Red Masonry

[Zarfef]

****CLASSIFIED****

Given that the Red Sands Accords only exists in rumor at most, it is not unexpected that their projects are also in secret. Really secrecy surrounds a great deal of what goes on within these nations for rather critical reasons. Telling the world what you're citizens enjoy or where you military abilities are located is like broadcasting a big target sign for them to shoot at. Bragging has it's advantages, that's generally when you can afford to make the target impossible to destroy. Now, not EVERYTHING can be secret, but at least it can be limited to a rumor status, in which case, the Aether Empire for sure (if not the NoN and Raochin) had more then their fair share of rumors. For instance, there was a rumor that the Aether Empire still had Emperor Krieg in hiding... and had launched him into orbit in a modified stealth banshee missile and then the missile was taken up by space aliens and... well you get the point, rumors just aren't reliable sources of information unless you have some means of backing them up. Especially when Aether did nothing to hurt these rumors by verifying some that obviously COULDN'T be true.

Aether Empire: Krieg is alive, and will rise again! Scotland never captured the REAL Krieg, those DNA tests were fakes, planted by Aether SPIES!

You see what I mean.

Alright, so if you had the view of God on the situation, or that of top Aether personal, or military engineers and labor forces. Just what WOULD you see occurring in the Aether Empire and around the Red Sands Nations. That is about to be explained.

In the Aether Empire

International Trans-Red-Sea Fortified Tunnel System (CLASSIFIED)

This fortified project was actually started some time ago, but was mostly worked out in the planning stages until recently. The project is a joint effort between the NoN, Raochin and the Aether Empire to produce a tunnel or rather a set of tunnels that will act as connecting transport system that would allow for the discreet and secret transport of supplies, people or vehicles of relatively large size across the Red Sea, allow for complete connectivity between the Red Sands Nations.

The idea is that in the event of a war, if supplies were to be delivered, it would be best if it were done in a manner that didn't bring the threat of war to any of the other members directly and could also provide an escape route for refugees in the event of a national emergency.

Because of it's great importance, it was particularly fortified above that of a normal tunnel in a 2 foot thick steel shell that would protect the precious cargo that would move through this system. It would later connect to a lesser closed off region of the Aether Empire's evil lair network on the south side and to Raochin on the north. From the south, it would then connect into the NoN exterior tunnel system where logistics could handle the distribution of supplies. To keep secrecy, the tunnel was only to be used for more sensitive cargo.

In a further, seemingly separate project, Aether was also using this as an opportunity to expand it's lair tunnel system, creating false entrances and hidden doors throughout the uninhabited canyons to the South and Northern Ends of the Aether Empire. The systems would allow for restricted troop movement and were booby trapped, coded and generally well hidden within the canyon mazes to create a new form off defense network. It also gave them an opportunity to expand upon their wire-based internal communication infrastructure. That way, there would be less need for a war over the radio waves should that ever come to be in the future, these were installed together with a new telephone system which acted as the primary front for the whole wire network thing.

And because they were already under water doing work on the tunnel, the "modifications" were also implemented to the now restored Naval Defense Platforms.

MODIFICATIONS: Due to their ineffectiveness against torpedo attacks seen during the East-African War, the newer systems placed in the water where the old ones were include a heavy steel buffer to prevent damage from torpedo attacks until the system is prepared to fire on a target. The system uses hydrolic lifts powered from shore-based military power facilities and pulls back the doors so that the systems can fire, then closes them again, making the systems a seeming underwater fortress defense that is far less pervious to long range anti-submarine missile and torpedo attacks then they were before.

The Chamber of Leaders Project (CLASSIFIED)

This was a rather odd piece of architecture currently going up within the Aether Empire, presumably for national meetings between world leaders should they ever travel to Aether. The Facility was designed in obsidian black Gothic architecture with stained glass windows, but ironically no entrance. There was a way in for certain, as noted, but it was only a secret passage to the inner sanctum which was protected by a thick steel armor with recently acquired depleted uranium armor.

Inside the primary chambers, shaped like a really elongated egg, rows of furnished wood work and gargoyles ornimented the room under red glowing lights from the sides and a black marble floor. Very comfortable chairs were also presented, so that Aether could treat any leader TO THE CUMFY CHAIR! (5 pnts to whoever gets the reference)

Advanced Rocketry Aeronautics Program (PRIVATE but it's Existance is somewhat more then a rumor)

The Banshee Missile program along with the XA-37 flight technologies program was opening up more doors for Aeronautical and Rocket Science. The new Advanced Rocketry and Aeronautics Program was pushing forward new jet air-craft designs and rockets to the limits of Aether Technology. It was not a full blown space program, but it was the beginning out of which just such a program could be made. Experimental long range rocket designs which Aether had vied for for quite some time and new X-Planes were under the command of Ziggy, who quite some time ago was charged with bringing about a new Fifth Generation Fighter plane to no avail, but given the time he'd come quite a long ways.

Most of the projects here were the domain of Tensor Industries which used Aether Empire soil as a rented out testing grounds for their latest research and technology. Rumor had it however, that there may have been private investments by Aether in Tensor which may soon pay off in the form of reaped technology being brought to public. Currently, the Aether Empire seemed like a 1980s or even 1970s backwards nation, but in reality, through Tensor they were on the verge of a massive technological breakthrough.

In the realm of civilian rocketry and science, this project also had domain connected to the Academics Research Program which worked to provide funds for new graduate student research and inspire high school and undergraduate students into the field of science. A recently unannounced event was that Aether did actually now have an extensive education system, one which actually granted Zarfef his long sought dream of granting him an honorary doctorate. So, now we should actually refer to him as Dr. Zarfef.

Academics Research Program (Private and Public depending upon the subject)

Also under heavy grants from the Tensor Industries Academic Association, these programs were heavily interested in scientific means for improving the way of life within the Aether Empire and were run by new graduate students from Aether's two native Universities. The programs included research into water desalinization, haboob resistant solar power cells, disease solutions native to the region and some other more secret projects like an EMP bomb and a new Chemical Weapons compound capable of acting as a pre-nuke WMD for the Aether Empire in tactical situations and stealth materials research.

The latter technologies were to be kept in the utmost secrecy at all times and Aether took the precautions of secretly "marking" each of the scientists in case they were to go rouge and defect. By marking, they meant placing small undetectable vials within their skin via a quick shot that would react under an intense burst of resonant radiation over a slightly extended period of time. Once broken by this radiation, they would release toxic chemicals that would kill within seconds, painlessly and quickly. It was part of the former Aether program to include Euthenasia "exit kits" to all individuals within the armed services for their use to avoid capture and likely torture. A painless death was the last they could offer if the soldiers could not win in life. Even Ziggy had one of these kits on him, although Zarfef somewhat privately disagreed about his having one.

The former benign research however, was the more useful to the empire, as the desert was a place with almost year-round sunshine but the sand storms would devastate solar panels exposed to their sharp grains. Meanwhile, a desalinization ability would massively transform their ability to support life and change the quality of living within the region so that the Arabian and north African desserts would stand as some of the most green lands on the planet Earth. The alternative (if such a means could not be found until genetic variations were capable) they were to utilize genetic encoding to make plants that could survive off salt water and produce edible and tasty produce. Disease solutions were also necessary to combat the concern of disease that came with the ever growing population, but surprisingly also included research for nuclear radiation pills for protecting the populace against a potential nuclear strike. It was deemed necessary after the the war with the UMS where the nuclear option was available even though it was never thought likely.

Of course, these were only events taking place in the Aether Empire, where massive infrastructure and construction efforts were visibly well under way. A new census would be performed soon and it was predicted that the nation had grown by more then 50%! A massive change in such a short time to say the least. Despite his being an evil genius, Zarfef had indeed restored much of the region from anarchy and the people were coming, not leaving as shown from the population growth. Science, even mad science, soon would mean technology, which would mean business which would mean prosperity. Prosperity that would be fueling the great plans of this secretive and now powerful man.

Edited September 8, 2009 by Zarfef

[Executive Minister]

*CLASSIFIED*

11 boring machines, previously used in the construction of the NoN's undercity have been contracted to begin the NoN side of construction.

The former holdings of Bishoftu Motorization Engineering Complex, the Ethiopian Heavy Engineering firm, coupled with the remnants of Zuqualla Steel Rolling Mill, all under the NoN sanctionned NDII Systems will take care of the maintenance and operations of the borers.

Edited September 12, 2009 by Executive Minister

[Lord Zephyr]

*Classified*

10 Raochin Tunnelers have been contracted and sent to start on the Raochin side of the tunnels.

The under ground roads of Raochin that have already been built, do not actually go into the desert, they go around the border of Raochin under the main highways along the coasts where there is less sand and more dirt, making the larger road tunnels viable. The Roads entrances have doors that can be sealed in the event of an emergency, there is also flood containment doors every 5 miles. Also in areas near the doors there are turrets hidden in the walls. The rail car system connects major cities and most of the Fortresses except the ones deeper in the desert that haven't been built yet. That system was built by tunneling a small distance forward adding supports and roofing to the tunnel behind it, and move on to the next distance. The tunneler itself had a steel shield around it to protect it if the tunnel behind it caved in. By taking it is small sections and studying the soil in front of it it was done with very few accidents. The rail cars themselves only need about a foot of clearance from the walls, making the tunnels just over 3 meters in diameter.

OOC: I know you guys say I can't do this, but there has been Sand Bunkers in Iraq, which can have interconnecting tunnels, theres hidden airplanes, runways, all built under the sand. I snipped the stuff going into the desert, that I suppose is a little to far fetched, but the whole Peninsula isn't a desert. There are actually a few mountains, and quite a few areas outside the desert where these systems are actually plausible.

IC: Fortress system, The first three rings of forts have been built(which have modern tech as they were built before I lost it) and are manned currently with enough crew to fire the artillery and operate the automated turrets and anti air. Which is around 80 troops.

[Zarfef]

OOC: I'd of taken the sand, melted it into glass as I tunneled and then added a support frame with a quick coolant to the glass to bring it to a solid.

IC:

The Empire has deployed 10 of it's own boring machines to complete the tunnels from the Red Sea to the NoN while expanding the tunnel networks within the regional mountains. The tunnelers actually hadn't been put to use since the lair had been built and so it was good to see some expansion added to the system. A central network system node was being located within the lower levels of the lair and wires were being cordoned off to provide network support beyond the Lair itself into the tunnel networks around the canyons and leading to the primary tunnel way itself.

One of these tunnels lead to the main city of Djibouti which went under a new rather large construction site where the ground was cleared. The tunnel wasn't connected to the ground floor yet. The walls of the Citadel were being constructed on the sides while a wood framework had bee raised to act as a temporary support for the lower levels as steel beams were raised to provide the skeleton, one by one.

[Executive Minister]

OOC: Lol, I know nothing of this... I'm going by the method the English/French did! Also, I recommend that the tunnel passes under the Bab-el-Mandeb, with maybe a pit stop/base at Perim Island. This is the most narrowest part of the Red Sea.

We don't want tunneling taking 2 years like the Chunnel did. I see our tunnel being done in a fraction of the time, as we have double the amount of equipment, 3 Government funded groups and about half the distance to cross.

The English/French Chunnel spans 53.85 km, while our tunnel in progress has "a distance across is about 20 miles (30 km) from Ras Menheli in Yemen to Ras Siyan in Djibouti" with the conveniently placed Island of Perim, which would shorten the undersea portions considerably.

This tunnel should be deep under the surface, to prevent torpedo/depth charge/bomb damage, although I reckon air dropped bombs would explode prematurely on contact with the water.

IC: As the heavy duty borers arrived in Tadjoura, they were immediately sent to Ras Siyan, where boring commenced in earnest. After a few weeks, progress was reported to be as far as the distance of the 3rd (OOC: Largest, center) Sawabi Island.

Reinforced "Tubes" were immediately laid down, a mix of clever engineering, concrete and steel reinforcement would keep the Borer's tunnels up and soundly secure against the pressure of the ocean and later on, enemy bombs.

[Zarfef]

SPECIAL AEARAP ANNOUNCEMENT TO RED SANDS MEMBERS

AEARAP, Aether Empire Advanced Rocketry and Aeronautics Program is proud to confirm to Red Sands members it will be launching our coalitions first military satellite into orbit this week. A drastic increase in national funding acquired by our nations investments have allowed us to successfully launch a rocket this week into low earth orbit where it could have been sustained for approximately 6 months before re-entering the Earth's Atmosphere. Following this achievement and with new funding inbound, we have begun work on a new geosynchronous spy satellite meant for observing the territory about the Red Sands Nations in real time, sending back the feed in an encrypted signal allowing us an unprecedented view on our neighbors military activities.

The Satellite is scheduled for launch shortly and we welcome the opportunity to make this a joint effort between the Aether Empire, The Nation of Nod and Raochin. The project is expected to be fully operational for the period of roughly 4-8 months before falling back into the Earth's atmosphere, but represents a major step for our coalitions military and scientific endevours.

Also of interest is a new development program for an anti-missile missile meant to stop conventional warheads aimed for our troops. Variations of this new missile are also expected to hit the shelves for a new surface-to-air combat system which will focus on fighter jets and not on missiles. The new program goals include implementation on the the Aether Empire's War Tzar Tanks, making them the only tank we know of capable of taking out foreign inbound enemy missiles.

We hope to have cooperation with your nations in the future and look forward to the joint gains we can achieve as a working team. As soon as the satellite is in orbit, we plan on implementing joint control so that we can all take advantage of this new aerial surveillance program.

Meanwhile, the initial framework had been set up on the Chamber of Leaders project and work had begun on raising the first walls, the national boom which had occurred lately had allowed for an accelerated production of these events. 5 more tunneling systems were being built and commissioned to produce a network tunnel system within Raochin which was currently being proposed to their government. The Aether Empire had incurred a major boom with the GDP for the nation expected to have risen by greater then 50%. The growth was due in large part to recent tech gains followed by massive national investment within various industrial and technological industries, not the least of which was Tensor Industries.

OOC: My nation jumped by about 900 infra points today in a major sled event... I exploded.

[Executive Minister]

With the recent acquisition of 10 MMWA-10's from Marscurian Pakistan's Marscurian Military Works, the NoN's MILitary Aviation Complex, MILAC has begun and extensive dismantling of several of the systems, with even more thorough weapons and aviation tests.

The goal? The development of the NoN's own Close Air Support/Ground Attack aircraft program, the XA-1. "X" denoting this program Experimental stage (subsequent production models will lack the X designation) and "A" indicating this craft's "Assault" or Ground-Attack/Close-Air Support Role.

This program has been intiated in conjunction with the Aether/Roachin A-37 Gargoyle developmental plan and as such will incorporate similar requirements. Any requirements the NoN has deemed unnecessary or against its own desires will be duly modified.

Project Goals (Aether Empire, Variant A):

The Aether Empire requires the following project goals for the construction of this craft.

- High Durability against munitions up to 50 mm around unit critical components. While desirable, if the NoN deems such armour to be too costly or detrimental to specific design parameters then such provisions will be deemed unnecessary.

-Strong weathering durability against sand, dust and heat found in operating Theatres of the Raochin, Aether and the NoN and other operatives within the local region. NoN aims mirror this desire, however MILAC will be working to develop several modifications in order for the craft to operate in colder climates past Temperate.

-empty weight of no greater than 30K lbs Unnecessary hindrance. The NoN has major discrepancies in regards to the program's method of propulsion. Will be dwelled upon later on.

-Carries up to eight air-to-ground rockets of equivalent nature to the AGM-65 The NoN seeks to build a craft that is extensively armed with a large armament capacity that will utilize current and subsequently developed arms, such as the "Spiker" 90mm GP Rocket and the "Stabber" 120 mm triple tandem warhead Anti-Tank/Helicopter Guided Missile (AT/H-GM), 500kg Free-fall and Guided Bombs, Cluster Munitions and the recently gleaned GAU 8/A 30 x 173mm Gatling Cannon. Subsequent models and variants will eventually be able to field a small number of Allied dedicated Air-to-air missiles for self defence.

-Implement experimental temporary rotary deployment system in conjunction with the air-brake to deploy helicopter blades to enhance loitering time in the field and reduce necessary requirements for a landing strip. Blades should be cheap and disposable allowing for quick abandonment and subsequent RTB via the primary engines (this secondary feature should draw 100% of it's power from the primary power-plant). The NoN's own goals for the program differ glaringly with the Aether. While the latter seeks a design that will allow their craft to "loiter" in a battlefield, the NoN seeks a heavily armed, super-sonic craft capable of an extremely fast insertion, drastic decline in velocity to perform its support duties via a relatively high-speed strafe run coupled with a dedicated weapons officer responsible for unleashing its wide array of ordinance and finally regain super-sonic speeds to escape the theatre. Shock and awe derived from the quick arrival, massive ordinance dispersal and even faster departure is paramount. Such a high speed attack should prove more than an adequate defence against enemy fighter and dedicated surface-to-air defences.

-Have all components designed with replacability and modularity in mind along with future (still too expensive) components worked out for future modification as nations grow in strength and needs economically and militarily.

-Flyaway cost (Before R&D costs are factored) should minimized as much as possible and should be comparable to the cost of the A-10 with extra costs factored in for the profit of Raochin and Aether companies taking part in the project. The NoN and MILAC are slightly more lenient on costs, and project a 15-18 million (projected) USD (Undercity-Secured Dollar) cost.

Weapons Goals:

-Implement and use as many air-to-ground weapons as possible.

-Required front 2-3k semi-depleted uranium armor-piercing bullet weapons system

-Air-to-Ground AGM and Rocket pods on the wings, with each pylon capable of carrying a maximum of 2 on either side for a total of eight such weapons. While reasonable, if MILAC can suceed in a design capable of housing all ordinance save the front end cannon within the superstructure of the craft, the latter design would be preferred and cleared.

-Laser and wire guided weapon system controls developed by Raochin. While laser is permissible, Wire-guided systems would be impossible to implement due to the project's supersonic speeds. As such, non-laser guided munitions will be relegated to "dumb", "GPS", "Active Radar Homing", "Semi-Active Radar Homing", and other subsequent guidance systems.

-Fire and forget internal weapons control systems (to be developed by Raochin)

A special request has been made to the Roachin Aviation Development department. While the MMWA-10's were equipped with dual turbofan engines, MILAC and the NoN require twin turbojet/ramjet "variable cycle"powerplant systems. This is required because turbojets are inefficient at high speeds but ramjets cannot operate at low speeds. To resolve this, the airflow path through the engine must varied, depending on whether ramjet or turbojet operation is more efficient, thus the term "variable cycle".

The NoN and MILAC agree that such requirements are highly specialized, however the exact technical details have been sent. Below is an excerpt of the engines' required variable cycle systems.

The NoN looks forward to this joint developmental program. Any such progress on behalf of MILAC will be announced in these private discussions to Red Sands Signatories.

OOC: Basically I'm going to blend the firepower of the contemporary A-10 with the frame of a supersonic, HIGHLY modified, and extremely cool Lockheed YF-12. Both craft and accompanying technology were developed and fielded well within the Cold War era, and as such we are all allowed to develop and field this craft should we finish the developmental RP (which should be short... I'm not going to make "The plane flew and blew up... very interesting, we are working on a solution...67% complete" posts in here.)

I also plan on designating the completed plane the A-1 "Krieg" Fast Close-Air support craft. It will use the nose mounted 30 x 173mm Gattling Cannon redubbed the "Cole-Cannon".

Edited September 11, 2009 by Executive Minister

[Zarfef]

The Chamber of Leaders

Even with military events ongoing, operations continue under-way within the Aether Empire with a new major opening of the Chamber of Leaders today. The black obsidian looking Gothic structure stands some eight stories tall in Downtown Djibouti with work now starting within on the central metallic defensive shell for the inner lair to commence shortly as tunneling crews continue to secure the tunnel to the facility that leads out of town to the lair-network.

Already, the shell (which is being transported in segments down the tunnel for privacy and then secured within) is beginning to go up within, even though the chamber officially opened yesterday. Upon raising the shell (a massive foot thick layer of battle-quality steel), work will commence on finishing up the details of the entrance tunnel and the inside of the shell itself before Aether publicly notes that it will be holding meetings there with other nations.

However, all wiring and the primary structure are now complete and the Aether Empire is now in the state of implementing beta testing on it's security measures.

AEARAP (Aether Empire Advanced Rocketry Aeronautics Program) Considers it's future

While work still continued on the latest spy satellite and a new launch coordinate location was being searched for given the hostilities in the region, research continues on the newer advanced missile launch systems, work is still under way at the rocket test launch facility. The Vons are currently convening on discourse about whether or not more funding should be most allocated and one such plan includes the implementation of a vast anti-missile defense system in the Aether Empire with mobile systems employed within Raochin and Egypt to help defend troops from enemy missile systems. Spending on such a program would expand Aether Anti-Missile and ground based surface to air static base locations by 5x their current level.

However, while Von Zuk heavily favored this initiative, Von Zak was pushing for a greater interest in a new advanced technology program that would use the new national surplus being used to fund the war shortly to acquire access to technologies located within Tensor Industries, which had risen quite well through international technology dealings. The debate is hotly contested, but in the end AEARAP, the Aether Empire's primary aeronautical research cabal is likely to gain a massive increase increase in funds no matter what path is taken.

Interestingly enough, the XA-37 Gargoyle today was finally placed into full usage status and it's position as an X-Plane has been eliminated. Considerations are still under way by some members of the Aether Air-Control as to whether the plane should experience more testing, but they will likely get their wish on the battlefield. The plane's ease of production and it's sturdy build is expected to make it a staple of air-to-ground combat in the days to come taking up majority of the current Aether Empires air fleet.

[Executive Minister]

After delays with equipment problems, the borers have made it approximately one third towards the island of Perim.

Upcoming and ongoing war preparations will soon delay progress further, thus, active extensions of the tunnel will only continue until half the distance to Perim is covered. At that point, further construction and fortification of tunnel segments already completed will instead be done.

[Zarfef]

EDIT

OOC: I've had a spy satellite IG for a while now, but I'd like to do a better bit of RP on this, I'll re-write this later.

Edited September 19, 2009 by Zarfef