Vatican Happenings

[Triyun]

OOC:

Again very wrong. Some excerpts from the US Air Force Declassified Space warfighting guide

"Jammers usually emit noise-like signals in an effort to mask or prevent the reception of desired signals. [b]All military and commercial satellite systems[/b] are susceptible to uplink and downlink jamming."

"The targets of downlink jammers are ground-based satellite data receivers, ranging from large, fixed ground sites to handheld GPS user sets. Downlink jamming only requires a very low-power jammer, though its effects are local (from tens to hundreds of miles, depending on the power of both the jammer and downlink signal). Since downlink telemetry contains the mission information and health and status information, successfully attacking the downlink directly attacks information flow and, therefore, has a more immediate effect on denying or disrupting the satellite’s mission.

Sophisticated technologies for jamming satellite signals are emerging. For example, Russia markets a handheld GPS jamming system (fig. 21-1). A one-watt version of that system, the size of a cigarette pack, can deny access to GPS out to 50 miles; a slightly larger version can jam up to 120 miles."

Edit: Oh forgot to add, Libyans did it: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2007/04/if_youre_travel/

Edited January 31, 2012 by Triyun

[KingChris]

OOC: Then I believe Cent needs to RP out those effects on the shopowners and residents that live near the area. It is highly improbable, with your facts, that he could contain all the jamming within a 0.17 square mile region.

[Triyun]

OOC: Not really. It'd be quite easier for a military to use localized jamming, especially with the availability of directed energy systems.

[Sigurd Odinnson]

Appalled at the ill-treatment received by his fellow Pontiff, Sigurd Odinnson issued the following statement:

"The Confederation of Κυκλοι wishes to know the exact reasons for the dismantling of the Vatican city-state by the combined forces of Athens and Tianxia, since this small state is in no condition to do harm to either nation and has done nothing to offend either. Such a movement is in the view of the Confederation completely unjustified. The Confederation holds the governments of Athens and Tianxia in high esteem and would not condemn their actions if supplied with justified reasons for such a movement, such as threatening gestures or preaching of violence against Tianxia or Athens. The Confederation is not a Catholic nation, but is in sympathy with fellow peaceful Christians, and does not wish to see them made to suffer without justification. If our position in the Vatican City State becomes untenable, however, we regret to say we will be forced to close our embassy and send our diplomatic staff home. We hope that the Athenian government will treat Kuklosian diplomats with the respect expected of the international community toward neutral nations."

Private:

Officially, a diplomat was sent to the centre of the Vatican to inform the Pope of the Kuklosian Embassy's closing and the evacuation of Kuklosian diplomats. In the interest of preserving the Roman Catholic community world-wide, the Pontiff's diplomat to the Vatican has conveyed to the Pope himself secretly the opportunity to escape the city incognito through the Kuklosian embassy when the embassy closes. If the Holy Father will take this opportunity up, the Confederation of Kuklos will join with the Athenians publicly in the interest of smuggling out of Rome the papal tiara and other regalia and documents in the chaos of what is apparently an impending Athenian invasion.

OOC: We have canonically established diplomatic ties with the Vatican; given the religious nature of my government, the small body of clergy that would be representing Kuklosian interests should have no problem keeping themselves housed within the City itself, considering there are many clergy who themselves live in the City itself.

Edited January 31, 2012 by Sigurd Odinnson

[Centurius]

"Diplomatic immunity within the Athenian Federation is only granted to those who are on a mission to the Federation. While your diplomats will be granted permission to leave the city they will be subject to the full customs and other relevant procedures."

[Sigurd Odinnson]

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1328013962' post='2911497']
"Diplomatic immunity within the Athenian Federation is only granted to those who are on a mission to the Federation. While your diplomats will be granted permission to leave the city they will be subject to the full customs and other relevant procedures."
[/quote]

This is expected and acceptable.

We await explanation from Athens and Tianxia, however, as to what the Vatican city-state has done to provoke such response, as we have heard no news of new proselytism efforts or any form of increase in military or political power.

[KingChris]

Upon hearing of the delegation from Kuklos, the Vatican would accept an audience with them.

[Triyun]

[quote name='Sigurd Odinnson' timestamp='1328040848' post='2911684']
This is expected and acceptable.

We await explanation from Athens and Tianxia, however, as to what the Vatican city-state has done to provoke such response, as we have heard no news of new proselytism efforts or any form of increase in military or political power.
[/quote]

The Vatican has supported Catholic Extremists in Croatia. Further it has attacked freedom of religion in France. Tianxia has been a bulwark against religious extremism by multiple religious groups ranging from Dragon Cultists to Muslims. While members even of the Imperial Family may be Catholics, we shall not hold our words for one religion, but be critical against all who attempt to interfere with the secular nature of the state. Religion should stick to the business of voluntary improvement and comfort of the self.

[PresidentDavid]

[quote name='Triyun' timestamp='1328241686' post='2913578']
The Vatican has supported Catholic Extremists in Croatia. Further it has attacked freedom of religion in France. Tianxia has been a bulwark against religious extremism by multiple religious groups ranging from Dragon Cultists to Muslims. While members even of the Imperial Family may be Catholics, we shall not hold our words for one religion, but be critical against all who attempt to interfere with the secular nature of the state. Religion should stick to the business of voluntary improvement and comfort of the self.
[/quote]

"Out of all due respect, your word has no merit if you have no physical evidence to back it up. May I respectfully remind Athens and the Horde that they are attacking the center for the largest religion in the country of Texas. Do you have any [i]physical[/i] evidence, such as pictures, people, or confessions, that any of the cardinals or the Pope has ordered any of these attacks or done any of these things?"

[Triyun]

"As you should undoubtedly be aware, it is rare a Bishop, Ayatollah, Imam, Rabbi, whatever of a religious extremist group would ever be involved in tactical operational planning for individual acts of terrorism. What we can point to however is the continued support of, and advocacy for, terrorism. Most notably we can point to Dalian's Terrorist Regime which carried out attacks on Athens and Horde assets and was responsible for instigating tribal violence within Africa. Under this circumstance it would be appropriate for the current Pope to resign, and for their to be an election of a new Pope. Further we can point to the end of the French Civil War, which was a struggle between the forces of Liberalism and Socialism on one side and conservative Fascism on the other. The Pope condemned the forces of Liberalism ans Socialism, when civilized men and believers in the enlightenment should praise it. We all know Fascism has its origins in principally the Catholic Far Right. Considering the previous Pope's high degree of religious tolerance, this extremist revanchist reaction of the current is disgusting. He's an obvious xenophobe and should be removed. In fact we've lined up support from most of Europe and Asia's Catholic Churches, the two largest in the World, too remove him."

-Yuan Jia

[Captain Enema]

"Anything that irritates the Catholics is fine by us."

-Imam Muhammad Muhammad Aytollah

[KingChris]

"The Vatican regrets that the Horde has such a negative view on the Pope. Celestine VI has never in his life condemned the idea of religious freedom; au contraire, he has often praised such a right. The message to the French was in no way any type of oppression of this ideal, and seeing that the Pope wants people everywhere to come to the Catholic faith, like all Popes in the history of the Church have, the Horde should not exclude our messages to France. Furthermore, there exists no evidence that the Vatican supported Dalian's regime. The Church supports only the principles that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, brought forth to humanity."

[Joel James]

OOC: If you follow Jesus, you know your power in the kingdom is not of this world, but of the next.

Edited February 3, 2012 by Joel James

[Centurius]

"In line with requests from Catholic clergy the Pope hereby has 72 hours to formally renounce his position, make place for a new pope and surrender himself to Athenian police for his crimes. If this deadline is not met further options will be considered, including the use of military force."

[Joel James]

President Abdul would like to be assured that in the event that a new pope is elected, then he would be chosen b the College or Cardinals uninfluenced. A statement released by President Abdul today stated the following: "A pope instated in the papal office not chosen by the College of Cardinals and with the intervention of the Holy Spirit is not the true pope, but the antipope. A pope should be chosen by the faithful, not by the ones who need it to suit their needs."

Edited February 4, 2012 by Joel James

[Triyun]

"By that logic the line of Popes has been broken for over 1000 years."

[KingChris]

[quote name='Centurius' timestamp='1328317075' post='2914149']
"In line with requests from Catholic clergy the Pope hereby has 72 hours to formally renounce his position, make place for a new pope and surrender himself to Athenian police for his crimes. If this deadline is not met further options will be considered, including the use of military force."
[/quote]

"Pope Celestine VI is the true pope, as verified by the authenticated documents from the last conclave. There is absolutely no reason to renounce the Papacy. In addition, the Athenian Federation has no right to arrest the Pope, as any crime he is charged of having committed were not committed in the Federation's territory. Anyone entering the Vatican City is subject to be searched for weapons, and the forced entry by the Athenian Federation will be viewed as an invasion, and thus, a declaration of war."

Several Swiss Guardmen, armed with halbeards, were placed on the borders and ordered to stop anyone attempting to enter by force. The rest of the Swiss Guard, save for eight men, were positioned behind them, armed with SIG Sauer P220 handguns, SIG SG 550 assault rifles, and MP5 sub-machine guns. These men had vowed to protect the Pope at any and all cost, and at this time, they were prepared.

PRIVATE

Calls were made to various Vatican citizens still in Rome regarding an escape plan for the Pope.

Edited February 4, 2012 by KingChris

[Centurius]

"War it is."

With the current division holding the complete blockade of the Vatican another one was called in to handle the actual invasion and attack. Early that day the citizens of Rome would hear airplanes in the air and soldiers and tanks going through the streets heading for the Vatican City, once there roads would be opened to allow the forces in. While the actual invasion was being prepared a team of Razor Special Operations was preparing for an operation to end it swiftly before too much of the local monuments were destroyed. The current pope would die but the city would hopefully remain standing, if it didn't. Well nothing that couldn't be rebuilt.

As all telecommunication were still being blocked calls really wouldn't get anywehre.

Edited February 4, 2012 by Centurius

[KingChris]

OOC: Good luck blocking optical fibers dude. If you figure out a way to do that, tell that to the U.S. government.

IC: The Swiss Guard remained resolute in their positions as the Athenian division prepared to invade.

[Centurius]

[quote name='KingChris' timestamp='1328322123' post='2914212']
OOC: Good luck blocking optical fibers dude. If you figure out a way to do that, tell that to the U.S. government.

IC: The Swiss Guard remained resolute in their positions as the Athenian division prepared to invade.
[/quote]

OOC: Last I checked those optical fibers require a cable, and that would go in my land where I already posted all communications are blocked.

[KingChris]

OOC: Submarines use optical fibers. 'Nuff said.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

OOC: Can't I just use an axe and chop it through?

[Voodoo Nova]

Cardinal Brady encouraged the Pope to relinquish his title to spare not only his life, but the Basilica and the extensive records the church has kept over the centuries.

"The Church was given the Vatican City as a sign of good faith by the Athenians. Pope Celestine VI was given the ability to lead the Catholic Church by the graces of the Cardinals and the Catholic masses. He is facing down the barrel of a gun because of his pride and his inability to admit a mistake was made. Even if his pride kills him, the Church will live. We will not allow one man to destroy the work the masses in Ireland have done in an attempt to spread the word and to encourage people to find their own faith. We will not let this current pope lead the assumption that the entirety of Catholics support extremist acts directly or indirectly. We encourage Catholics around the world to support this initiative for the sanctity of the Church and its history. Encourage Pope Celestine VI to step down to ensure the history of the church will remain intact for generations to learn about the history of the church and to learn what we once stood for, not what Celestine VI stands for today."

[KingChris]

The Dean of the College of Cardinals reminds every Cardinal of the oath they reaffirmed immediately following conclave:

[quote]I [name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff Celestine VI, and of his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm or dishonor to Holy Church; to carry out with great diligence and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the Church, in accord with the norms of the law.
So help me Almighty God.[/quote]

He also reminded all that at this point, by a papal bull from Pope Gregory VII, that any Cardinal who defied this oath by opposing Celestine VI, and thus the Catholic Church, in this scenario would unfortunately be excommunicated from the Catholic Church and would lose their standing as Cardinal, thus revoking the right to participate in the conclave. A recantation of claims and a reaffirmation of obedience would expunge their excommunication but would not restore their position as Cardinal. This was a proclamation made centuries ago and is sadly irreversible at the current time. With this, the Dean urges that they set an example to the world and do as Christ commanded us to do: keep all promises to the heart.

[Centurius]

At 3 pm that day the Vatican would notice that radio transmissions were no longer being blocked and that suddenly contact with satellites was possible again however as they would soon find out this was a curse rather than a blessing. Only 5 minutes later 12 U-1Bs would enter the Vatican city engaging the Swiss Guard near the border with their cannons while mortars located at the border would fire on larger formations. Once this initial barrage from the air and ground was complete 50 M1206 Infantry Carrier Vehicles and 1000 soldiers(450 of which inside the M1206s) began entering the city from various sides taking cover where possible while using satellite and UAV intel to target and engage enemy infantry while U-1s remained in the air to take down whoever revealed him or herself.

With the defensive forces hopefully preoccupied dealing with the invasion the team of Razors was getting ready to deploy, 32 of perhaps the most elite fighting force in Europe had been studying the plans of the Apostolic Palace for a while now and Imperial Command had a plan of attack prepared. At 7pm that day two Erebos helicopters designed for stealthy insertion would fly to the Palace circling above its roof at two sides. Most likely staying undetected for now the team would be dropped on the roof after which the helicopters turned back to retrieve them later. Once inside the palace the hunt for Celestine could begin.