Tanis777

Welks pondered the offer by the Baron and then looked at Rolan. Rolan nodded in slight approval when Welks decided to reply, "Indeed, farm production in Manitoba is hampered by the effects of the radiation in our prime farmland and have relied on the Western Union for the bulk of our imports, but it's still not enough. We're having our own departments monitor the farmlands for the time being, although soil contamination is a massive problem and we're looking into replacing the soil." "There's an underlying degree of mistrust in the general public on Eastern Canada, Baron, although I'm not quite in that community of thought," answered Minister Rolan, "We hope that our tour and meetings will help dispelled that mistrust, in which, I'm sure that your offer is most generous." Both men choose to grab a cup of coffee, Welks briefly took a nice swig of coffee before continuing, "What does your agricultural community need to bring itself up to speed to meet our demand? I can contact my Commerce Minister on specifics for your industry. I can handle my legislature for now, but I'm sure they will come around since elections are coming up. The coal deposits in the Yukon are relatively untapped at the moment, but the companies doing explorary work up there will be glad to hear of a ready source of demand. Which bring us to another point. Commitment to building up the transportation network between us in light of our agreement. Obviously, we have a robust rail network at Yellowknife to Winnipeg while rail connection is subpar to the border to the lack of demand. We're willing to bridge that gap to bring large shipments of coal on a new freight line to the Federation border. The 1% tariff is fine with us." Rolan took the time to draw on the map of Canada of the Federation high-speed rail network that would bring that coal to them. "Non-aggression is also a clause we're inclined to support as well," Welks continued, "The radio address will be a nice touch to our agreement. So Baron, where do we sign?"

CNRP has evolved from the early days to where now holding protectorates and being inactive is just another barricade to prevent new people from coming in. Trust me, I understand the reason behind protectorates to keep out stupid noobs, but contacting people is a hassle. If you find out they RP bad, take the time to put them down, or someone else in the existing community probably will.

I think the first step is allowing white space areas to be more open to starting than long winded PM discussions to ask for it, tbh. EDIT: That is if the map survives this latest attempt on it's life...

However at this stage of CNRP, most of the protectorate lands (white space) is being held by really inactive people. If you don't have the time to participate every couple weeks (instead of posting every 25 days), you shouldn't be holding them. I know RL is important and all, but those active should be the only ones having protectorates if new people show up.

I don't think anyone is going to object if those details were left out. I'm not handling spy rolls since that is outside the scope of whatever responsibility I have left here. If you have an impasse on something, I'll be around. EDIT: I'm on low activity this week, so I'll of little help for now.

I'm actually glad that I didn't get this time around... busy, busy.

Both men listened to the Baron reply to their initial talks that was suppose to probe the limits of the negotiations, which was quite effective. The Baron's response was in line with initial assessments they both had as they talked over on their way to the border some days earlier. Welks and Rolan agreed that any sort of defensive or anything related to the military was totally out of the question due to the already lack of relations that already existed. Welks raised his hands to his chin as he continued to listen to the Baron speak and began his reply, "What you just say are all valid points Baron. We're not interested in any bit of entangling Sleepy Hollow in anything related to our broader agenda with other countries. Our relationship shall and will be, shall I say, a personal one that will be free our possible external foreign entanglements that we may get involved in." Minister Rolan nodded in agreement to Welks' remarks. He would begin to jot down some notes. "You have a wonderful country Baron," Welks continued, "Minister Rolan was right in his ending remark that our agreement is set at agreed pace of developing relations. We're not asking to fling open the gates, we're fine with the door propped open. Honestly, the Federation isn't quite ready to receive most of foreign policy agenda I have either, with the National Assembly still looking inward. A basic economic agreement is fine with us, since it's what can be approved back at home anyways." It was true actually that sediment on the trip wasn't super high when the announcement of the trip was made. Polls at home that would be done some weeks after this meeting would show that the trip met with just 43% approval, 50% disapproved and the rest undecided. Underlying through it all was a level of distrust towards Eastern Canadian nations that built up through the years that Welks was determined to change and that would rock a shaky boat that was just rebuild. Indeed, the Federation was even risking existing relations to even pursuit this agenda... to which the consequences remained to be seen. "What Chancellor Welks has said is true. Economic connection to the eastern part of the continent is our main concern now, in which may bring some evolutionary changes to the country, but like I've said and the Chancellor has stated, this change would not be intentional," stated Rolan. "We have a few things in mind for a proposal, but we're interested in your opinion still, since it's your country Baron," remarked Welks as he continued to probe what proposals were going to make it or not. OOC: Editing Remarks: Grammar and clarification of sentencing.

I'm going to make an advance of inactivity, the first starting February 1st to the 7th I'll be without access to a computer as I'll be shipping mine out, packing things and going home on leave.

Look, I'll be the first to defend the GMs. They do their job well, this war has fallen on me to keep it moving in the two weeks I've gotten it. Debate clogged most of the first week while the second week was to the forums going down, making posting impossible. Obviously, the astute person watching the OOC threads is the dirty laundry getting out from the fallout from the war, while behind the scenes work is getting done to review the next round of posts. You want to read walls of text, be my guest.

I know the sediments of Sarah is the familiar 'war fatigue' thing that has come over everyone on the thread, myself included. I also know that you were suppose to talk to the other GMs about wiping the war, but I've privately held the belief that the parties involved in the war are the only ones to wipe it, something that has long been here on CNRP. If they wish to continue, so be it.

Views on Foreign Relations beyond Asia and Europe?

Both men walked into the imposing entry room, jumped a bit as the door suddenly closed behind them amongst a quickly darkened room. They likened the entry of the house towards like a haunted house, but clearly it was not as a fire burned brightly in another nearby room in front of them. Welks and Minister Rolan took off their black gloves and slapped them a bit before going into a pocket in the overcoat, as the smell of melting wax, and smoke mingled with the soft wood evergreen wood that burned in the fireplace met their nostrils. The Baron introduced himself and both gentlemen did likewise with their own introduction and returning of handshakes. They took off their overcoats to finally reveal their suits at the entry. "Our trip was quite uneventful, your guards did a stupendous job in their execution of their duties. We discussed much with them in a fair conversation of cultural exchange," remarked Welks. Rolan nodded in agreement and added, "The water was most pleasant." Baron Dusk lead the men to the Grand Library Room, an imposing room to any visitor, even to educated men like Douglas Welks and Gregory Rolan, as hundreds of books lined the edges of the entire room. No doubt their discussion would brush on the collection that laid around them, but business was business that needed to be conducted first. They followed the Baron in and watched him stop suddenly in front of them. Both men looked at each other puzzled briefly before turning their gaze to the direction of the Baron's gaze at a nearby sofa. The clearing of the Baron's throat produced a response of a young teenage girl's head pop above the sofa with a clearly embarrassed look on her face. She quickly regained composure as she bowed to the trio of men in front of her as she tried to dismiss herself from the room, except the Baron invited her closer. Chancellor Welks and Minister Rolan both smiled at the site of youth and listened to her introduce herself. "Well, Miss Charlotte, it was a grand pleasure of meeting you," replied Welks as he bowed slightly. As she left, the more formal beginning of their time here would begin. Welks and Rolan decided to sit apart in separate comfortable chairs instead of the sofa as the Baron settled into his seat. "I wouldn't blame her for being in here so often," quipped Welks, "The collection is astounding!" The always jovial mood of the Chancellor was sometimes in stark contrast of the more serious minded Foreign Minister that sat nearby at the same table. The Baron opened the conversion with a direct point at their visit, so Welks quickly shifted from a more joking mood to his 'getting things done' mood. "Well, Baron," replied the Chancellor, "Since my country's internal agenda is nearly back on track from the Northern Imperium War, my administration has turned to expand our foreign policy agenda and rebuild the long neglected policy that previous administration's had upheld due to necessity. We're here today to seek out some starting common ground between us in the future development of Greater Canada economically and culturally. I'll be frank here Baron that we're trying to get a pulse of nations around us, see where we go together, and change our own foreign policies that mesh more in line with needs and goals of our partners." Minister Rolan chimed in stating, "Our goals here are fairly modest in unveiling the mystery that has enshrouded this nation from most of the world, including ourselves. We wish to seek an improved partnership with your nation if possible in expanding commerce and relations at an agreed pace."

Arctic Vigilance Exercise - Initial Preparation Hudson Bay Federation Joint Military Command (HBFJMC) had prepared for an all service war exercise in the Rocky Mountains that rose to the west of Yellowknife in the Yukon Territory inside the Arctic Warfare Proving Grounds for the last several months. The combined service exercise would test the Federation's military in a coordinated war simulation in the harsh environments of the Arctic to shape warfighting policy and tactics in the Arctic to commanders. Allied nation observers would be allowed limited observation status to the happenings of the exercise through escorted flights and daily debriefings. This was going to be a full scale exercise involving nearly 100,000 personnel. BLUFOR Composition @ Joint Base Yellowknife Hudson Bay Air Force Contribution - 706th Air Reconnaissance Squadron - Consisting of Global Hawk UAVs, U2s, RC-240s 340th Air Command and Control Squadron - E-5 Guardian AWACS and E-10 J-ABMCS 23rd Aerial Refueling Squadron - KC-77 Supertanker, KC-130 Tanker 45th, 66th, 89th Fighter Squadrons - F-15D/SE, F-16E, F-22B, FE-16 323rd, 378th Bomb Squadrons - B-52G, B-2A 804th, 823rd Air Mobility Squadrons - C-130, C-17, C-5 433rd Tactical Support Squadron - A-10, AC-130 104th Special Operations Air Support Squadron - UH-60M, C-130K EW Hudson Bay Army Contributions - 612th Air and Missile Defense Battalion - Patriot Missile Batteries, Tundra Watch ABM Batteries, HV230 Avenger 14th, 16th Arctic Infantry Brigade - 1403, 1603 Infantry Battalion (M3 Bradleys, HMMWV) - 1404, 1604 Infantry Battalion (Puma IFV, HMMWV) - 1405, 1605 Infantry Battalion (CV 90, HMMWV) - 1421, 1621 Recon Battalion (Strkyer IFV) - 1430, 1630 Artillery Battalion (M777) - 1464, 1664 Support Battalion - Intelligence Company - Network Support Company - Engineer Company - Anti-Tank Company 3rd Heavy Infantry Brigade - Same composition as above, except infantry battalions are equipped with M20 tanks and CV90s. Artillery is mobile with M-200s with 155mm self-propelled artillery. Numbered subunits are the 3004th. 10th Air Assault Brigade - Same in force composition. Use of UH-60s, V-22s and CH-47s for fast transport. Artillery Battalion is replaced by Tactical Air Battlions with AH-64s, AH-6s and AH-1s. Numbered subunits are 1005th. OPFOR Composition @ Joint Base Dawson Creek Hudson Bay Air Force Contribution - 709th Air Reconnaissance Squadron - Consisting of Global Hawk UAVs, U2s, RC-240s 348th Air Command and Control Squadron - E-5 Guardian AWACS and E-10 J-ABMCS 18th Aerial Refueling Squadron - KC-77 Supertanker, KC-130 Tanker 40th, 70th, 104th Fighter Squadrons - F-15D/SE, F-16E, F-22B, FE-16 324th, 379th Bomb Squadrons - B-52G, B-2A 805th, 822nd Air Mobility Squadrons - C-130, C-17, C-5 434th Tactical Support Squadron - A-10, AC-130 105th Special Operations Air Support Squadron - UH-60M, C-130K EW Hudson Bay Army Contributions - 604th Air and Missile Defense Battalion - Patriot Missile Batteries, Tundra Watch ABM Batteries, HV230 Avenger 15th Arctic Infantry Brigade - 1503 Infantry Battalion (M3 Bradleys, HMMWV) - 1504 Infantry Battalion (Puma IFV, HMMWV) - 1505 Infantry Battalion (CV 90, HMMWV) - 1521 Recon Battalion (Strkyer IFV) - 1530 Artillery Battalion (M777) - 1564 Support Battalion - Intelligence Company - Network Support Company - Engineer Company - Anti-Tank Company 5th, 7th Heavy Infantry Brigade - Same composition as above, except infantry battalions are equipped with M20 tanks and CV90s. Artillery is mobile with M-200s with 155mm self-propelled artillery. Numbered subunits are the 5009th and 7005th. 12th Air Assault Brigade - Same in force composition. Use of UH-60s, V-22s and CH-47s for fast transport. Artillery Battalion is replaced by Tactical Air Battlions with AH-64s, AH-6s and AH-1s. Numbered subunits are 1206th.

Zoot, Sarah, Curri

The train ride to Thunder Bay was without a doubt, a high-class affair in the private car. The offer for lunch during the ride was very welcome and gladly accepted the invitation. The main course that revolved around fish was an excellent choice for the party and had nothing but praise to the cook and the servers. Douglas and Gregory asked for more wine while the FSD agents continued on their sober spree with more of the homeland water. They soon retired to the sofas around the fireplace and continued their talk. Minister Rolan would pull out several cigars from his pocket, offering the entire party to partake in a smoke as the lively discussion continued on. The subjects turned from the Federation itself to more general topics of literature and the arts, in which to both men, was of great interest. Smoke would fill the car as the train pulled into Thunder Bay. Douglas would reply to Sergeant Davis as he looked at his rifle, "Sergeant, we'll stick close to you. I've already been surprised by your country, I'm sure I'll be amazed when I look upon the city." --- Both men stepped upon the platform amongst plumes of steam from the train lazily blown throughout the station by the wind, their black wool overcoats with dark brown fedoras mingled in the busyness of the station of more well-off citizens of the nation. Their cigars' smoke joined the white smoke in a slow dance that slowly mingled together in the vastness of the crisp air around them. They would fit most easily with the more established culture of the capital city than they were at Upsala. The Federation party would subtly observe the citizens of the nation just as they were to them as they moved to the carriages nearby. Chancellor Welks had a hobby in architecture and was very intrigued by the Thunder Bay station and it's connotation to nature of the country while it served something more industrial. Both men would question Sergeant Davis on local culture and dress as well as the pumpkins that seemed to be symbolizing something. "If there was no curiosity left, what would be left to actually see Sergeant?" posed Welks, "I assure you we do not mind, we're equally as curious. Besides, the best way to know a nation is to mingle with the people." Welks would smile and wave to the increasing crowd of people surrounding them as the news of their arrival spread. However, the mingling was short-lived as they arrived at the carriage that was to transport them to the Baron's mansion. In the carriage, Rolan thought about the flags, but would save that question for later, enjoying another short conversation on Shakespeare. The party finally arrived at their destination, an imposing, stone estate three stories tall. The two gentlemen and their guards stepped out in front of the entrance, both men would smile and shake Sergeant Davis' hand for the last time, but Welks would be the last to say farewell. Douglas Welks shook the Sergeant's hand firmly as he replied, "Thank you Sergeant for your generous hospitality, protection and enlightening entertainment. Any man worth his salt would recognize your contributions to your steadfast value to duty, yet I have one thing I must ask of you before you depart..." Welks reached into his overcoat breast pocket and pulled out two envelopes, one addressed to Davis and another letter, double-sealed that was a diplomatic message to the nation of Faraway of the intention of the Federation to officially visit their nation and grasped the Sergeant's hand, placing the envelopes in his hands concluding, "I trust you know where the Post Office is Sergeant, for I definitely do not. This envelope is my lasting gratitude to you, a letter so to speak. The other, is very important that it reaches it destination in Faraway. I trust you that it gets to the right hands." In a parting exchange, Davis handed the candle holder with a lit candle to Welks, "Thank you Sergeant, farewell." The driver of the carriage whipped the horses into motion, leaving the six men at the front steps where the snow slowly danced to the ground. They moved to the door, opening it while knocking on it announcing their arrival.

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3192519706_374df80e04_o.jpg[/img] [size=3][b][i]Eastern Terminus of the Trans-Federation Highway at the Federation-Sleepy Hollow Border[/i][/b][/size] Traffic between the Federation and Sleepy Hollow never amounted to much to building a bigger border crossing station unlike busier crossings to the west and the south. The large single building over watched the three lanes of the heavily forest area, since the Highway shrunk to two lanes some miles before the border; however, maintained the same speed limit of 100km/h. The Federation Border Patrol agents stationed there would pass the time checking on anyone wanted in and talk to the Sleepy Hollow guards on the other side ever once in awhile. The agents wouldn't get to know much about their counterparts, but what little information the Federation had on Sleepy Hollow came mainly from such reports by the agents there. The SUV came up to the border station and the occupants that were going across, stepped out from their vehicle and approached the Sleepy Hollow soldiers. The SUV backed up and returned to the awaiting convoy and soon afterwards, they raced back west to Winnipeg. Douglas Welks trusted his first legs of his journey would rest on the hospitality of his hosts to transport him to the necessary location, although he left a memo to Brigadier General Saul Littleton to prepare the official government airplane to meet up with his party in Quebec. While the Federation Detail Security agents would remain silent with their crisp dark suits and dark glasses quietly surveying the scene, the two government officials in the form of Chancellor Welks and Foreign Minister Rolan talked quietly as they approached the soldiers in the first official meeting of the two nations. The two men were slightly taken aback by the use of horses and carriages well before Sergeant Davis even began to speak, both of them looking at each other with slight amusement, not quite sure handle the rewind in time they seemed to face. In form of custom and courtesies, Douglas Welks would reply first to Sergeant Davis. "Thank you Sergeant for your warm welcome. I'm glad to finally visit this nation and your Baron," replied Douglas as he shook the Sergeant's hand. "Forgive our slight bewilderment on the sight of a carriage, it's been awhile we've all seen one, much less than ridden in one," Welks continued, slightly chuckling. "But no need to apologize for the transportation provided, I'm sure it will be just as great a ride as the limousine!" After the short introduction, the ride began through the Wilderness as the men later got to know, as it should be they thought. As Sergeant Davis offered the drinks to the party in the main carriage, the FSD agent took a water while Welks and Rolan first took some wine while later taking in the famed water. Minister Rolan commented on the water, "It's very refined, crisp and quenching to one's thirst, very much like the water I've seen in our Northern regions of our nation, but those silly commercial bottlers seem to mess up the taste, unlike this." Talks on the Wilderness and their security protection continued, Welks listened intently, soaking up the information of the nation in which had remained mysterious to the world, even more so to it's closest neighbors. In fact, because of the lack of human building up in the Wilderness region of Sleepy Hollow consequently slowed development on the Federation side of major development. While most of the development of Eastern Manitoba was around the Trans-Federation Highway, much of the area to the north to Hudson Bay remained untouched as a massive natural preserve. Minister Rolan would inject that while the Federation was a decently sized nation, much of the northern interior was still undeveloped and much still from human presence. Most development focused around existing towns or new mineral resources that were being discovered. When Sergeant Davis brought up the topic of the Polar Guards and their detail in protecting the small convoy, Welks openly joked, "Pardon me if you're offended, but I hope for their sake they are in full polar bear skin camouflage, for I would be scared witless by the site of such a bear!" Chancellor Welks and Minister Rolan would take turns detailing the short history of the Federation to their host, their government and politics. The FSD agent would comment on the Northern Imperium War, as he was a veteran from the Federation Army assigned to one of the divisions deployed along the Federation-Imperium border at the time. They would share what they knew of the world's happenings with the war in Africa and the conclusion of the strange Colombian Civil War, speaking solemnly, "I was there, near the border in the time of tense conflict, with the 5th Armored Division. We waited as the European and Asian nations opened the firing salvo into the Imperium defenses. Our M20 tanks sat, spread out about 50 miles from the border when the Tianxian Army arrived from the north to open up an eastern front in the war in which we were to be involved. That's when #*$& hit the fan." Minister Rolan, one of the last government officials retained from the time period commented on his perspective when the nuclear weapons were dropped on Winnipeg, destroying it into oblivion, "The complete and utter destruction of our capital changed our perspective of waging war on anyone, I believe forever. Millions suffered at the hand of botched behind-the-scenes political tango with the Coalition against the Imperium, all of anyone, we got hit the worse, even though our involvement was minimal. The cry of never again isn't any louder than it has been, I regret being somewhat behind it, trying to redeem myself ever since then. --- As they arrived in Upsala, the scene was very historic. The two men of importance, use to hiding their emotion, couldn't hide the continued bewilderment of the impression their host nation presented. To them, it was a living history, a throw back to a by-gone era, yet existed here, right in front of their eyes. There wasn't anything wrong, they knew, it was just weird, just as the locals thought of them in the same regard. Welks wore a nice dark grey two piece suit outfitted with a navy blue tie and a white pocketsquare, while Minister Rolan was in a blue suit with a black tie, looking like upscale businessmen. Because of the cold weather, over the suits, they both wore full-length wool overcoats. The steam locomotive wasn't anywhere to the high-speed rail lines that did exist in their country, but here, they felt, it was most at home. They decided to watched the great plumes of white smoke slowly fill the station platform and the car behind it from it's origin underneath the great steel engine as well from the smoke stack in the front. As the Sergeant handed his guest's the tickets, they slowly got aboard as the train was about to depart. The loud shrill whistle came after the conductor's call for last boarding, both men, mesmorized, asked to go to the frontmost of the cars for the beginning journey of the trip to see the mechanization's of the locmotive in action. Steam erupted from the sides and from the stake on front as the next leg of their journey was underway. After settling their curiosity, they returned to their assigned seating area as the repetition of chugging from the locomotive mixed with the clanking of the steel wheels hitting transistions in the metal track with an industrial, melodious sound.

Well, Cent did agree to your offer in the GM Court thread EM, since it's a mutual agreement, I'll let you handle it in a response with the proper OOC. Consider it edited without the work behind it. The war needs to move forward, and since the offer was accepted then yes, that's what I'll agree upon. So that settles issue 1. If he was to bomb again at close range, more radar will have to go down. For issue 2, I just see RAM as more maintenance downtime, which isn't an economic thing, but rather as an engineering consequence. Issue 3, if Triyun is still insistent on the commercial waterways argument, I'll continue to counter with the neutral shipping vessels giving each side's positions away to kill the argument dead in it's tracks. If arguing a certain tactic, certain things should not be left out. You know my thoughts on 4, so carry on.

Stop fueling the argument folks. Worse thing to do is keep going when obviously tempers are flaring and you're still still trying to argue your point. Better to say nothing and then to speak and be a fool everyone.

Welks received the letter from his secretary in the partially completed executive mansion that were built right on the top of the old one. "Chancellor, a letter from the leader of Sleepy Hollow, Baron Dusk," the secretary stated. "Place it on the desk Joan, I'll look at after I finish my correspondence to Colombia," Welks replied, "Also, called in Gregory Rolan here!" His laptop was out typing letters to the various nations for the trip that was being scheduled, some printed to Faraway, Quebec, Newfoundland, American Commonwealth, and others but were not sent out yet. Stacks of other papers on the new budget, the transportation plan, and health care overhaul legislation covered the desk. While Winnipeg was almost back from pre-war levels, work still poured in for the 56 year old politician from Whitehorse. In the meantime, Welks took out his glasses and read the finely written note. 20 minutes later, the grizzled grey hair Gregory Rolan, Foreign Minister of Hudson Bay knocked on the office door. "Come in Rolan," called Welks. "What's the news on the tour Chancellor?" inquired Rolan. Welks replied, "Get your bags ready, we'll be leaving immediately for Sleepy Hollow. As my main adviser on foreign affairs, you should definitely tag along. Your input will be very required on this grand trip." "Well, pick me up at my residence in a couple hours and I'll be right there with you," answered Rolan. "Excellent, see you then," concluded Welks, "Joan, call in the Vice Chancellor, tell him he's in charge of the legislative agenda I've proposed to the National Assembly, the various ministers will brief him on the particular details." Welks took the time alloted to let Rolan pack to himself to finish off various correspondence and pack himself. It was midday as he rolled his luggage to the waiting armored limousine flanked by four SUVs on either side. He had a brief chat with the FSD agents before getting into the back of the limousine. "Stop at Minister Rolan's house!" commanded the Chancellor to the FSD limousine driver as the convoy got moving. The 30 minute drive to the Foreign Minister's house had been quite the ride on the expressway as the convoy raced down the highway to the next exit. Rolan stepped out of the front door as the convoy pulled to a stop and an FSD agent from a nearby SUV picked up Rolan's luggage as he came into the limousine. Off they went again to the western border region of the Federation along the Sleepy Hollow protectorate, racing at over 130km/h for most of the ride. Both men knew little of the nation in question to which they were about to visit except the fact it was sanctioned and supported by Quebec, which didn't mind the two men. They talked about what could happen during their meeting and agreed to the conditions of their entry into the country. When they didn't talk about official business, they talked about the arts, classic literature, history and great battles of old. The signs acknowledging the border raced on the side of the Trans-Federation Highway, stating "Be Prepared to Stop! Have proper documents ready at crossing! Border Crossing 5 miles Ahead" The Trans-Federation Highway, an offspring of the defunct Trans-Canada Highway cut across the length of southern part of the Federation from the Sleepy Hollow protectorate to the Western Union. On the Federation side of the border, the convoy stopped, both men transferred over to one of the FSD SUVs with the four chosen agents to provide security to the Chancellor and the Foreign Minister, one of which was the driver, the other three sat in the back as the SUV drove up to the Sleepy Hollow checkpoint. The SUV was emptied of automatic weaponry into the other vehicles as the agents only carried vintage revolver sidearms for this particular mission.

Excellent, I look forward to the battlefield. o/

The following letter would be issued to the nation of Sleepy Hollow, the beginning of the tour of Western Hemisphere nations. [quote] [b]Office of the Hudson Bay Federation Chancellor[/b] [b]Esteemed Leader of Sleepy Hollow:[/b] Our relations between our two nations having been lacking the formation of your nation. We sincerely apologize for this long oversight as we've had to attend to internal problems in relation to the war with the Northern Imperium. I hope seek to attain an audience with you at the earliest convenience. Sincerely, Douglas Welks Chancellor of the Hudson Bay Federation [/quote]

Great Northern Times Edition 9 Transportation Minister Outlines National Transportation Plan WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - Transportation Minister Harold Avery spoke today of a substantial federal investment of the nation's transportation networks, reinvestment in the existing Trans-Federation Highway, a cooperative national-commercial Maglev venture, a new land link to Ellesmere Island of the second Arctic Highway, improved funding for multi-modal networks within the provinces, and expansion of ports. Minister Avery outlined the 20 year plan to a consortium of business leaders, shipping companies, local leaders and other federal governmental officials. "As recovery from the war has eased the strain of the nation's coffers, once more we look to improve on the lifeblood of our nation's commerce, improvement of the shipment and transportation of goods and the movement of people. This seesion of the legislature, I propose to introduce introductory funding for all these projects to move the Federation forward in the mid-21st century." Experts have estimated the various projects to cost up to $500-700 billion over the lifespan of the plan. Skeptics pointed out that money that has poured into the long recovery Winnipeg has not paid it's full dividend and that this project would continue to tax the populace more than what some of the projects are worth. Chancellor Welks on Western Hempisphere Goodwill Tour WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - The Chancellor's plane left the new Winnipeg International Airport today to speak various nations in the Western Hemisphere on an expanded foreign affairs agenda in his first term. Improved relations with neighbors and reaffirming current relations are part of the large agenda. "As a regional player, we continue to seek peace, prosperity and the expansion of free markets in the Western Hemisphere. The last administration did little to expand our relations to neighbors; however, understandable due to the attention of the war and the recovery of our losses. We can of this time to look outward again and pursue a peaceful agenda to the world." Police Apprehend Suspect in Brandon in Relations to String of Murders BRANDON, MANITOBA - Brandon police today arrested a person of interest in relations to a series of murders in Southern Manitoba. Gruesome details of the victims have been withheld as police officials in cooperation of Federation Investigative Services (FIS) launched a multi-agency task force to catch the killer. "We have taken a suspect of immense interest to the "Plains Serial Killer" murders. I cannot say at this time the suspects official connections to the case; however, we believe this person has detailed knowledge of the person or persons responsible," stated Sheriff Tony Nehauser. Grand Slam in 9th Seals Victory for Winnipeg Falcons Against Whitehorse Bears 11-9 WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - In the opening season of the Federation Major League Baseball season began in earnest on a crisp spring day of Winnipeg's newly completed Logan Stadium as the Winnipeg Falcons took on the Whitehorse Bears as part of a 4 game series. A raucous crowd of 37,000 filled the stands as a tense game unfolded. Bears pitcher Felix Hernandez, as well as Falcons pitcher Allen Fisher seemed rusty throughout the game as both were relieved in the 4th and 5th respectfully. Bears star hitter Jose Garcia was 2 for 4 with one HR, but the game was taken away by the Falcon's rookie David Halstrom with a significant Grand Slam in the 9th Inning sealing the Bears' fate.

If you keep hammering on the points of just OTH-B, it's unfounded. One site alone is enough to cover most of the Indian Ocean based on current technology. The overall picture is what OTH-B is for, there is no specific area to track. You would use the other intelligence gathering assets to focus on points of interest as needed. Besides, the your argument of hiding in commercial traffic would give you away anyways as neutral vessels came across the Indian into EM's fleet and vice versa. Sure, they couldn't tell anyone more than force composition and last known position, but consider the HUMINT aspect nulling all your work and superseding all the vaulted technology and prepositioning. It's simple and it's right.

The tech is questionable beyond economics of course. The AUP defense network does not have any band that uses high enough radiation that comes close to a DEW, except near fatal radiation on AWACS. What you're advocating is that they have DEWs, in which, they do not have as far as I see. EM's post saying that they could is false and clearly wrong. We've been down this road before as you brought it up before on IRC Cent and I talked to him about it. He is using bands that as known to detect stealth aircraft. Having various tactical radar modules with different EM bands being used isn't out of the question. Comparing aircraft to radar is an apples to oranges argument, clearly because radar considerations at the present time benefit heavily from Moore's Law thus overall cheaper. Also, it's would be quite feasible a very robust multi-static radar network for cheap, in which, has in this present day been pushed by various nations, I would not be surprised by increased power and range (range still within reason) by nations in 2025-2030. While economics is a consideration I do use in making a judgment, I've used that edge rarely in making a judgment in here on this thread so far. I did shoot your technology based on engineering considerations more than anything else, considering if you read previous entries. I'll stick to the traditional points of contention, carbon nanotube RAM has weight issues, so deal with it in the appropriate fashion.

I've had about one week to look over the war, dealing with the details. Out of the 34 days, I've delayed it by nearly 7 days. I'm getting pushback from everyone on some particular detail, and you're telling me to grant auto advances along some others. Obviously, there's something wrong with the current system, so continue to take a seat. Frankly, later cases is part of people rolling over and not dealing with it. I don't mind to look it over, get third-party involvement and debate it. Is this a longer course of action, yes. Does thing break from the usual granting of auto advances in past wars, yes. Is this war different than others, I would say yes. I understand your impatience, but until people stop balking at things I'm trying to give to reason on along with flipping some arguments on their head, we're still going to be stuck.