Lunar Republic Reports

[Lynneth]

[b][Von Braun][/b]

The officer took the pads, looking them over for a few moments. "Alright, looks fine. You'll be transferred to a flat shortly. Until then, please stay put and do not leave the vehicle. Thank you."
He left for the time being.

After half an hour, three guards came in to escort the four into a different part of the city. Little sightseeing was done, merely public transport used. Once in the section in which their apartment was, they'd be given the key and 1,500 Luna (or the equivalent of almost 2,000 US dollars [1980]).
"Please do not leave this section for the time being. It's refugee-only, and you might find people from all over the world, having come to the Republic to leave the suffering they experienced in the many wars that occur behind. You'll be elegible to eventually become Lunar citizens unless it is decided to extradite you to a different nation. Additionally, Lunar laws are rather strict on carrying weaponry. Before leaving you, I'll have to confiscate your guns. Once you got the appropriate license, you'll get them back, though they must be unloaded at all times unless at a shooting range or in case of defending your household. But you'll be informed of the exact laws as you get the license.
Now, concerning the lady that was brought into hospital, I don't know her status, but you'll be notified as soon as something changes, whether for the better or worse. Now, unless you have further questions, I'll take my leave."

[Mara Lithaen]

The Marines grudgingly handed over their guns, being left alone in the apartment. The Major excused himself to the head, Lieutenant LaFollet raided the pantry, and the good Corporal sat down in the sitting room, Kayleigh scrambling up into her lap.

"Well this sucks."

"You s'ink, Corpwal?" said the front-toothless Empress.

"Yes I do, stinker."

[i]The hell with extradition; they'll have to kill us all to take you.[/i]

Esmeralda sighed, and removed her helmet, leaning her head against the back of the seat and falling into the abrupt and deep slumber only soldiers are capable of accomplishing.

Edited September 23, 2012 by Mara Lithaen

[Centurius]

While the Galactica remained in position it received another message from home increasing the urgency. They knew there were survivors and more importantly they now had another cause to push for extradition. Only minutes after receiving the message the Galactica would open another channel to the Lunars. It was left unencrypted so the Solars wouldn't confuse it for hostile intent or cooperation with the Lunars.

"Von Braun this is the Galactica, we have received added charges from the Magistrate of Justice including genocide, use of weapons of mass destruction and mass negligence. We must once again request extradition of the survivors due to he heinous nature of these additional charges"

The message would be accompanied by reports and video recordings of the destruction left by the NI weapons, the centralized nature of the Northern Imperium made it pretty clear it couldn't have happened without some command authorization from one of the people that had escaped.

[Mara Lithaen]

Particularly unfortunately for the Athenians, it was public knowledge, available on the internet, that the Royal Family of the Northern Imperium had no say in the use of WMDs - only the now-dead General Whitelighter had.

[Lynneth]

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1348331258' post='3033080']
While the Galactica remained in position it received another message from home increasing the urgency. They knew there were survivors and more importantly they now had another cause to push for extradition. Only minutes after receiving the message the Galactica would open another channel to the Lunars. It was left unencrypted so the Solars wouldn't confuse it for hostile intent or cooperation with the Lunars.

"Von Braun this is the Galactica, we have received added charges from the Magistrate of Justice including genocide, use of weapons of mass destruction and mass negligence. We must once again request extradition of the survivors due to he heinous nature of these additional charges"

The message would be accompanied by reports and video recordings of the destruction left by the NI weapons, the centralized nature of the Northern Imperium made it pretty clear it couldn't have happened without some command authorization from one of the people that had escaped.
[/quote]
The answer to the Athenian message was that before such allegiations could be verified, the justice system demanded an investigation into the matter by Lunar personnel, whether any of the persons could have consented to the strikes due to their special situation, as well as a number of other factors, including but not limited to the chain of command within the NI, documents and records of which surely would be available on the internet as well as surviving in NI governmental or military installations, which Athens or others could potentially recover.
Not to mention that the accused could be interrogated, as they couldn't yet know about the strikes, considering that Von Braun's civilian population was nearly completely shut away from the outer world, only happenings within the city being available at the time - in part due to the civil war.
Effectively, what was said, was: "Unfortunately, at the current time, it is difficult to impossible for the Lunar justice system to determine whether or not your allegiations would hold in court. Please try again once things have calmed down a little. Thank you for your time."

________________________

[b][Von Braun][/b]

"Thinks are bleak, Laura. Very bleak."
"Mhm." She was staring into a wall, sitting in her chair and facing away from her brother. He couldn't see her expression.
"They've launched several additional vessels. Oppenheimer class."
"I'm aware."
"They've taken another shipyard, and practically all colonies surrounding it. With that, they control three of four clusters nearly completely. We need to [i]do[/i] something, Laura. Otherwise they'll win!"
"We do," she said, her voice sounding a little strange.
"Laura." Somewhat irritated, he walked past her desk and besides his sister. Upon seeing her, his expression became one of concern.
"S-sister... What's wrong..?"

The room being sound-proofed, none without could hear as the First Speaker, a woman carrying millions on her shoulders, broke down, for once in her long life truly crying her soul out. They would not hear as she wailed, and neither did her sibling's crying joining her become audible through the door or walls. Together, they lessened the burden upon their souls at least somewhat, though the weight of Duparc's continuous assaults upon what they had build within more than half a century threatened to crush them. The fear of losing everything was tearing at both Laura and Alexander's minds...
Though what they would do against this, they did not know yet.
Blank despair. What would help?
What indeed.

[Lynneth]

[b][Earth][/b]

With the civil war raging in the abyss above, complete and utter isolation had become the policy of the Republic's earthly possessions. Communications were tuned in to a specialised encrypted frequency while citizens had to use a very limited network between the various Republic's islands to communicate with each other. Speaking with other nations was made impossible by officials and the military in the hopes that ignoring all and everything would keep trouble away. This policy didn't change, regardless of events in the rest of the world, because nobody was listening to them. None were tuned in to the frequencies that the other nations used for communications, the internet had been cut off. Broadcasts were simply interference and white snow for radios and television sets.
Blissful igorance.


[b][Space][/b]

With only one cluster and two of the lunar cities left, the Republic's future was looking rather bleak. The shipyard in their possession was still crippled, unable to release its vessels in any shape without endangering them, and though close to spewing additional vessels out for the cause of the Republic, each day it looked more and more like that wouldn't matter. The population was in unrest, Duparc's gains in territory nearly impossible to counter. His spies and agents continued to agitate the people.
Unlike many civil wars, this conflict between Lunar and Solar factions had never truly been equal. The moment Pierné-Duparc got into power, the siblings had practically lost. His eloquence in writing speeches won too many over and unlike them, he'd been born in space, grown up with it. The moment when 5 Solar vessels engaged and annihilated three Lunar ships was another pivotal point in the conflict. From then on, it was not a slow decline anymore, but a rapid downfall, culminating in a maneuver that Duparc's followers had initiated mere days after the Imperials had arrived in Von Braun.

The operation itself was, considering the scope, fairly eventless. Very nearly the entire Solar fleet travelled to the last free cluster. Fearful of damaging or destroying any of the stations, the Lunar commanders abandoned them to their fate, with only security on the habitats themselves resisting the tide of Solar troops, and only briefly.
This operation completed, the Lunar Republic had only two cities left within its territory. A husk of its former glory, and there was nothing to be done about this.

[Lynneth]

[b][Space][/b]

Glushko had fallen, taken in an unexpected attack when solar forces hid out in automated harvesters, descending upon the local refineries with speed and efficiency great enough to prevent an alert to be sent to the city itself. This in turn allowed them to take the various personnel trains to the city, which had considerably less security than formal entrances, letting them to set up a perimeter from which the rest of the underground complex stretching over many square kilometers would be assaulted over several days. Tense semi-urban combat ensued even as the administrator of the city closed blast doors strategically, attempting to force Solar troops into killzones set up by the defenders. While effective for a day or two, things slowed down on the third day as the attackers began to try and break through several of the doors, cameras in the vicinity disabled by gunfire or miniature EMP strikes.

However, this was merely intended as distraction, surrender eventually being forced once a crack team of special operatives had managed to infiltrate behind enemy lines during a lull in combat. They used a practically forgotten maintenance tunnel to evade patrols and resurface close to the nerve center of the city, from which much of its defense was coordinated. From this position, they had the opportunity to strike at the command center, killing several high-ranking officers and taking the administrator as prisoner before retreating back to the tunnel with less than 30% personnel loss. Having lost most of their strategists and ordered by the administrator, Lunar forces were finally forced to end their resistance unpon which they were swiftly disarmed and removed from the military. Little more happened to them for the time being, however, while Solar troops began asserting control over Glushko.

______________

[b][Xuesen, a day after the end of the assault][/b]

An aide stormed into the Prince's room, startling the blonde with his sudden appearance. A few moments of awkward silence followed as Damien stared. "Well? What is it?"
"Ah, um. Your Highness, our forces were victorious. they're currently in the process of taking full control and rooting the last nests of resistance out."
"So the siblings have been reduced to a single city?"
"it is so. Would you like to meet with your Generals?"
"Yes, yes. Do call them together, we'll have to discuss our next steps."
"Immediately, Highness." The aide then excused himself to inform the various officers under Damien.


[u][i]Two hours later[/i][/u]

The last to arrive was the Prince himself, proceeding to his - currently somewhat improvised - throne at the end of the long table. He looked watched his loyal followers for a few moments before beginning, "Friends, comrades. Another heavy blow has been delivered against our opponents. They are reduced to a city-state, and no matter its power, they cannot hold against us forever. Von Braun may be capable of producing vessels all on its own if necessary, but perhaps there is no need to attack at all."
The room filled with whispers, a few quickly becoming aware of what the Prince had meant.
"We demand their surrender. Unconditional and complete, unless they would prefer to be eradicated by our unstoppable troops. What do you say, Gentlemen?"
The outcome was as obvious as the moon hanging in the sky.


[u][i]A day later[/i][/u]

A message was sent to Von Braun and its rulers, broadcast on all frequencies that the Lunar may be listening to.
[i]"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Lunar Republic. Your precious habitats are under our control. Your only other city on Luna has fallen. Von Braun is your last centre of control, and even it will fall eventually, no matter the resistance you may be able to bring against us. The Empire has superior resources and manpower, capable of overwhelming you.
Thus, Prince Damien Pierné-Duparc has decided to generously offer you one last chance.
Surrender."[/i]

[Captain Enema]

The men and women of the Legion Moon Base, or the Moob, quietly begin to arm themselves from the stores of weapons held deep in the vaults of the base. They are quite unsure which side to join, but they do know they are prepared to defend themselves should the fighting swing their way. An emergency committee is formed consisting of all the relevant faces of the Legion. They quietly form up local defense units and quickly prepare defense plans using the means they have at their disposal.

These means are not to be ignored as obsolete either, the Lunar Legionnaires have managed over time to acquire a hefty appreciation for the complexities of fighting on the Moon. Using this understanding they've carefully prepared a series of plans that will funnel any invaders into zones that will restrict their movements and expose them to a wall of armor piercing fire from weapons designed to breach the Lunar Forces armored suits. Whether these weapons work of not is something the Lunar Legionnaires would prefer not to test, but should they have to find out the hard way, they are more than willing.

[Lynneth]

[b][Luna, Moob][/b]

The ladies and gentlemen of Moob didn't have to fear much from either side. After all, upon noticing that they were arming themselves, three vessels were sent to blockade the Legion-occupied city. A message was sent to them.
[i]"Greetings, esteemed Legionnaires.
We regret to inform you that his Highness has decided that for your own safety, the city within which you reside should be evacuated. The current conflict with the Republic is quite serious, and we would loathe to see it spill over into your beautful settlement.
The Empire will of course provide free transportation back to Earth for you.

Thank you for your cooperation."[/i]


________________________________

[b][Space, L5 Earth-Moon][/b]

At the same time, half a dozen Oppenheimer class vessels approached the former Papuan space colonies. They were to force control of the 'Stundenglas' habitats regardless of resistance, authorised to use force.
They made as much clear in their message to the colonies, clarifying that they could and would blast the Papuans to smithereens if refusal was given. After all, they were technically nationless and - after joining the Republic - de facto Lunar citizens. And thus, Solar forces felt that these people had to submit, no matter the requirement to enforce it.

[Lynneth]

[b][Space][/b]

Many wars, civil or not, that the world had seen were ended by a few deceisive, glorious battles, resulting in tens of thousands of dead, if not more. Millions upon millions of people had lost their lives in wars all over the globe, and rarely had nations been given the opportunity to simply surrender, instead often opting to do one last nuclear strike, or being utterly eradicated. Of course, surrender would usually only be accepted if absolutely no chance of retaliation of any kind existed. But just as often, if not more so, the government disbanded or broke apart, leaving the invaders with easy pickings. That usually was the case with exceptionally bad or cowardly leaders.

Laura was neither. Alexander shared this trait with her, and the two were in her office, staring at the video feed of the Solar fleet above Von Braun, having defeated the city's missile defense systems with their mass of PD weaponry. The city wasn't defenseless by any means, but the Solarians had far more troops. Even if the Lunar defenses achieved an impossible 10:1 ratio, they would simply be overwhelmed in relatively short order.

The city's leadership knew and recognised these facts. And, as spectacular as their end [i]could[/i] be, the Ministry heads and the Speakers all realised that it would lead to unnecessary death and suffering.
"Ladies, Gentlemen," spoke Laura before the gathered, "you all know the reason for this meeting. We have been outmaneuvered and outfought. Pierné-Duparc's men control all but Von Braun. While there may be cells of resistance, their work is... insufficient to make any sort of difference." She sighed. "I thus ask you all to consider their demand of surrender. Personally, I... despite this man working to displace us, perhaps destroying everything we all have worked for, I would agree. I don't wish any more suffering on our citizens, and I hope none of you do, either." She walked off the podium, looking at them.
"If you agree, please raise your hand."

[Lynneth]

[b][Von Braun][/b]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph1DS5Qx3uw"]Solar Victory[/url]

Wearing a [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Lynneth_del_Serpentas/AE/CNRP/Corp/80406.png"]small, silver medallion[/url] with a yellow sapphire in the center on his immaculate white suit, Prince [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Lynneth_del_Serpentas/AE/CNRP/Corp/the__prince.png"]Damien[/url] Pierné-Duparc stepped behind a podium. In previous broadcasts, there had been the [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Lynneth_del_Serpentas/AE/CNRP/Possible/lunarRepublic.png"]Lunar[/url] banner hanging behind the speaker, though now it had been replaced by a darker flag, showing a [url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Lynneth_del_Serpentas/AE/CNRP/Corp/Eclipse.png"]solar eclipse[/url] in progress. Its purpose was to symbolise the struggle the new nation had gone through, one with an inevitable end but seemingly endless duration.

The young man smiled into the cameras. This broadcast would be seen throughout the former Republic and in the scant few other places able to decode the signals properly.
"Ladies, Gentlemen. Today, I bring you a message of joy, great joy! For it is today that the long struggle against the tyrants of the Lunar Republic has been won with their former leaders signing a document of complete and total surrender. It is today that the oppressive Lunar Republic has been dismantled, and in its stead a new, pure nation will rise!"

A second flag replaced the eclipse. Its design was perhaps simplistic, but in this, strength and vigilance should be symbolised.

[center][url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Lynneth_del_Serpentas/AE/CNRP/Corp/Gradient.png"][img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Lynneth_del_Serpentas/AE/CNRP/Corp/th_Gradient.png[/img][/url][/center]

[center]"My friends and countrymen. While those responsible for the things that happened under the previous government will be punished appropriately, while you finally can lean back, relax and sleep peacefully once more, I and those under me will proceed to create the new nation that will raise the banner of all those people of Sol who wish for Mankind to prosper and expand.
We will do our utmost to bring mankind further to the stars. Venus, the asteroid belt and Saturn are but the next few stops we intend to visit. Many more shall become ours, to do with however we wish. For this purpose, this glorious mission, there shall be an empire as it hasn't existed in history.[/center]
[center]For there has never before been, and there shall never after be another[/center]
[center][size=5][b]Solar Empire![/b]"[/size][/center]

________________________

[b][Von Braun][/b]

While Duparc and his men were busy trying to organise the new nation, some bureaucrats fulfilled the last orders they had received from an uncharacteristically shaky and nervous second speaker. All records of recent refugees were to be destroyed, and the refugees relocated into a newly-built part of the city where many residents hadn't been registered properly yet. This would enable hundreds and perhaps thousands of people to potentially receive citizenship of the Empire without having to do much. By happenchance, the family from the former Imperium was included in these numbers, Jade by now nearly fully recovered thanks to modern medical marvels.

In the meantime, Laura, Alexander and the former Heads of Ministries were brought into a separate part of the city in which most criminals were held. The Republic had always had a stance of reforming criminals and attempting to make them productive members of society again, and for the time being, Pierné-Dupard was unlikely to change this practise.
Except for these select few individuals, who would be incarcerated in separate parts of the prison and given relatively little contact with other inmates. These few, the former government, they were in for life.
But they all had agreed with the decision, and none resented the other for it. They were, as one might say, content, hoping that they had impacted their people one last time, bringing a new age.

[Lynneth]

[b][Space][/b]

The war was won. Truly [i]won[/i], with his enemies imprisoned. Now the new government had to be organised, but for that, Damien had his aides. Soon, he would be crowned Emperor, with full and total power over everything in former Lunar, now Solar territory. All resources, all shipyards and resource mining operations. Of course, the ministries would have to be renamed and reorganised, the personnel shuffled around to break bonds that had formed. Loyalties needed to be forged and that would be a process of months and years.

For now, however, none of this concerned the young ruler. He had to go through the Siblings' files, find whatever he could about their actions and secrets. Luckily, the VIs were easily reprogrammed to aid him instead of keeping him out.
Thus, he now was standing in front of a desk with a massive holographic screen, files and documents speeding by, not a single word unseen by the blonde man. After all, he was a 2nd generation space-born human, augmentation and genetic enhancements almost standard by now to allow them to survive easily in many low-gravity environments. As little as 0.1 g were possible for these new humans, while other technological enhancements had been granted to many as early as days after birth. Damien's parents, for example, had both his brain and spine augmented with artificial constructs shortly after his birth, giving him the ability to interface with computers and use them far faster and more efficiently than any normal human being possibly could.

This allowed him to go through hundreds and thousands of text documents in mere hours instead of days and weeks, each and every single one. After some time, he obviously stumbled upon a few interesting things, such as secret passages within Von Braun, the location of a certain AI and where the former Empress, Mara, was kept. But many other projects could be found as well, some as old as Fjodor Leclerc's first project for genetic experimentation. Damien stopped suddenly, a smile creeping onto his face.
"Interesting, most interesting. The siblings knew about some quite strange projects in their lifetime.. 'Caturday', hm? And the former Empress isn't in that little station... I''ll have to visit her." He nodded to himself. He'd visit the woman soon, though for now some of those projects should be looked at somewhat more closely, he decided.

______________________

[b][Von Braun prison complex][/b]

And just like Damien had received augments, so had nearly all of the ministers under Laura and Alexander, just like they themselves, as well. The prison complex - consisting of four habitat domes, each capable of housing a standard amount of people - had never been intended for keeping inmates apart by separation like this. Neither had it ever been intended to house a person for more than 25 years, the approximate equivalent of 'For Life' in courts. Of course, some had already been held for longer than that, if they were hopeless cases, but the vast majority of criminals were brought back into normal society after a maximum of 5 years in the prison and another 5-7 under observation. The system of rehabilitation, trying to turn criminals into productive members of society once more usually worked very well. Exceptions merely cement the view that for most people, it works.

None of the standard inmate had implants that allowed them to contact each other, however. Laura and the others could talk to each other in whispers, using a few frequencies they had reserved for themselves in the general bandwidth used by Von Braun's inhabitants. After all, here on the moon was far less of a chaos in frequencies than on Earth, where the atmosphere continuously reflected a more than considerable part of the radio waves. Amateur radios, a hundred different nations, thousands of television and radio programmes, various non-governmental organisations, they all contributed to the impossibility to find a truly free frequency on Earth.

"Miss Leclerc, are you there?"
"Yes, yes. What is it?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I do not resent you for asking us all to agree to the surrender. None of us are."
"I..." She wanted to say she knew, she'd always known that they would have followed her and Alexander into most situations. But it wouldn't be appropriate, she decided. "I, thank you. Thank you very much. I appreciate it."
"I'm just hoping, and I believe I speak for everyone of us, that this young man doesn't lower the standards of the rehab-system. I'd hate to have to live in the circumstances that the prisoners of most Earthly nations do."
"Yes, it would be rather uncomfortable to live in such circumstances. But it works, so I doubt that he'll change it much."
"He did start a revolution, you know."
"Yes, but for entirely different reasons. Duparc and his supporters believed that the system had become corrupt in some form, or didn't work as we had originally intended. Their revolution attacked something that they perceived as broken. Something they had to fix. So I do have reasonable doubt about him reforming the prison system in any major way. It works too well."
"I suppose you're right, Miss Leclerc. Let's hope the young man sees it like that, too."
"Yes. Let's."

Well, at least none of them would get lonely...


OOC edit: Whoops, looks like I forgot to change some [] that I put in as placeholders. Silly me. :V

Edited October 10, 2012 by Lynneth

[Lynneth]

[font=Times New Roman, serif][b][Near Von Braun][/b][/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]"We have arrived at the compound, Highness."
"Thank you." Damien smiled, stepping out of the transport that had brought him to this construction, perhaps 20 kilometers from Von Braun proper. Here, former Empress Mara had been incarcerated, held in what amounted to a golden cage. She got very nearly everything she needed for living, people who washed her clothing for her were available and according to the files, even a cook. She didn't lack for much, other than contact with the world outside. The compound was cut off from the general network, only three machines in the entire thing able to not just read and receive information, but also send it. These three computers were in the overseer's office, the security centre within the compound and a secure side-room of the entrance hall. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]The very hall Damien was entering moments later. The guards here had already been informed of the change in government and though they knew they might be replaced in due time, they had decided to try and give the new ruler at least a feeling of being welcome. The men here were just doing their jobs, unlike many in Von Braun itself, in addition not having extreme loyalty to the siblings. The chief of security was in the hall, walking with a smile - helmet not on, despite guidelines - towards the tall blonde. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]"Welcome, your, ah, highness. I hope you enjoyed the journey here?"[/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]"I did, thank you. Is it true this entire compound's use is merely to house the former Empress?"
"Currently at least, Sir. We have capacities for a number of high-profile prisoners, but at the time, only Mara has been placed here."
"How many could you keep under arrest?"
"Twenty, as far as I'm aware. There was a section further underground planned, but they never did more than dig the elevator shaft and build the stairs. The doors to those have been sealed, what with atmo possibly escaping."
"I see. And Mara is held unofficially?"
"Yes. Officially, she's been sent to a deep space station on the far side of the sun. I believe it was the third lagrangian point?"
"That would be accurate. The point, that is. Now, would it be possible for me to speak to her?"
"Yes, yes. Of course. She should be eating currently, but I doubt she'll mind if you sit with her. Would you like something as well, Highness?"
"No, thank you. I had something a bit earlier."
"Very well. Let me lead you to the prisoner's mess hall."[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]For the next minute or two, they were silent. Then, the two entered the hall, containing enough tables to comfortably let just over 20 people dine without being crammed together. Personnel obviously had their own rooms for eating and recreation. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]Without further words, Damien sat on a chair at the same table as [i]Empress[/i] Mara, seating himself directly opposite of her. This would likely be the moment in which she found out about the new ruler of Luna. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]"[url="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Lynneth_del_Serpentas/AE/CNRP/Corp/tumblr_ma7md1STzs1qetw5uo3_250.png"]Good morning, Starshine[/url]. The Earth says hello."[/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]A short pause, then: "I am Prince Damien Pierné-Duparc, and I'm here to pay you a little visit."[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]___________________[/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif][b][Space][/b][/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]The conflict was over, allowing the new Empire to focus its resources on things other than keeping its military fully supplied at all times. A considerable number of the Oppenheimer class vessels were sent to basically 'idle' near the Empire's lagrangian colonies and the moon, only 22 going on regular patrols as was their original intent as patrol vessels. This made for 10 vessels at each colony. Plans for actual combat ships weren't finished yet and might, without Rocketworth's aid, take a little longer than usual. But this didn't deter the scientists and experts that had jumped the Republican ship and gone to work for the Empire even during the civil war. Blueprints and prototypes were already being assembled in several laboratories and research centres spread over the Empire's possessions both on the Moon and around the Lagrangian points. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]Soon enough, they surely would have finished a military vessel more than merely 'superior' to the Oppenheimer patrol class. Current plans were to build five to ten of such truly interplanetary vessels. Perhaps more, depending on their performance in and out of combat. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]___________________[/font]

[b][font=Times New Roman, serif][Von Braun][/font][/b]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]In the meantime, Von Braun was mobilising - in some parts only reluctantly - for the coronation of Prince Damien Pierné-Duparc to Emperor of the Solar Empire. His title had already been decided while appointed ministers were working together with his generals to prepare the city itself. One of the expansion projects in the south was even being hijacked so that a palace could be constructed for him instead of additional general-purpose habitat domes. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]Plans were to construct at least one palace-dome, deeper and more protected than usual, plans calling to add at least 20 meters of ceiling as well as adding further armour into the ceiling and around the dome itself. Protection against kinetic and nuclear strikes was important for the to-be Emperor. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]Furthermore, the soldiers currently in the army would have to be re-drilled. They had been volunteers during a very different era and now either had to adapt to the new circumstances or somehow be made to adapt. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]The entire nation needed to be remade, had to adapt to the Empire. The Republic wasn't quite dead yet, but with just the right sort of effort, Damien would be able to reconstruct society in his image. It merely needed time, something he had quite a bit of. After all, being relatively young -and- genetically enhanced in various ways, medicinal advanced had come far enough to very nearly double a person's life span - if they could pay for the continuous treatments. Under the Republic, however, the treatment had been disallowed until it could be made practical and cheap enough for application for the general populace. With Pierné-Duparc as ruler, this might change. Especially he himself would very much like a long, youthful life to shape a nation and an heir. [/font]

[font=Times New Roman, serif]Very many things in the Empire would have to change, some for the better, others for worse, but in general, much might stay the same. [/font]
[font=Times New Roman, serif]And a few things would without doubt change rapidly and without regard for anything but continuing their change. [/font]


[font=Times New Roman,serif]OOC: I hope I didn't make any mistakes this time around...[/font]

Edited October 12, 2012 by Lynneth

[Mara Lithaen]

The Empress' red hair lay long and well-kept, the only concession she'd made to her circumstances in a long while. As lean as ever, her dark blue eyes were ringed from sleepless nights, and her frame had somewhat deteriorated from the low-gravity conditions in the prison.

She fixed one eye on him, the other hidden behind a veil of hair as she toyed with her meal. She seemed to size him up, then looked back down at her food, taking a small bite and sipping from a water cup, before fixing her stare on him again. When she spoke, her voice was almost non-existent from lack of use. "Prince? What in the name of God is a prince of anything of note doing here? You do not appear to be in the same boat I am."

[Lynneth]

Unlike many of those living on the moon, Mara hadn't been subjected to genetic treatment that would allow her to keep her strong figure. As prisoner, she wasn't eligible for such a procedure, unless the ruler ordered it; something that hadn't happened to date.
"I am not in the same boat as you because there are none left who would oppress me. The siblings are gone, their ministerial lackeys as well, all behind bars, where they belong. I am to be crowned within the next few weeks and so thought that I might visit you, who are supposed to be far away, two full astronomical units from Earth instead of a moon's orbit. Why they did that, I wonder... Perhaps Miss Leclerc shall tell me some day, maybe on my last visit in her cell before she dies?" He began to smile, mostly at the thought than anything else.
"Ah, well. I'll simply be patient and wait. Just like I did before I began the revolution to depose of those two weak-willed, inbred idiots. Ah.." Damien looked at her.
"That reminds me of something. Your precious little Imperium was annihilated. Tianxia and its allies control the region now. Just like the Lunar Republic was replaced by my Empire. Though to be honest, I doubt I'll let that Chinese mongoloid and his austrian whore get much further into space..."

Evidently, Damien liked to ramble a little. Considering she hadn't had much contact in recent times, Mara might have some problems keeping up, but two things were easy enough to hear: The Lunar Republic and its rulers gone, with this man in power. And the Northern Imperium devastated under the chinese jackboot.
Conflicting news.

Edited October 14, 2012 by Lynneth

[Mara Lithaen]

Mara's lip quirked, even as a tower inside her head came crashing down with the news of the loss of her kingdom. She shrugged. "I'm sure my people gave them the last full measure of their fury... and still are. It is remarkably... difficult... to oppress an Imperial. I shouldn't be surprised to begin hearing things about insurrections any day now." she said nonchalantly, taking another bite of food. Swallowing, she sipped again, then looked at him, brushing her curtain of hair to the side - the better to fix him with the full power of both of her eyes, known to give people the feeling of being x-rayed, seen through, and generally known. She was royalty, even without her Imperium to back her words.

After a moment of close scrutiny of this princeling, she leaned back in her chair, head cocked slightly to one side. "All of the information on the outside world is wonderful, let me assure you, but what, precisely, is your business here?" she asked, in an honestly curious sort of tone.

Edited October 14, 2012 by Mara Lithaen

[Lynneth]

If her staring into Damien's eyes unsettled him in any way, the young Prince didn't show it, in fact even starting to smile. He was confident, perhaps a little too much so that he had the upper hand in every way. "Last I heard, there haven't been revolts or insurrections of any sort. Perhaps propaganda, but I'd think that some activity would be noticed if anything was happening, don't you think?"

After a few seconds, Mara then questioning him about his intent, he leaned back in his chair. "Curiousity. Pure, simple-minded curiousity, Mara. I want to get to know the woman that the Siblings didn't want to put into a high-security cell hundreds of millions of kilometers away from Earth. I want to get a feel for that woman, see what she's like. That's my business here."

[Mara Lithaen]

Mara laughed, a remarkably warm sound, if a bit hollow. "Lonely, is what she's like. By my own choice, of course.. I could have a friend among my fellow politicals, here in this lunchroom. I honestly don't have the foggiest idea why that pair decided not to toss me in a shuttle bound for the Sun, rather than choosing to house me." she said wryly, running a hand through her hair. "Let's see..." she continued, raising her fingers as if to tick off bullet points on a list. "My favorite color is silver, second is a tie between black and blue, I like long walks in single-gravity parks, aaaaand I love fire." she said, rolling her eyes. "All true, if not what you were wanting to hear. I don't get out much." The irony and sarcasm in her voice were heavy, if playful.

Edited October 14, 2012 by Mara Lithaen

[Lynneth]

"I see, I see. That alone, your simple behaviour, it tells me quite a bit about yourself. A little headstrong, but capable of getting her way relatively easily. A bit too easily maybe, so she's not used to strong resistance? Once that is met, aggressiveness rears its head. In a hopeless situation, a mask of sarcasm is put on. I think that would describe this woman rather well, though you don't have to agree with me, of course." He stood up, walking a few meters, not even looking at Mara.
"We rarely know ourselves truly well, only others coming to enjoy us as we are - provided no masks are worn. Ah, psychology, what fascinating discipline of science you are." Looking at her again, he smiles. "Unless you would like to add something, I shall take my leave, however. I believe I've come to know you well enough for the time being."

[Mara Lithaen]

Mara shakes her head, smiling, eyebrows quirking at the confirmation of her suspicions. "Ave, cæcus imperatoris." she mutters to herself, smile fading from her face a bit. "Pleasure to meet you, Prince."

[Lynneth]

"If I were blind, would I know that there are rumours of the former Imperial family having sought refuge in Von Braun? Though I'm sure you don't want me to elaborate further, considering that I know so little. Have a nice day. [i]Empress[/i]."
And with that, the blonde left the room, off to prepare other things, such as his coronation. Anything further that Mara had to say he'd ignore, though a hidden microphone would report.

[Mara Lithaen]

Mara smiled sadly. "Less blind, and more unaware of the mess he has inherited... oh, the inaccuracy of Latin." she said, tapping her fingers lightly on the table, her family not even registering on her forebrain at the immediate moment. Surely, hours later, she would startle or awake with a terror with recognition of what he had said... and the implications of what he [i]hadn't.[/i]

[Lynneth]

[b][Secret Compound][/b]

After leaving the former Empress to her own devices, Damien returned to the city proper. For the time being, there wasn't very much that he had to oversee personally, thus taking the rest of the day off.

_______________

[b][A few weeks later][/b]

The initial rush of getting the new government up and running was slowly petering out, though some difficulties cropped up here and there with newly appointed officials yet barely used to the circumstances they were in. Naturally, things were getting better as routine began to set in. All in all, one might have thought the population would be less inclined to accept the new rulers so easily, so quickly after all the work that the ministries had done in the last years and decades, but honestly, the vast majority was simply glad for the civil war to be over. The current generation wasn't too keen on starting a new conflict unless circumstances became extraordinarily bad, and that seemed less than likely to occur.

Damien was, all things considered, not as much a puppet as a puppetmaster. All those who had fought for him, generals and intelligence officers, captains and all the others involved, he played them against each other, yet made each group think they had contributed the most to victory. In this, he would maintain peace until the generals grew old, officers had to be replaced and navies were upgraded. Not too long with some, a bit longer with others, though if they got uppity, they could be removed silently. After all, there were those who were fanatically loyal to the Prince himself, not the achievements and power that siding with him brought. Some of these he instructed to rework MoM - which, like all ministries, was scheduled to be renamed and changed in its organisation.

In the meantime, expansion of all lunar cities was scheduled, to lessen the strain on the transport fleet and the habitat colonies themselves somewhat. Plans were to eventually phase at least five pairs of Island 2 Habitats out, requiring the construction of living space for approximately 7.5 to 8 million people. The investment was considerable, but at the same time the lunar soil that would be excavated for this could be examined for various resources and possibly refined to offset this investment. The moon was, after all, extraordinarily rich, far more so than initially predicted by scientists. Many of the minerals and resources that were deep within earth's crust in a largely liquid-ish form had after what many scientists believed to be the impact of a mars-sized body propelled these materials into an orbit, where they turned solid over the millions and billions of years that had passed since then. All sorts of rare earths and minerals could be found, the only exception being carbon – which while there as by-product of helium-3 production, was only in small quantities on the moon. This was the nation's main import from Earth.

Of course, until everything was arranged and the Prince crowned, the world would hear little from the Empire. Although they expansion into further territory on luna [i]did[/i] begin, still concentrating onto the far side of the moon. After all, it was far easier to hide there than on the near side. One needed specialised satellites to watch this region from Earth.

[Captain Enema]

The Legionnaires never having left their Moon Base just shrugged at the offer to be sent back to earth and went back to work tending their crops. Should the Lunarians wish to deprive themselves of a valuable source of food products that is certainly within their right to do so, but they'll be doing it over the cold dead bodies of the Legion who are not willing to be forcefully relocated. The moon is their home, the base is their property, and the fates of fortune has been cast for the men and women of the Legion from the moment they stepped foot on the Space Elevator to leave their terrestrial home. They watched the infighting play out and kept to themselves without too much of a concern. Besides, given the growing population of young children on the Moob, the relocation of them back to Earth's gravity well would be nothing short of cruel and unusual, the backlash against the Lunarians would probably be quite significant once the pictures got out showing hundreds of small children in agony at their first exposure to Earth's gravity.

[Lynneth]

[quote name='Tidy Bowl Man' timestamp='1350537097' post='3042430']
[Snip]
[/quote]
Due to the lack of an answer and the civil war having ended relatively soon after the request by Solar patrols, the people of Moob were allowed to continue living as they did, though the food they made was by no means as important as they might have thought it was. Most of their produce was shipped earthwards to be sold there under a unique brand for lunar-grown food.
However, Solar forces moved into the habitat anyways, bringing with them several armoured vehicles and armoured walkers. Moob's relative independence would be curtailed considerably, and any protestors would be shot. To prevent messages about this from leaving the moon, all communication channels were filtered for the time being, an effective measure if one considered that Moob's only possible way of communicating with the Earth was either by satellite, or by doing the track of thousands of kilometers through nothingness to reach the close side of the terran Satellite.
The semi-independent city would be formally annexed into the Empire a few days later, regardless of resistance. No message whatsoever about this would reach the planet, however. Appropriate measures had been taken.

_____________________

[b][Message to Selenarctos][/b]

"Dear Sir or Madam, whomever it might concern,

We regret to inform you that with the destruction of the Lunar Republic and the establishment of the Solar Empire in its stead - though this has not yet been made official - the lease you had with the Republic is void. We understand that you have a considerable population on the habitat, and we will gladly work together with you to solve the issue. If required, we are willing to pay you back up to 80% of the lease cost in monetary form or with resources.
We will of course ship all inhabitants back to Earth for free.

Please reply as soon as you are able.

With regards,"
[i]Julian Schroeder[/i]

The same message would be sent to Athens and Tianxia, who had Island 2 colonies under lease, compared to Selenarctos' Island 3 habitat.

Edited October 18, 2012 by Lynneth