's mission at sea, but the Secretary of Defense and I believe a replacement for the land-based P-700 batteries are in order. With your group also handling the the Mark II missile, this seems an approperate fit. We want a missile optimized to eliminate enemy warships far behond their own engagement range, including the engagement range of any planes a carrier might be carrying. Non-nuclear of course, Selenarctos doesn't need to start a nuclear war anytime soon. Is Special Projects up to the task?"

"My staff were hand picked, they won't disappoint you."

"Excellent, I trust this will be the start of a fruitful relationship. And profitable too, or at least more profitable than the Goalkeeper Black CIWS guns turned out to be. You know where my office is and how to reach me if there is anything else you need."

"Thank you again, Mr. Raya."

"Not at all, thank you Mr. Cartell," Abo rose along with Georgio as the Cheif of Staff to the President and head of Special Projects at Hernandez-Segura Systems parted ways. Edited December 16, 2013 by iKrolm

[iKrolm]

Public:

Selenarctos announces that the planned military exercise in Micronesia has been temporarily postponed. The region has been reopened to normal civilian traffic, but may experience heightened Air Force and Naval activity in the future. Edited December 16, 2013 by iKrolm

[iKrolm]

Secure Transmission

To: Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium
From: PMOD - Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning

Subj: RE:RE: RFI-A400M Tactical Transport Aircraft

Given your description of the plane itself, we are quite interested in the A400M, we are aware that the aircraft would probably not be the best weapon in front line SEAD missions. That said, we intend to use these aircraft in a support role, over a wide area, supporting more capable and agile aircraft in such an important role. The modularity of the aircraft sounds sufficient for our purposes. We would like to inquire that if we purchase thirty-two units, we can guarantee the eighty million NSC price for a further sixteen if we feel the need to invest more in our tactical transport fleet in the future?

If so, than we can begin the process of funding a procurement order, if the government of Selenarctos approves this sale.

We look forward to hearing your reply.

Helena Plock, COL PAF
Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning
Polish Ministry of Defense

Encrypted Reply:

Thirty-two A400M planes at eighty million NSC each comes to a total of two point five six billion NSC. As a gesture of friendship, the Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium is willing to extend a pricing guarantee for one year after delivery of the initial thirty-two A400Ms is complete. After that, the price may need to be renegotiated due to market fluctuations and other factors beyond our control. If these terms are acceptable, we can begin production as soon as payment clears. We expect production and delivery to take around one year for all thirty-two planes.

-SAC

[TheShammySocialist]

Encrypted Reply:

Thirty-two A400M planes at eighty million NSC each comes to a total of two point five six billion NSC. As a gesture of friendship, the Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium is willing to extend a pricing guarantee for one year after delivery of the initial thirty-two A400Ms is complete. After that, the price may need to be renegotiated due to market fluctuations and other factors beyond our control. If these terms are acceptable, we can begin production as soon as payment clears. We expect production and delivery to take around one year for all thirty-two planes.

-SAC

 

[b]Secure Response[/b]

 

The offer that you have set forth is satisfactory to the Fourth Republic, and the Ministry of the Treasury shall begin the process of allotting the necessary funds to pay for these aircraft. We look forward to utilizing these aircraft and are quite excited for the first deliveries to commence, and thank you for extending the pricing guarantee for the next calendar year. Payment and time frame are acceptable to us, and the former will begin probably about the same time that you receive this message.

 

- PMOD, Office of Procurement and Strategic Planning

[iamthey]

Public:

Selenarctos announces that the planned military exercise in Micronesia has been temporarily postponed. The region has been reopened to normal civilian traffic, but may experience heightened Air Force and Naval activity in the future.

We wish you well on your postponement.

[iKrolm]

Public Knowledge:

The Presidential Security Team provides personal protection to the President, Vice President and their families. It is also tasked with protection of all national government buildings, and PST members are the only individuals permitted to carry weapons within those buildings.

The Presidential Security Team owes it’s origin to former President Melchoro Diokno who initiated the effort to increase security for members of the national government, and separate it from the jurisdiction of the Department of Security and local police forces. Under President Hygin Romero with Ms. Astryd Quitana as the helm, the Presidential Security Team expanded and acquired better equipment.

The Presidential Security Team uses the same M41-A Pulse Rifle carried by the Army, and a variant of the Standard Combat Uniform with a unique checkerboard pattern. The checkerboard pattern allows quick identification of team members, and is a federal offense to possess in Greater Manila or wear off duty. The same pattern is also used on Presidential Security Team ground combat vehicles, however transport Strykers used the standard black paint and escort vehicles use factory color schemes as well.

In addition to national government security, the Presidential Security Team holds partial jurisdiction in cyber crimes. The Presidential Security Team may legally investigate any crime committed in or through electronic means of communication at its own discretion with the approval of the President.




Presidential Security Team SCU

[iKrolm]

Public:
Reporters from recognized nations invited.




"Well, here we are," Martin Jairo, CEO of Electric Horizon, greeted reporters in English as they arrived. "Welcome to The Hub." Behind him, the soft glow of Electric Horizon's main research facility stood out against the light gray sky, modern Manilas haze of pollution slightly obscuring the metropolitan sprawl behind them.

"I wanted to do something a little different this year," Martin Jairo continued as led the procession of reporters into the facility. Theyd already passed through one security checkpoint and they were scanned once again by invisible millimeter wavelength radar as they entered the facility. "This is where it all happens. Electric Horizon's artificial nerves and muscles of the past years: they were developed and tested by our scientists and engineers here at The Hub."

The interior was both a working lab and a showcase of Electric Horizon for potential investors. The facility's smooth polymers and sealed windows might lead foreign reporters to think the entire building was a single, solid construction. Reporters familiar with Greater Manila would be more interested in the workers: in the office and research sections, men and women separated from the tour group by a glass wall wore goggles and glasses over their eyes and poked at empty air around them with their hands.

"Here at Electric Horizon, we invested in the best next-generation augmented and virtual reality system prototyes Luzon Electronics will sell us," Martin told the reporters. As he spoke, transparent screens in the windows lit up with 3D false-depth of field to reveal a complex series of screens and models floating around each goggled worker. "Sure, they're expensive but it's worth it: our workers are better and more productive because of the technology Electric Horizon and Luzon Electronics provide them with. A team of engineers, in real time, can design an artificial arm or leg, assemble it in virtual reality, examine and test every component individually, and make modifications on the fly all without the expense or time required to manufacture prototypes."

As he spoke, one of the workers close to the windows opened a virtual model of a pig, zoomed in on the leg then highlighted dense clusters of artificial nerves running underneath the skin for all to see. "Feel free to take pictures and video, everything we show on this tour in unclassified and approved for distribution."

The tour continued deeper into the facility, through several more areas including prototyping and biological research facilities. In a building slightly offset from the rest, Martin Jairo brought the reporters into the test animal holding rooms.

"All of our animals are treated and cared for as humanely as possible. They are grown outdoors in a farm facility in Northern Luzon and transported here as we need them." The interior of the holding building was a hard metal and polymer affair, completely unrecognizable without straw or smell a rural resident might think of a farm. The holding cells, for they were little more than cells, contained a single animal each and display screens on the walls. "There's a treadmill in the floor, and we even fake the sounds and smells: for all the pigs and monkeys know they are in an endless field or forest with plenty of food and water, and no predators in sight. We have a large veterinarian staff on call 24/7 to see to their every need and wellbeing."

A handful more research and development labs brought the tour back to the building they started. "And this concludes our tour of The Hub. I want to thank you all for taking time out of your schedule and coming here today. I unfortunately do not have any more time, but my public relations representative will be on hand answer any questions."

And with that, the tour concluded. A young man in a business suit answered questions for a short time before the reporters were escorted the buses that would carry then back to Manila.



Public News:

Electric Horizon share prices fell today, following news that CEO Martin Jairo would not be announcing new developments surrounding his company's question to produce commercially viable artificial organs and body parts. Follow up press releases by Electric Horizon stated that progress continued at an excellent pass and that Electric Horizon was still on track to meet its ten year goals but market investors remain worried.

-The Manila Times

[iKrolm]

Private, Classified:

Nicole glanced up at the suited man who just entered the club, his drab professional attire out of place amongst the dancers and drinkers who filled the downtown Manila location. The bouncer made a show of patting down the suit: shoulders, hips, under the arms, paused, startled, then glanced up suddenly at the suit’s face and a government ID card pressed back into the bouncer’s face, it’s holographic surface shimmering to the beat of blasting foreign pop music powering the club’s lasers and strobe lights. The bouncer nodded slowly, the waved the suit on in. Nicole watched the bouncer for a second longer as he placed one hand to the bug in his ear (calling the invisible man behind the cameras carefully hidden in dark corners around the club no doubt) before focusing on the suit working his way awkwardly through the crowd, looking for her.

He was young, newer blood she guessed, but he held himself with a reserve and tension that bespoke combat training. Not unsurprising, Nicole supposed with a small smile, all things considered. Finally, he saw her. His head locked but his eyes kept scanning beyond her, around her, she guessed he probably had an earbud too, but it was hidden beneath his black hair. Threat evaluation complete, he subtly altered course and arrived at her table.

“Nicole Alacasid?” he asked, standing before her. She nodded but remained seated--the only seat at the table, she’d arranged before she arrived. He must have seen her earlier without acknowledging it, for no sooner than he arrived a waiter arrived carrying a second chair for the young man to in.

She nodded in response.

“Marecel Acosta,” he shouted over the music to introduce himself, accompanied by a token bow as he sat down.

“Drink, before we begin?” Nicole held up her own glass suggestively to Marecel, empty save for a few ice cubes swirling in their own melt at the bottom.

“No, thank you.”

A passing waiter caught the glass, but Nicole waved her away before the waiter asked if either of them wanted another. “Of course not, the new Intelligence & Analysis wouldn’t drink on the job would they?”

“Depends on the mission,” he answered returning her thin smile. “My team thought it best not to drink on this one, just in case.”

“Your team?”

His smile widened, slightly. “You didn’t think I came to talk to you alone, did you?”

“A cute young guy like you? I can hope, can’t I?” Her smile turned flirtatious to mask surprise. Shit, of course there were more of them. IAA may have new management, and a new acronym, but they were still Melchoro’s Intelligence & Analysis when you dug down deep enough. And for her they would dig very, very deep.

“So how’s civilian life?” Marecel asked, ignoring her jibe. His tone was conversational, his eyes were bored.

“Civilian life,” she pondered theatrically. “We’re all civilians, you know.”

“Civilians don’t usually walk around with a million coins of government-sponsored hardware under their skin, do they?”

“Now that’s a rather vulgar way to talk, don’t you think?

“Civilians don’t usually fall out of fifth story windows running away from failed assassination attempts, either.”

Nicole’s breath caught in her throat, but she controlled herself and tried to maintain her complexion. She suspected Marecel noticed it, but he gave no sign one way or the other. His face was impressively passive, Nicole reflected now-- she might have underestimated him earlier.

“So why are you here? To reclaim your investment?”

“In a way,” he nodded, “Though not the one you are thinking of.”

She cocked her head inquisitively. He was impossible to read, in a way that was really starting to bother her.

“You have heard of Electronic Horizon?” Marecel continued.

She nodded.

“They are trying to commercialize artificial body parts, and were doing quite well from the sound of things. Until recently, that was. Their latest press releases have been somewhat… underwhelming--”

“Underwhelming for who? The crippled man with living with one leg in the alley behind this club, or the military general who dreams of slicing off his soldiers’ limbs and replacing them with stronger ones?”

“One, the other, does it matter? The point is that a lot of people have invested a lot of money in Electric Horizon. It would be bad for them if it failed. The President has invested a lot of political capital in Electric Horizon, and it would be bad for him if it failed too. From what I hear it isn’t going to fail, they have enough money invested in the right people in places to prevent that, but it isn’t succeeding fast enough and in the public’s eyes that might as well be a failure.”

“Oh,” Nicole replied with feign boredom.

“Then you know what we want you to do.”

That caught Nicole off guard-- she was expecting a long boring lecture about why this was her duty, why she should care. “I rather enjoyed being able to walk independently, you know.”

“Electric Horizon won’t take anything. Scans and disassembly of reproducible parts only, Electric Horizon has assured us. Perhaps a software tweak here, a tune up there? The IAA looks after our operatives.”

“I left I&A when the organization dissolved, and I never joined an IAA.”

“I’m glad you accept. We’ll see each other again, I have no doubt,” Marecel rose to leave.

“What?”

“Electric Horizon will be expecting you when you arrive,” Marecel smiled at her-- the first real smile he’d given her since he arrived, she thought. “And you’re wrong, you could never leave the IAA. That’s why Melchoro chose you.”

Fuck you, Nicole thought glaring at Marecel’s back as he receded effortlessly through the crowd.

“Another,” Nicole waved the waiter over. She would need it before she crossed the city to Electric Horizon’s Hub.

[Centurius]

From the Law Offices of Triyun, Sarah and lkfht, LLP

18 rue de Chambéry, Paris, Republic of France, Athenian Federation

Plaintiff:  Airbus Group

Defendants: Select Selenarctos public bodies and private corporations

Filed: Selenarctos Claims Court

 

Our client has been informed that Selenarctos has actively used and exported certain intellectual properties of client, including the Airbus A400M. Airbus Group demands all aircraft produced and still maintained within Selenarctos are immediately grounded and it is compensated for every plane produced with 200 million Union Standard, the total amount is to be increased by another 10% as a punitive measure and with an increasing percentage if defendants do not pay or ground the aircraft on time.

[iKrolm]

From the Law Offices of Triyun, Sarah and lkfht, LLP
18 rue de Chambéry, Paris, Republic of France, Athenian Federation
Plaintiff:  Airbus Group
Defendants: Select Selenarctos public bodies and private corporations
Filed: Selenarctos Claims Court
 
Our client has been informed that Selenarctos has actively used and exported certain intellectual properties of client, including the Airbus A400M. Airbus Group demands all aircraft produced and still maintained within Selenarctos are immediately grounded and it is compensated for every plane produced with 200 million Union Standard, the total amount is to be increased by another 10% as a punitive measure and with an increasing percentage if defendants do not pay or ground the aircraft on time.

Reply from SAC Legal:

The planes in question are manufactured and maintained by the Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium, a well respected corporation in Selenarctos and around the world, and one of the oldest corporate conglomerates in the world. We contend that at the time of the SAC variant A400M's introduction, Airbus did not exist as a corporate entity.

Furthermore, we observe that the SAC's variant of the A400M bears resemblance to only two planes that existed before. Singapore was the first country--ever--to fly a plane designated the 'A400M,' manufactured by SingAir. When Singapore fell, Selenarctos stepped in to restore order and held the island as a protectorate until a new government formed. The second nation to mention an A400M was the German Democratic Republic, with no mention of manufacturer but given the massive transfer of equipment and men from Singapore to the GDR we hold it likely that these planes were originally manufactured by SingAir too. SingAir ceased to exist while Selenarctos held Singapore as a protectorate, like many other corporations who went bankrupt at the time, and their patents, designs and licensing rights would have been acquired by the Selenarctos Central Government. Government records can verify that no sale of SingAir assets was approved.

Vereinigte Deutsche Länder was the fourth nation to introduce an A400M and their successor, the Corporate Republic of Ceylon the fifth, the Atlas Empire the sixth by way of classified documents that became public after their fall, and only later does the Athenian Federation through Airbus become the seventh nation with an A400M.

The Selenarctos Aerospace Consortium holds this as sufficient prior art to void Airbus claims to exclusive A400M manufacturing and branding rights, and given the at times murky path of A400M models through the world the SAC will not file countersuit with the Athenian Federation provided Airbus drops their own unwarranted lawsuit. Edited January 22, 2014 by iKrolm