Norway-Sweden News, Developments and Movements

[Il Terra Di Agea]

OOC: Spamming my own thread to make sure I get post # 100

Will edit later

EDIT: Wait, crap

Edited September 9, 2009 by Il Terra Di Agea

[Arkantos]

OOC: Spamming my own thread to make sure I get post # 100

Will edit later

EDIT: Wait, crap

OOC: I win.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

This Week at the Ceuta Launch Area

This week at the Ceuta Launch area progress on the shuttle continues at full pace, having met the goal of laying out the structure of the wings, as well as mechanical components for the landing gear. Other projects towards construction are also beginning to take off, including production of food for the journey, as well as construction of the two toilets that will be mounted in the ship. As the shuttle is constructed, the Astronaut are just beginning their intensive training regiment.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Protests form In Oslo

The usual trickle of people trying to convince the Government to remove or pass one law or another grew to a protest of nearly 300 outside the Storting today as people mounted to demand money for their government issued IOUs. The issue first rose when the Governments money allotted to infrastructure repair depleted, and the private companies that had done the work, were, once again denied their payment, even for materials. Now, over a month past the original date promised to release the next wave of money, not a single øre has been given out. The protests are currently localized around the Storting, but, according to their website, they have garnered over a thousand citizens who support their cause.

One protester who asked his name not be revealed, stated "I'm not here to be a burden, and I'm not here because I want to spread civil disobedience. I just want my money. I've been working at the same construction firm since I was sixteen, and haven't been payed for a day of work in a month. I have a family to feed, and the market doesn't take IOUs."

The government has not prepared an official statement, but Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen has stated, "We're doing everything we can right now, but they'll have to wait. We're getting through this as fast as we can."

OOC: Anyone (Except Uber who I explained this all to earlier) who can guess where I'm going with this gets a cookie

Edited September 15, 2009 by Il Terra Di Agea

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Oslo Protests Begin to Raise City Wide Labour Strikes

In an unprecedented move by Norwegian Labour Unions, the protests in Oslo have grown into a massive city wide strike. These large scale sit ins, protests, and pickets have already had an effect on private life. Markets are closing as their owners, fearing a revolt, go into hiding or join the strikers. Banks have been a target of vandalism across the city. Hateful and sometimes vulgar Pro-Strike slogans coat the walls of one, Nation owned bank, and many others have been defaced in one way or another. One of the most shocking Pro-revolt actions in the city has been the lack of crime, despite the strike spreading to the Oslo Police and Riot Officer's Union, crime has remained low. Private security firms have struggled to gather the men necessary to protect their interests, and the Storting has begun discussion of a declaration of emergence and the mobilization of a National Guard Battalion to protect state interests. Due to the increasing possibility of a full scale, police supported riot, the King and Prime Minister will be take to a safe bunker in the North for protection.

Though the strikes have been relatively centralized to Oslo, Murmansk and New Longyearbyen have reported them in small numbers.

[Californian]

Protests are a fundamental right to every citizen however we urge the protesters to remain peaceful and avoid bloodshed.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Norwegian Navy Releases Four New Ships

The Norwegian Navy's Murmansk Drydocks, despite the ongoing labour strikes, announced today the Launch of four new vessels. These consist of Two Kirov Class Battlecruisers, the KNM Longyearbyen and KNM Ceuta, as well as Two King Harald V (Iowa ) class Battleships, the KNM Solovetsky and KNM Hammerfest. The boats were first planned immediately after the KNM Oslo and KNM Murmansk were launched. Though the boats were launched with much more fanfare than their predecessors, but are also tasked with a more important mission of sitting off the Coast to ensure the safety of Ports during the protests.

KNM Hammerfest preparing for Launch

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Labour Protests Take Violent Turn

The nation was shocked today as the labour protests that have struck the nation in these past weeks took a violent turn today. According to a National guard member in the area at the time, "A Molotov Cocktail came out of nowhere and hit us. We naturally started to freak out. My face was like... FWOOOSH! And Jens, well, he was all on fire." This man, who wished not to be named after coming out of his morphine induced daze suffered moderate burns to his cheeks, chin, neck and forhead where the fire managed to slip in through his helmet. Jens, who also wished not to release his full name, suffered severe burns over fifteen percent of his body, and may loose his left leg to his injuries. After several similar attacks nation wide, the National Guard has moved to Code Red Defense level, stating that they will fire if provoked.

Labour leaders nationwide state that the protesters would never have done this, under any circumstances. Laboratory and Research Union Spokesman, as well as Impromptu New Longyearbyen and Murmansk Labour Strike Leader Dr. Dayus Heimdall had this to say: "We've done everything possible to make absolutely sure that this would not happen. I can't say there wouldn't be some deranged bozo running around our protests, but we aren't trying to start a revolution, we're trying to get back what we all deserve, and if the government is too scared sitting in their little safety holes to see that, then we'll need to show them that we aren't giving up."

OOC: This is not the last you will see of Dayus there

[Subtleknifewielder]

Promised Land as always condemns violent protests. We hope the protests do not turn into riots.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Protests Take another Violent Turn, Labour Leaders Condemn Combatants

Labour Protests took another violent turn today when several groups of combatants stormed major government buildings nation wide. In Oslo, the Storting has been hit with a bomb strapped into a car. "The majority of the damage was Superficial," Says Major Milad Petersson with the national guard, "But what this stands for is a lot worse than the damage the building took." Even in cities that are usually peaceful and free of this sort of dissent such as Southport, the strikes and protests are beginning to get out of hand. The Southport Government Complex, former capitol of the nation, has been attacked. The three hour long assault by nearly ninety individuals on the building resulted in nearly every window being broken, and many of the furnishings and equipment within being burnt, smashed, or stolen. In response to the increased violence, the national guard has upped patrols around remaining government institutions and targets likely to be attacked.

Meanwhile, labour leaders nation wide have done all in their power to condemn this violent behavior. In an announcement earlier today, Several labour leaders urged the Non-Violent protesters to return to their homes and stay there until this all passes.

Due to growing dissent, and an increasing protester presence around our offices, this newspaper will cease to print until it is safe to enter and leave the facilities

Outside Aftenposten Headquarters

Even though their final paper was only released hours before, the large building was desolate. The only cars on the lot were the delivery trucks, and the windows were locked and boarded. The only people around were five men and women, carrying nothing but water and rifles.

"Hey, Nathanael I just got an idea," The tallest of the men said, "You used to work here, right?"

"Yah," Nathanael said, "What are you thinking Gustaf?"

"That we just got a way to get our word out."

[Il Terra Di Agea]

On The Nature of Labour in The Kingdom of Norway

An Editorial By Gustaf Dahlberg

Hello. As you may have guessed from the above, My name is Gustaf Dahlberg. I have worked and lived in Norway for my entire life, and damned if I'm not proud of that fact. Even back in the ADI days, eight years ago, I was proud to fly a Norwegian flag over my little home out in the middle of nowhere. Back in those days, I worked an oil field. Every day, I woke up at six, ate, threw on a pair of rubber overalls, and left home before six thirty. I worked out on an oil rig that was on frozen ice most of the year. every year, for three straight months, we would have to work in the dark, but we did this for our families, and if that meant low work conditions and long hours, it was part of the job. I worked that job for four years, three months and fifteen days. I quit mid-day Christmas eve when my boss refused to let me off work to be with my kid on Christmas. I got home to catch my wife in bed with another man while my child sat in the other room watching TV. I alienated my family to work a dangerous job that I hated, just to loose my wife, my kid, my retirement, my home, and savings.

Like a lot of people, I remember right where I was the day Jens Stoltenberg stated his intent to unify Norway, I was sitting in my apartment in Murmansk, going over my finalized divorce papers, tired from a day of work loading boats in the port. I couldn't believe my eyes when those flags went down. Finally, I thought, This is all going to get better; Every problem we had in the ADI age is going to go away.

The next day, I came in late for work after meeting with my lawyer. I was fired.

I went in to get my Government issued severance pay just in time to here that the program was canceled to save money. We needed money to support the unification process.

After several weeks unemployed, I was drafted into the Army just like a lot of people my age. We were young enough to march and fight, old enough to accept discipline. I spent two years in the Army before they let me leave, and I got a place to live in Oslo, and a job in the construction industry. I hope you can see where this is going.

After the war, I started to receive IOUs instead of tax returns, just like a lot of you out there. After another year, during the "Gildings" (Name given by many workers to the Infrastructure repairs. Meant to sarcastically indicate that the repairs being done were so low quality due to lack of sufficient pay that they were just painting over the cracks, pot holes and dilapidated buildings with gold paint rather than fixing them) I started to get IOUs instead of paychecks. The kicker of course, was that nobody would take them. I had to burn my IOUs and paper work just to keep warm that winter. Six months later, the firm I worked for went under, and split up what was left of the company bank account to all of us. Turns out the bans were out of money, and we got payed in IOUs.

We were some of the first to start protesting. We were the workers. We all worked the same crappy handful of jobs. We worked mines in the ADI age when that was the only job we could get. We worked docks in Murmansk because that was safer and payed better after that. We went to construction after Unification. Everywhere we went, it seemed like we couldn't get a brake. But even when we went to protest, we were a few hundred. We needed support, and we needed organization. We needed Dayus Heimdall. Heimdall came out of nowhere about a week into the strike, and we laughed at him. Little pale blond guy. Looked like a strong breeze could blow him over. We were construction workers and miners, we were taller and stronger than him, and a lot angrier. He comes up to me, and he says, "You aren't going anywhere with this. I now where you're coming from, and I want to help."

We all laughed at him. What the hell was he going to do? He asked for my phone number, and said "I'll be in touch." Two days later, I read an article about how the protests were going nation wide, and I got a message on my answering machine. "I told you I could help."

Now, I before I say anything else, I feel the need to debunk a bit of a myth. The Aftenposten has told you all that we, the protesters, started all this violence, and that's a dirty lie. If you want the truth, someone did throw that Molotov, and people really have been attacking government buildings, but it's only because the national guard has been harassing and attacking us. The news never reported it, but three weeks ago today, the National guard burnt ten women, and three children to death. Up in Trondheim, a handful of protesters were trying to close off a national guard outpost that they knew was going to send tanks down to Oslo. They built tents around the facility, and lay down in front of the entrance to stop them from leaving. After a few days of waiting, the National guard drove their tanks out. What the protesters thought would be a good plan, put the women and children out in the front to get a bit more guilt, left them with a lot of loss. Word traveled slow around the country, but it sure as hell got out. We need to get everyone to know that we're not the bad guys. The bad guys are those murderers. Those child killing monsters.

I don't want sympathy for my life, I want sympathy for all those who died in the Trondheim massacre. I want retribution for the years of torment and lies that so many of us have had to go through. I want a government I can trust. I want a good man like Heimdall up in the Royal Palace, not some old man too scared hiding in his little bunker to help his people. I want a Norway we can be proud of. Even if we lose this battle, we will win this war. You cannot silence the people forever.

Fifteen Hours Later, New Longyearbyen

Dayus Heimadall finished reading his copy of the pamphlet being handed out all over the country, "Well, that got out of hand fast..."

OOC: And good times were had by all

[Subtleknifewielder]

"Ridiculous, this pamphlet. I don't believe Norway would deliberately slaughter its own citizens."

~Administrator Anderson

[Il Terra Di Agea]

"Ridiculous, this pamphlet. I don't believe Norway would deliberately slaughter its own citizens."

~Administrator Anderson

"It is not that the Nation is Killing people, or that the Government killed these people. These people are dying because the government is gone. The National Guard is going mad with power now that they're the only ones around to enforce law, and if they don't like something, they get rid of it."

Gustaf Dahlberg, Political Dissenter

[Il Terra Di Agea]

A Shocking Announcement

It is my sad duty to now explain why the government has been so unresponsive to the last several weeks of protesting. A group of fifteen Refugees from Molakia (Hope that's Okay with you Comrade. If it isn't, I will change it right away) stumbled across a small, blocked off bunker entrance on a tiny, secluded road that they had been using. Looking for a place to stay for the night, they pushing the parked car that blocked the door, and made a startling discover. Nearly forty charred bodies lined the cramped entrance to the bunker. Even more shocking was what they brought back to show the police in Murmansk, an ID badge denoting a person f high Government rank. It is believed that this was the hidden government bunker that the King, as well as high ranking government members were moved to by the National Guard when protests began to get violent.

We urge anyone in a place of power to come to Aftenposten Headquarters to try and sort out the issue of government.

One Hour Later

As the first trickle of people began to enter the gates it became all too clear that the meeting was off. Afterposten Headquarters were rubble on the ground, and the body of Gustaf Dahlberg hanged on one of the few remaining pipes that jut from the ground.

After Another Twelve Hours, The National Guard Made The Following Announcement

"It has been speculated that the tragic deaths of many of our leaders were perpetrated by us, The National Guard. These lies are nothing but propaganda from the mouths of the same terrorists that have been attacking our nation for weeks. These same Terrorists killed themselves and destroyed one of the most popular newspapers in the nation to stop us from bringing justice to them. To stop any more barbaric acts of violence at these people's hands, we hereby declare martial law. Do not leave your homes. Anyone left outside will be arrested under suspicion of terrorism. In forty eight hours, we will lift this to give way to an eight o'clock curfew. We will keep this nation safe. At all costs."

Edited September 20, 2009 by Il Terra Di Agea

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Brief Provisional Government Announcement

We in Norway, as many know, have only recently pulled out of a brief, but detrimental civil strife. It has now been several months since that time has passed, but the nation is still greatly harmed by the events. It is my duty to fill the world in on a more detailed tale of the events. Approximately four months ago, a small series of Labour protests escalated to form a nation wide event. The National guard, operating under the last orders they received did all they could within their power to end the probably resulting Revolution. Both the protesters and Guard went to unspeakable lengths to complete their tasks. Both sides took the lives of their brethren, and neither are excused from the evils they committed. Through all this loss, as some may have been informed, much of the ruling house of government was executed.

We have had little time to rebuild. Communications systems are jut coming back on-line, roads and bridges are just beginning to be repaired, and much of the Urban population has been forced to live in refugee camps. The Major Government Buildings in Oslo have been all but destroyed.

Now, we can say that there is not just bad news. Infrastructure in Svalbard is running at it's prewar levels. Murmansk was also luck enough to suffer only minor damage. Much of the nation's construction equipment was left outside of major cities, meaning that it does not need to be rebuilt entirely. Many state level politicians have been able to take up the job of forming a Provisional Government, led up by Dr. Dayus Heimdall, a labour leader who organized the early protests, ad had an invaluable role in ending the war.

Norway is still here. We are rebuilding. We are more united than ever.

Oslo

All across Oslo, the citizens of the damaged cities were banding together. Neighbors who had barely said a word to each other in the past were rebuilding their homes together. Norway, once to disunited among the workers and the company owners, was coming together as one. The Provisional Government was constantly sending in supplies from the North, where the war hit the lightest, so the south could rebuild. Even on the most damaged of buildings, people were raising Norwegian flags where ever they could. No one could have guessed the effect of this war. People were finally working together and even where the old policies were still law, the hope that true peace would come was strong.

OOC: Sorry for my inactivity of late. School has been really taking up my time (Especially last week.) Just want to make a note that I'm going to remain a lot less active, probably until next summer.

[Lynneth]

"Should Norway wish, then Austria will gladly aid with the rebuilding of the affected areas. We know your plight, having come out of a civil war only months ago."

[Il Terra Di Agea]

"Should Norway wish, then Austria will gladly aid with the rebuilding of the affected areas. We know your plight, having come out of a civil war only months ago."

Statement from the Provisional Government

"We than you very much for your offer. Though we have many of the tools and materials needed, we are at a dire shortage of some manufactured products such as insulation, drywall, electrical wiring, and, of course, manpower. We would be indebted to you if you could spare any of these."

[Lynneth]

Statement from the Provisional Government

"We than you very much for your offer. Though we have many of the tools and materials needed, we are at a dire shortage of some manufactured products such as insulation, drywall, electrical wiring, and, of course, manpower. We would be indebted to you if you could spare any of these."

"We shall deliver.

Within the next two weeks, insulation, drywall and electrical wiring will be shipped to you, while a number of skilled electricians, builders, et cetera will be flown to Norway by plane. It will cost nothing, for we value the friendship between our two countries."

[Il Terra Di Agea]

An Update of Reconstruction

With the Recent Influx of materials and labour from Austria, the rate of reconstruction has increased greatly. The original slow building of exteriors on buildings has been greatly sped up with the new access to electrical wiring and interior construction materials. At this time, the Government has announced that Murmansk has officially returned to Pre-war functionality, and is, in fact, producing many of the heavy materials for reconstruction elsewhere. Oslo on the other hand, remains in a state of disarray. Even with the Austrian workers and materials, much of the suburban population remains without homes, and those who do have homes, do not have power.

The Provisional Government also met this week (Note that this is the first time that all Provisional Government leaders have met in person) to discuss plans for a permanent government, and methods for repairing the much damaged national Economy. Several prominent economists in the nation have already begun to speculate that the economy will fall in recession in under two years time if the economy cannot be brought back to pre-war levels, if not even higher.

The Ceuta Launch site, now Beginning to be used once more by ADI workers, has seen its first movement in nearly a year. The Provisional Government was in nigh unanimous agreement that the NNSA should be put back into moderate priority as a means to reinvigorate confidence that Norwegian made products are in fact well made and reliable, a stigma that has began to arise in many areas.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Provisional Government Announces Commonwealth Acts

The Provisional Government, after ending its first official meaning, has officially passed a number of bills that are intended to rebuild the economy, as well as prevent a situation where another dispute may occur. The acts are broken up into five parts, detailed below.

1: The Commonwealth Act

---Establishes a Commonwealth within Norway. The commonwealth will consist of 12 independent republics under one Unified Crown.

2: The Crown Act

---If a King or Queen leaves no heir upon their death, and their family is unable for whatever reason, a new king shall be elected by the Governors of the 12 republics.

3: The Impeachment and Dismissal Acts

---Should any government held office fail to fulfill their duties, whether that be failure to complete their job as viewed by the higher government or failing to fulfill their promise to uphold and follow the law, they will be dismissed for a time of fifty days wherein their conduct will be measured. After the time, they may be reinstated, or remain out of office for a criminal prosecution.

4: The Transport Act

---To regulate inter-Provincial commerce, all goods meant for out of the province they are produced will be looked over, have their production overseen by Government protocol officers, and placed under a tax of 0.825% of total worth upon leaving provincial lines.

5: Health and Wellness Act

---In order to help those injured during the war, and those that must be hospitalized in the future, the Commonwealth (As created in Act 1) shall provide universal sick care for all legal citizens, with supplementary well fare offered for those who pay for it.

Also on the agenda during the meeting was the plan to go about electing both a new King, and Prime minister, both of which will likely be completed before the month's end. (OOC: I'll be appointing a King, and the PM will be a forum vote... sort of)

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Several Announcements From The Provisional Government

-In a small ceremony today, Dr. Dayus Gabriel Heimdall was chosen and crowned King of Norway.

-The three largest political parties of the nation have begun to screen candidates for the upcoming Election of a new Prime Minister. The Socialists, Conservatives and Progressives have all gained nigh equal support thus-far, and the fate of the nation's political nature is up in the air.

-All previously declared Royal Decrees have been ushered into law once more.

-In it's small remaining time of existence, the Provisional Government has ushered into creation the National Recovery Board (NRB), which will oversee the economic recovery of the nation until production reached pre-war levels.

-All closed borders are hereby reopened.

-All canceled trade is hereby reinstated (All short term trade was shut down with the ports and roads save for the Murmansk-Finland oil pipeline which is built to function with minimal human support for a time of up to two months.)

-Upon the completion of these programs, the Provisional Government will hereby be dissolved

Until the internal changes are completed, a National Holiday has been declared, appointment and election for the parliament will take place after that.

Thank you, and goodnight.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

National Reconstruction Act Passed

With Cities like Oslo beginning to retake shape, the Parliament voted today to pass the National Reconstruction Act, which will create more fine tuned economic and political systems for those displaced by the war. The act is broken into several parts, but as a whole vies to rebuild and replenish the people of their lost items. The National Insurance Bill, part of the Reconstruction act, allows all people whom have lost valuables during the war, to be repaid for their losses up to 700,000 Kroner. The National Housing and Construction Bill allows for any family who's house was entirely destroyed to have their house rebuilt on the bill of the Government, and for stores and offices destroyed, the government has offered to pay for reconstruction of the building, except for the interiors. The National Infrastructure Construction bill is aiming to complete several projects that were promised but never completed by the former government, such as the Pan-Norwegian Railway, new freeways and roads in Rural areas, and construction of a standardized education system. Also attached to the bill were several new public welfare programs that were added and approved by the Progressive, Socialist and Green parties. The most notable of these is the National Aged and Sick Act, which allows those who have debilitating disabilities, diseases and who have passed the age of seventy to have access to a special Societal Care wing of the Bank of Norway. Though the act started to draw contempt from the right wing parties of Norway, the Bill won several more centrist members by the addition of the creation of a National Social Care Bureau. The NSCB is tasked with meeting with those applying for aid to make sure they deserve and need it (Note: The NSCB will also serve the same purpose n regards to the Health and Wellness Act).

This Week at the Ceuta Launch Area

Though the Launch has been nearly a year in Hiatus, the Launch Area burst back to life today as workers returned. Before they were told to go home (A month after the Media Blackout began), much of the initial planning and construction for the Reisen-1 (A name given only days ago) Shuttle had already completed. Just yesterday, the engineers finished their job of cleaning and recalibrating their testing equipment, and did the first, official test of the main rockets. Though not all of the data has been compiled, initial reports say that the equipment is functioning, and falling exactly into the zone the scientists wanted to see. The Astronauts, though out of training for Eleven months are doing well in their current tests, and almost unanimously agree that the training instructions left to them before the program went down were invaluable to their current abilities in the program. Also on the agenda last week was beginning to create the space suits that will be used on the mission, an important task, especially for the coming moon walks. If all continues at the current pace, the test launch will be completed in two month's time, and the moon walk in four.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Classified: Security 18

Northport Research Facility

Under the cover of night, and through the highly secretive subway network, something was massive was happening in the Research complex. The spotless facility had hallways lined with boards as to keep people out, and a great number of workers had begun to dawn basic Hazmat equipment. As the train slowly pulled in t the loading bay, the entire facility became abuzz with excitement. Two particularly heft men stepped up the the train door, and removed the first of the many boxes within, all were identical. Heavy steel, lined with lead, and emblazoned with a giant Radioactivity warning, the crates looked like something out of a bad movie. The men placed eight down on the tram to Section four before sending it off, and loading up the next. Norway was one step closer to becoming nuclear.

OOC: Starting to save up for my Manhattan Project (Woo), so, to avoid the same mess that I'm in with may space program, I'm opting to begin research now, to have a working, usable nuke by the time I buy the wonder (In forty or less days ).

IC: This Week at the Ceuta Launch Area

This week at the Ceuta launch area, the initial buzz of returning to work began to slow down as the first test rockets and shuttle were moved into place for their first firing early this week. The Shuttle was rigged with a remote system to pilot its way back to the Earth after launch. Although the launch was postponed for twenty four hours due to weather, the launch at six o'clock this morning is considered a massive success.

Though there were slight problems with the trajectory of the initial thrusters, the shuttle successfully entered orbit without a crew, where it remained for ten minutes, gathering heat and air pressure data regarding the ship's interior, before automatically returning to the runway at the sight. According to the scientists, all initial reports are pointing towards perfection on the heat shields, but the necessity to replace several air systems that seemed to be leaking during the flight. The first launch with the astronauts is scheduled for next week.

[Subtleknifewielder]

Our congratulations to Norway on this successful launch.

[Il Terra Di Agea]

Norwegian Navy Launches First New Ships Since War

The Norwegian navy announced the launch of its two newest Fridtjof Nansen class frigates. The ships, both launched last night, are intended to stand as both vessels to protect the nation, and as a silent remembrance to those who have lost their lives at sea since, and during, the war. The Two ships have been christened the KNM Heimdall and the KNM Thor, both in recognition of the Gods of the Old Norse, for their power. The KNM Heimdall's name also serves as a reference to the current King, Dayus Heimdall. Already the KNM Heimdall has drawn questions as to whether it should be considered the Flagship of the Royal Navy, though no official response has come.

The KNM Heimdall on it's Maiden Voyage

The ships will, as has become tradition, take their first trip to Ceuta before returning to their home and place of Construction in Bergen. They aim to arrive in Ceuta in time to watch the moon mission launch.

This Week at the Ceuta Launch Area

With repairs to the shuttle completed and new launch thrusters built by Tuesday, the first manned mission into space by a Norwegian vessel began last Thursday, and will continue until tomorrow evening, when the shuttle will begin its descent. So far the astronauts have stated that the sensation of being in space is like nothing they have ever felt, both the weightlessness and the knowledge that they are the first Norwegians in space has been a humbling experience to them all. In celebration of this historic event, we have organized breif statements from all of the astronauts on their feelings now that they have been in space for two days.

Melvin Söderberg: "It's amazing up here. I... It's past words. I spent years in the Marines, I've traveled the world, I've done a lot of things most people can't even imagine, but this. This tops them all."

Walter Hellström: "You know, I was a bit scared coming up. I'll be honest about that. I've been in a lot of really damn fast planes, but just seeing the land beneath you spiral away and the sky getting dark as you go up, it's freaky. But now that we're up here, it's pretty good. I haven't got used to the whole Zero Grav thing, and going to the toilet is... a challenge to say the least, but I like it. It's awesome."

Blenda Eliasson: "Walter probably said this all already, but it's awesome up here. You know, we've got out window, and just looking down at the planet is amazing. It's weird. Yesterday, we went over Norway in our orbit, and just the thought that my whole family, all my friends, and everyone I know, I could hide beneath my thumb from here is pretty cool. And if Walter was scared coming up here, he's going to piss his pants going back down -he he he-"

Dr. Tellervo Parnela: "It's a sight. I'm not talking colorful butterflies, horrific train-wrecks or rain forest either. This is like looking down to see everything that we have ever know. It's like seeing everything wonderful about the planet at once. The rolling hills, the sandy desert, the sparkling blue oceans. It's like art. The video's we have won't do it justice, it's just... wonderful."

Dr. Karla Lundberg: "Have you ever been working hard on something, and not been able to do it, and then a few days later, you do it by accident? Like soling a math problem or jumping rope, it can take years of working at it, but it'll only come when you least expect it? You know that little sense of giddy happiness when you start to laugh your $@! off when you realize you just did it without meaning to, and you get this big swell of pride? This is exactly that feeling. I was laughing like a maniac once I floated out of my seat into the cabin. I couldn't even say that we did it, I was just so happy."

Dr. Viktor Charkov: "It smells like copper, it's cramped, I'm away from my family, I haven't slept in days, and that toilet has scared the !@#$ out of me so many times that it's like it.. well... is doing it's job perfectly really... but even though it has all those cons, signing up for this was the best decision of my life, and I would never do it differently were I given the chance."

Classified: Security 18

Northport Research Facility

Dr.Alan Holmgren, Director of the project dubbed Project Inocybe, paced the halls as he waited for his workers to produce the proper pieces of his weapon. With the project as classified as it was, he had no access to outside production, and had to build every single part in Northport. The process was slow, and unrewarding. Every piece needed to be built and rebuilt before it could pass inspection, and radioactive materials were proving challenging to work with. Northport was not built to handle the radioactive materials properly, and every single bit of assembly has to be done with two distant pairs of robotic arms, usually used for surgery and building cars. The bomb itself was a rather simplistic form of a Boosted fission weapon, meant to be more efficient that standard Thermonuclear bombs, but not as much so as a Neutron bomb, which proved too expensive and complicated to build this early on. The actual construction of the testing bombs had been rather simple and uninteresting. The bombs were being built without superfluous excesses like fins, or targeting equipment, and were very simple and uninteresting on the outside. Dr. Holmgren himself jested that most people would believe it was a water softener or a newfangled toilet pump if you told them so. Though the construction was going remarkably well, tensions remained high. Any time problem could cause awful side effects later on, and the morality of Norway, a nation usually apposed to the use and proliferation of Nuclear weapons but still producing them stuck hard among many of the scientists. The mining squad has continued work on Section 16, essentially a 4 km deep pit with deep gouges cut into the walls, the entire purpose of which is to secretly test the bomb in without allowing radiation or material to escape, while also guaranteeing that no seismic activity can be picked up outside the nation. Current schedules put the initial test in just under 6 months, and finalization of the product in 11 months (Like 23 days, when I should have bought my MP).

Edited October 24, 2009 by Il Terra Di Agea