VDL South Shenanigans

[Lynneth]

Imperiale Nachrichtenagentur (ina; Imperial News Agency)

Wien

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the Emperor announced just a few minutes ago:

We will be going into space. Right now, engineers from all over the country are preparing the first Holy Roman mission into space with a conventional rocket, though a spaceport is in construction. According to the announcement, it will be able to serve and launch three shuttles at once."

"The Emperor also announced that already, plans for deep-space missions and a Holy Roman space stations are being made. For missions to nearby worlds such as Venus or Mars, the 'Pegasus' class shuttle would be utilized. It is planned that it will receive a so-called 'fusion torch' drive, using a fusion reaction to propel itself forward."

"The Space station would be capable of serving four ships at once, refueling and restocking them with relative ease. It will also be used as space-laboratory, so scientists and astronauts can perform experiments under zero-G conditions."

"There are also plans for deep-space missions, to the moons of Jupiter and even further. Manned! The design for this would be such as this one: "

"The ship would be roughly 190 meters long as per the current plans, but may be bigger or smaller once it is built, depending on changes with these plans.

Forward, into space, I say!"

[Subtleknifewielder]

"We can only look on in awe as the Romans continue to impress with their amitious projects."

OOC: Why does that space station look a lot like Deep Space Nine?

[Lynneth]

"We can only look on in awe as the Romans continue to impress with their amitious projects."

OOC: Why does that space station look a lot like Deep Space Nine?

"We aim high, and often strike true. That is what we do."

OOC: Dunno. The innter part of DS9 maybe, but this is just a realistic and rational design. Any long-lasting station would look like this, to provide artificial gravity by turning around its axis.

DS9 comparison

[Lynneth]

Imperiale Nachrichtenagentur (ina; Imperial News Agency)

Koper

"Recently, we reported that the navy will be receiving new vessels.

A fleet of 81 ships will be built in total, with an astounding number of 11 battleships being added to the fleet, contrary to plans that were made only some weeks ago. The first of these battleship has been finished already, with a total of 38 ships being under construction right now; That is all the ships that will be added to our Navy.

The battleship - and thus its class - have been named 'Hindenburg'. There are already pictures available, and we shall show you them."

[Lynneth]

OOC: Now, for something else.

http://forums.cybernations.net/index.php?s...t&p=1630784

I updated the ship entries of my factbook.

[Subtleknifewielder]

"We aim high, and often strike true. That is what we do."

OOC: Dunno. The innter part of DS9 maybe, but this is just a realistic and rational design. Any long-lasting station would look like this, to provide artificial gravity by turning around its axis.

DS9 comparison

No arguments here. Onwards, for science. Did we get it right?

OOC: True enough.

[Lynneth]

No arguments here. Onwards, for science. Did we get it right?

OOC: True enough.

"Coincidentially, a similar slogan is being used by a company in the Empire."

[Lynneth]

*Classified*

While the war in the Netherlands was still ongoing (kind of..), Holy Roman forces at the northern border with Deutschland were moving.

It seemed to be erratical, completely random, with divisions getting moved to to border, further away, towards the sides, to the border again, and so on. Were the vehicles of the Empire not powered with highly efficient Wankel and electrical engines, they would be wasting incredible amounts of fuel.

In the meantime, fighter-squadrons began patrolling the skies near the border, bombers flying towards the border and changing course back to their bases shortly before crossing them. It seemed to be a festival of confusion.

What observers wouldn't be able to see was that all forces at the northern border as well as the troops manning missile-defense systems and the SDI were set to Defcon 2. It was similar with the missile coprs controlling both nuclear and cruise missiles of the nation.

[Kaiser Martens]

The movement of the troops is scanned by the German Satellites, and several specialists are put to study the movements in the search of a possible pattern, or at least to discover if it was some pre-planned mathematical random.

Either way the fortification-building processes were still going at 110% of their speed, and alert continued to be raised to nearly the max ever since the Cake Incident.

In a very random manner, much as an answer to the lastest Shenanigans, some low-rank German Soldiers still in training were comissioned to go around the border, painting crazy graffiti on it: Stickmen, happy faces, internet memes and more.

The region seemed to be a madhouse...

[Lynneth]

The Holy Romans in turn scanned the movements of the northern Krauts, watching them build, finding out where static defenses and airfields were, all the basic things. Which included finding out everything that could possibly be found out.

Meanwhile, the Germans wouldn't be able to find out any pattern, be it methodical or a mathematical random pattern. It was truly chaotic and random what the Austrians were doing there, and quite insane. It was as if they wanted to confuse the Germans with this.

Deeper in Austria, numerous fortification efforts were being finished. None were even remotely as heavy as those of their northern neighbours, but they would mostly serve to slow an enemy, not stop it in its tracks. Similar defenses were at the Rheinmarkian and Dalmatian borders.

The madness continued.

*Classified*

"My Emperor, they are reacting to it, much in the manner as predicted."

"Excellent. Continue, as needed. Proceed with the plan."

"Yes, my Lord."

[Centurius]

Imperial Satellites scanned the movements causing numerous frowns within the Imperial Pentagon, eventually it got classified as Elevated handing it over to some low ranking officer who slept with the wrong dude's wife.

Edited November 23, 2009 by Centurius

[Lavo]

Rebel Army satellites hovering over the HRE noted the odd action going on. The military "movements" had been waved off as nothing, as really, they didn't look like anything at all. The fortifications though, had given the military cause for alarm. Those images and videos would be quickly be classified as high-security information, and be given to all fellow Eurasian Union members.

[Lynneth]

Rebel Army satellites hovering over the HRE noted the odd action going on. The military "movements" had been waved off as nothing, as really, they didn't look like anything at all. The fortifications though, had given the military cause for alarm. Those images and videos would be quickly be classified as high-security information, and be given to all fellow Eurasian Union members.

The fortifications had been started at day one though, and had any Holy Roman General known that Rebel Army only now found out about them, there would've been facepalms.

Many of them.

[Kaiser Martens]

A glider plane carrying a pie from a string was sent towards the chaotic HRE troops. The pie had a smiley decoration on it. It casually lands just over the border.

The more time passed by, the less sense things made.

[Lynneth]

*We can't stop here; This is Classified country*

Another war...

The Emperor was quite a strange man. He threw all caution to the wind and invaded Germany, the country's northern neighbour. But it also was a strangely successful move. The HRE has been at war with the Netherlands already, Groenlandia was in a civil war and only beginning to recover from it. Theinmark had never been seen as a serious problem, lacking both the technology and numbers to threaten the HRE seriously. Dalmatia was huge, but overstretched and only a paper tiger, unlikely to involve itself at all if one went by the relative isolationism and inactivity of its government.

Slavorussia had declared neutrality until the nukes flew. Certainly, it would be Deutschland who launched the first strike, which would at least even the 'battlefield of morale' that the HRE was losing right now, especially with this idiotic surrender-demand the Emperor had issued without the approval of the Chancellor and the Bundestag. It thus was void, but of course the Martencists tried to exploit it as much as they could, which led to the Emperor claiming that is was forged.

Leclerc sighed. It could be the time for some rational Communism in this country, but he'd need a powerbase first, and Lynneth would have to work with him, of course. Deposing an Emperor and his family could prove to be more trouble than it was worth...On the other hand, Canada had been a truly glorious nation, with few daring to oppose it at all.

"Maybe, maybe. But we'll have to see what this war's result will be. If it's a good one, we'll have to work. Bad result is a revolution waiting to happen."

But for both, Leclerc would need propaganda. Lots of it, subtle at first, more and more open at later times, turning it into a full-blown communist revolution - peaceful of course, according to what he and Lynneth had written about rational communism.

He decided to start this night, by contacting Lynneth. For now, though, he'd need to continue his work.

And he'd certainly enjoy doing that.

____________________________________

Fjodor arrived in the part of the complex where the subjeccts were being held. Roughly fifty were already living here, all having been subjected to some kind of genetic treatment. Sure, the project wasn't close to what had been achieved in Canada, but its initial stages proceeded much more quickly, partially thanks to the previous records they could use.

There already were over a dozen subjects with visible changes on their bodies, mostly simple things such as the eye-colour, while one or two even had bodyparts added. One had the ears and tail of a cat, the other ears resembling those of a german shepherd.

Leclerc would not stop before the men he was working with were capable of creating perfect life forms and artificial humans that would be superior to normal men in every aspect.

It would take a lot of time, but it would be done, and even in the case of the HRE being invaded, they had all the time of the world. This mountain fortress was nigh impenetrable save for nuclear detonations to destroy the entrance-doors.

[Lynneth]

The war hadn't been reported in the HRE. Few, if any citizens of the empire knew what had happened, aside from those going onto the internet, and even of them, not all. There simply was too much to do in the 'internal' internet of the HRE to bother much with things happening in the outside world.

Of course, there always were people who liked to be informed about everything, and these people knew of the war, the EU intervention, and so on.

Over the next weeks, the lives of the people would change. Some laws would be passed, claimed to be for the 'protection of the Fatherland'. Some new politician looking quite old had appeared and began introducing these laws, somehow getting each approved by the Bundestag. Accumulated, these laws would affect the following: Cameras were to be installed in all public places, ID chips implanted under the skin became mandatory, immigration (and emigration) were outlawed. The Emperor and Parliament began losing power, the former becoming a mere figurehead, somehow. Eventually, the Bundestag was dissolved and that strange politician appointed as leader, in a quite and unassuming ceremony. More than 95% of the population didn't even notice that democracy as they knew it had been abolished.

More meritocratic values would be introduced to the government, voting soon was made mandatory, and possible via the internet, by scanning one's ID chip into the PC on the government-approved website. As governmental hackers were working 24/7, criminals had an extremely hard time to exploit these new (and highly secured) chips, making things overall safer. Money was basically useless, and everything could now be paid for with the chip. People began wearing a kind of armband that allowed them to make transactions wherever they were, supplied them with GPS, maps and numerous other incredible features. In effect, this armband was the cross of a mobile phone, a navigation device and an internet-capable computer.

Only better and cheaper.

All this happened incredibly quickly for normal standards, but for the people of the HRE, rapid changes were normal.

What was not normal was that the northern border of the country was fortified, much more heavily than any other border. Sure, those had the standard things, such as bunkers, trenches, walls, with chokepoints, static defenses (some of which were actually railgun emplacements), heavy usable of natural barriers, et cetera.

Into the north, however, the border would be changed. The five kilometers between the actual border and the to-be walls would be turned into a death-zone, with everything alive killed to death. These defense installations would be ten kilometers 'thick', with 150,000 men manning it at all times. AT and AP mines, ETC guns, machine gun nests, various deathtraps, artificial chokepoints, and uncountable AA defenses would be built. But only in addition to rocket artillery, AA railguns and regular railguns, lasers and electrolasers against artillery shells and missiles, and probably some things that were thought to be impossible or unknown to the populace.

This defense line had a "Kill goddamned EVERYTHING" policy in regards to the 5 kilometers between it and the "Wasteland" to the North.

There also were gigantic signs, showing this following smiley, only turned so the face mouth points down.

>:|

Edited November 27, 2009 by Lynneth

[Markus Wilding]

"Kill goddamned EVERYTHING"

OOC: Epic order is epic.

[Lynneth]

OOC: Epic order is epic.

OOC: Oh so very.

IC:

As the HRE began turning more and more inwards, choosing to completely ignore its neighbours and outright unrecognise the northern one, technology continued its march forward. A new tank-design was brought forward, to be equipped with a railgun or laser cannon in the near future, one the necessary technology was reached.

________________

*News*

In the meantime, the Expansion of Vienna was nearing completion, and the city looked much like the artist's impression had shown.

It was a city of skyscrapers, but a green city. Plants were everywhere despite the concrete jungle, and the architects had managed to turn the city into a beautiful lovechild of Nature and Technology.

The Vienna City Tower was close to completion, as well. Already, it had reaches more than 2 kilometers in height, with 2,400 meters being the final height. This building had broken numerous records during construction, and was officially the highest freestanding structure on the planet.

|

|

The DIB 200 and the Century Tower were both completed, similarly to the Koper Citadel. Two of the buildings were slightly taller than a kilometer, with only the DIB 200 reaching a 'mere' 800 meters into the sky.

|

|

________________

*News*

Only days after the first reforms, the band Rammstein began its Völkerball tour through the Empire, playing in major cities such as Vienna and Munich as well as in smaller cities, examples being Regensburg or Salzburg.

One of the best-received songs was

, seen by critics as metaphor for them embracing socialist and communist - left - ideals, and voicing their dislike for rightism and fascism.

As they were doing this, some people, who were quite probably insane, lobbied for a 'Tank-derby' to be created, in response to the then-King driving through Vienna in a tank.

________________

At the same time, the new leftist government began to interfere more and more everywhere, companies being partially state-controlled. Televisions were manipulated so that they could show what the people watching it were doing - and what they were watching - while also recording conversations so that pro-Martencists and spies could be rooted out more easily. EVen sleeper-agents could be found this way, the Ministerium of the Interior hoped.

Propaganda for a 'rational communist world-state' began appearing, pictures such as this being seen in numerous places all over the country.

And it was only the beginning of a massive change within the country.

Edited November 27, 2009 by Lynneth

[comrade nikonov]

"We trust the judgement of the Technocratic rulers of the HRE. We wish our allies well."

-Foreign Ministry of the Union of Belarus, official press release.

[Centurius]

Albums from Rammstein would be sold out within the Empire after days.

[Lynneth]

"We trust the judgement of the Technocratic rulers of the HRE. We wish our allies well."

-Foreign Ministry of the Union of Belarus, official press release.

"Thank you."

Albums from Rammstein would be sold out within the Empire after days.

And more would be produced in response, until the last citizen of the Phoenix Empire who wanted them had them.

________________

*Classified*

Further research was begun, and soon, there were numerous suggestions what could be done.

Some claimed focusing on the PHASR to turn it into a real and fullscale handheld laser rifle, capable of killing people should be done, phasing the current rifle model out. Explosive slugs for machine guns and SMGs were proposd for greater effect against infantry, claimed to achieve much higher kill-rates than standard ammunition.

Improvements to radar-coverage of the countrsy needed to be done, and subsequent improvements of stealth planes to protect against such 'unconventional' radar. Over the horizon radar was proposed, and it was calculated that with modern technology, ranges of up to 5,000 kilometers could be achieved, with a sensitivity where even the smalles planes and missiles could be detected. Surely a project worth constructing. Such a radar would have anti-stealth capabilities, unless of course countered by new technologies...Which would be developed, as well.

Of course, EMP-proofing had to be installed, too, so that the system couldn't just be disabled. Several masts were proposed throughout the country, so that every last square-centimeter of Europe and the HRE would be covered with this system, in addition to other, already established detection methods.

Carbon nanotubes were proposed to be used, well, everywhere. For tank-armour, for ships, airplanes, infantry, in buildings, weapons, absolutely everywhere, to make everything harder, better, faster, stronger. It was hopes that all these things would be lighter, yet stronger and more resilient against attacks.

Someone even proposed a ship-based fusion reactor. The concept was immediately brought before the science corps of the country. Fission shipreactors already were there, why not fusion?

The stealth capabilities of the Empire's planes, as mentioned before, had to be improved in addition to the armour. It would be expensive, but surely could be done. Otherwise, it wouldn't even be considered.

The Army was asking for better weapons. Rocket artillery with 90 kilometers range and more, ETC artillery reaching 110+ kilometers far, missiles that could take out virtually any target. Flechette-missiles were considered, too, with small tungsten-rods.

To be put onto the previously proposed new tank were vehicle-based lasers, be they gas-lasers or solid-state lasers. Both would be researched, as the needed power for them, Wankel engines, was there already.

Somebody proposed a sonic tank, having brought examples of this.

That man was given a medal. Killing your enemy with sound and (possibly) Metal. Nothing would surpass this weapon.

Edited November 28, 2009 by Lynneth

[Lynneth]

Over the next few days, the navy of the HRE would be expanded, by ships being finished.

Finally, 81 ships were in the Empire's possession. An Empire that wasn't really one anymore. In this short time, the genius of two expert propagandists had begun shifting the entire populace further away from monarchy and democracy, towards the beliefs of rational communism. Anyone watching could see this, though one could only ask who the perpetrators were. And despite these changes, it still was believed by most of the populace that the Emperor and Chancellor had the most power, whereas the true power was elsewhere, having legaly taken all power by simply introducing bills that were formulated in such an outlandish and crazy way that nobody could guess their true meaning, everyone interpreting them differently.

In the meantime, further observation methods of the populace were introduced. The chips under the skin were upgraded and soon, the location of every single citizen would be known to the government. At the same time, regulations began to be introduced, promoting full and complete equality for all people, making each and every single one - including the Emperor - equal before the law (which was undergoing considerable changes at the time). Emancipation would be achieved at least in jobs by regulating the pay that people got, depending on how well they did their work, etc. A system of merit.

Labourscamps were built, for dissidents and reeducation.

________________

*Classified*

Research on further applications for Carbon Nanotubes was being done. From focusing lasers more efficiently to improving the armour of just about everything. There were theories that these things could be used to improve Railguns, and some advocated using them for EVERYTHING, even everyday clothing, cars, toys, etc.

In response, a massive effort to build carbon nanotube factories was started, while scientists continued arguing about what things could and what couldn't be done. In the end, they decided to try everything they could think of, because it might work in the end. Such as researching microwave-based weapons and lasers, to boil enemy troops alive. An alternative to flamethrowers, which had a quite short range.

During these efforts, the massive laboratory below the Großglockner would be expanded to receive something similar to Canada's Large Hadron Collider in Black Mesa.

Only bigger.

Science marched on, be it for militaristic of civilian efforts. It marched on.

A side-effect of this was that certain supercomputers would indeed reach the computational capacity of a human brain, with dozens of processes working at once to improve everything even more. Even here, carbon nanotubes would be used, to improve the efficiency of computers at roomtemperature, though these massive "behemoths" would be cooled down to 40, 50 degrees below Celsius (of -58 Fahrenheit).

When Lynneth was informed that within a relatively short time, the first such supercomputer would be finished, be merely grinned. With the computational power of a brain, could it perhaps be linked up to a brain, similar to how it was done with Sword of the Crown..?

Edited November 28, 2009 by Lynneth

[Centurius]

**Classified Dispatch to the HRE**
Level: 3

If possible the Phoenix Empire would like to purchase the construction of several fusion power plants to provide a true clean source within the key infrastructure. We are willing to pay in forward at the construction of individual plants and all workers will be taken care of.

Edited November 28, 2009 by Centurius

[Lynneth]

Encrypted message; Medium
Recipient; Phoenix Empire
Sender; Heinrich von Brentano, Foreign advisor, HRE of German Nation
Subj.; Re: Power Plants

How many plants would you like to be built? The most cost-effective plant would be similar to the Ignition Facility, a laser-based fusion plant. Cheap, high-tech, extremely safe. We assume you can build the necessary Deuterium-tritium extraction plants on your own?
Each of the IF-plants would cost 4.3 billion.

Regards, 
von Brentano
Foreign Advisor

*Private*

"Well, we'll pay these idiotic northlings with that money. Nothing lost from our coffers."

[Centurius]

Encrypted message; Medium
Recipient; Phoenix Empire
Sender; Heinrich von Brentano, Foreign advisor, HRE of German Nation
Subj.; Re: Power Plants

How many plants would you like to be built? The most cost-effective plant would be similar to the Ignition Facility, a laser-based fusion plant. Cheap, high-tech, extremely safe. We assume you can build the necessary Deuterium-tritium extraction plants on your own?
Each of the IF-plants would cost 4.3 billion.

Regards, 
von Brentano
Foreign Advisor

*Private*

"Well, we'll pay these idiotic northlings with that money. Nothing lost from our coffers."

**Classified Dispatch to the HRE**
Level: 3

Yes we are capable of producing these facilities on our own and would like to request 50 facilities. I$215 Billion will be send and accomodation for workers has been arranged.