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iKrolm

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OOC: Sorry for the OOC, but how do you get the bomb to change course during last 1000 meters of terminal flight and how does it attain the curved path towards the bunker through solid ground? Won't the sideways impact of bomb on ground be asymmetrically distributed on the bomb's body cause it to disintegrate?

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OOC: Here for reference and shortened from IRC, but:

A. The bomb achieves a curve underground through a unique nose-cone which doesn't apply pressure evenly. While still in flight, the guidance computer compensates for the altered aerodynamics and adjusts the spin-rate to ensure the bomb lands facing the correct direction.

and B. The curves in the pictures are exaggerated.

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  • 2 weeks later...

The Selenarctan Defense Corporation has begun research in the following areas:


Predator-C1 UAV
The goals for the Predator-C1 program are to upgrade existing Predator-C UAVs to include electronics hardened against EMPs and add a anti-radar coating for increased stealth characteristics. Development of the C1 is expected to be finished in 1.5 years at the latest and upgrading the current fleet of Predator-Cs should be finished within 3 years after that.


SEP2 for the M1A2
The SEP2 add-on package for the M1A2 Main Battle Tank adds improved targeting computers, improves armor coverage on vulnerable areas with improved reactive armor and and replaces electronic components with EMP-proof or shielded counterparts. The SEP2 is expected to be ready for implementation on current M1A2s within 2 years.


M1A3
The M1A3 prototype-tank replaces the standard diesel engine with a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered drive system. The hydrogen is stored in carbon nanotubes to reduce the risk of a fuel-fire. The expected date of completion for the M1A3 program is uncertain, but is unlikely within the next 3 years.


S-505 SAM
Designed to replace the S-500, the S-505 will maintain the capabilities of it's predecessor while sporting a decreased minimum-range, more advanced jamming countermeasures and electronics immune to EMP attacks. The S-505 is expected to completely replace the S-500 within 2.5 years.

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The Security Council voted today to decommission the Naval Force's Spruance-class destroyers. Citing financial reasons and the success of the Polo-class destroyers the Security Council approved a plan to phase out all Spruance-class destroyers over the next year. The Spruance-class destroyers were manufactured by Ingalls Shipbuilding in Ardoria and purchased by Selenarctos eight years ago. Since then, they have been upgraded with new electronics and radar, Aster SAM missiles and DD-101, the SS Bonifacio, was armed with 3 10kt NDBs.

The SS Bonifacio is set to be transfered to the Manila Nautical Museum, while her NDBs will be disassembled and safely disposed of. The remaining Spruance-class destroyers are for sale should any nation be interested and if not, will be scrapped.

Edited by iKrolm
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Looking to replace the rockets currently used to lift parts and sattelites into orbit and to reduce launch costs, the Selenarctan Space Program has announced planes to construct a fleet of reusable shuttles capable of transporting personnel and cargo from the ground to orbit and back again. This goal has led to the creation of the Kármán-class Shuttle, a single-stage craft capable of flight from the ground to orbit and back.

[size="4"]Kármán-class Shuttle[/size]

Crew: A minimum flight crew of two (a pilot and a copilot) is required to fly the Shuttle, however life support support up to sixteen personnel for the duration of a mission. A full flight crew consists of four personnel: a pilot, a copilot, a flight commander/communications officer and a navigator, leaving space for up to twelve passengers, though standard procedure is not to exceed eight passengers except in an emergency.

Engines: The Kármán Shuttle is designed to take off horizontally along a runway the same as a conventional plane and reach orbit only on it's own power. To accomplish this, the shuttle contains 4 separate engine types: turbofan jet engines, rocket engines, ramjets and scramjets, and two of each engine type for a total of 8 engines. From the runway, the Shuttle uses turbofan jet engines to take off and reach Mach 2.5 where the ramjets take over further accelerating to Mach 4.8 where the scramjets replace the ramjets. The scramjets continue the Shuttle's continuation up to Mach 12.0, where the rocket engines take over and power the shuttle into orbit.

Construction: The frame of the Kármán Shuttle is constructed of a highly-durable framework of titanium covered with aluminum and titanium panels. Over these panels are layers of non-ablative, high-heat resistant materials to protect from deceleration. (OOC: With reference to the RL space shuttle, the Kármán Shuttle takes a significantly longer time to decelerate, reducing the heat from friction. It's able to do this because the jet engines allow for powered flight during re-entry, unlike the Space Shuttle which must land unpowered like a glider.)

Guidance: The Kármán Shuttle features the most advanced navigational computers developed in Selenarctos to date. A trio of computers monitor shuttle performance, location, flight conditions, operator patterns and the possibility of a failure in the other computers to provide a complete flight plan, without input from the ground in necessary. To provide current location, the Shuttle uses a combination of satellite-based GPS, ground-based navigation beacons and automated star/ground landmark navigation, though it can rely soley on any single system should the other two fail or become unavailable. The Shuttle's computers are capable of completing an entirely automated flight from takeoff to orbit to landing, however the Space Program has no plans to implement such a feature.

Flight Controls: All of the Kármán Shuttle's controls are fly-by-wire with multiple redundancies and force feedback, providing the pilot with real-time, tactile feedback of the Shuttle's performance. Fully customizable HUDs provide the pilot and copilot with any information they or the Shuttle's computers deem important, including weather conditions, fuel reserves, engine performance and even nearby air/spacecraft.

[IMG]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/htv-3x-scramjet-plane.jpg[/IMG]
CG Rendering of the Kármán Shuttle

Length: 47.206m
Wingspan: 25.100m
Height: 15.292m
Mass (Empty): 128,000kg
Max Payload: 40,000kg
Operating Altitude: 0 (sea level) to 1000km
Payload: 25,000kg to 700km, less than 18,000kg to 1000km


Edit: Payload added.

Edited by iKrolm
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"GAL enquires as to why 8 engines of 4 different makes are required for this space craft? Would there be separate fuel containers for all 3 different types of engines? What is the maximum altitude for which the Karman is designed for and for how long is the craft designed to operate with its inbuilt fuel storage? What is the maximum payload capacity? In what ways are the Karman space craft better than other space craft currently in service across the world like Pushpak Space Shuttle and Skylon Orbital Transfer Vehicle?"

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[quote name='king of cochin' date='11 March 2010 - 04:35 PM' timestamp='1268354463' post='2222654']
"GAL enquires as to why 8 engines of 4 different makes are required for this space craft? Would there be separate fuel containers for all 3 different types of engines? What is the maximum altitude for which the Karman is designed for and for how long is the craft designed to operate with its inbuilt fuel storage? What is the maximum payload capacity? In what ways are the Karman space craft better than other space craft currently in service across the world like Pushpak Space Shuttle and Skylon Orbital Transfer Vehicle?"
[/quote]

Possessing four different engines types allows the Kármán Shuttle to take off horizontally from a runway and reduces the fuel required to reach orbit: each engine is utilized during the velocity range where it's most efficient and since jet, ram- and scramjet engines don't need an oxidizing fuel like rocket engines do, the weight of fuel they require is greatly reduced. (OOC: Also, though I couldn't verify for sure, it appears that ramjets and scramjets [i]could[/i] use the same fuel. If so, then these do to reduce weight.)

The shuttle is designed to operate to a maximum altitude 1000km and life support will sustain a full crew for 20 days, however average mission time is limited by food and supplies stores to approximately 10 days. Maximum Payload is 25,000kg, but transporting cargos exceeding 18,000kg will decrease the maximum altitude to around 700km.

Finally, the Kármán Shuttle does not require external rocket boosters to take off, nor does it take off vertically like Pushpak Space Shuttle and without ablative tiles that require replacement after every flight, the Kármán Shuttle requires significantly less maintenance and has a shorter turnaround time between flights. The Skylon OTV does have an advantage being automated, however the Kárman has roughly twice the payload and is able to carry a crew, a feature deemed necessary for the Selenarctan Space Program at this time.

EDIT: Confirm'd on the fuel thing: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-05/air-forces-hypersonic-waverider-ready-test-flight

Edited by iKrolm
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  • 4 weeks later...

In a press conference today, spokesman for the Selenarctan Space Program announced the first of the Kármán Shuttles has been completed and will be undergoing final tests for the next month before it's maiden voyage into space. If successful, money will be allocated for the construction of another 5 Kármán Shuttles. The spokesman also hinted at the possibility of a permanent, manned station in orbit though declined to comment further.

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[quote]
FROM: Alejandro Tiempo
TO: Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: New Research Directive

To Whom It May Concern,

While reviewing the effectiveness of current Ground Force equipment, it has come the our attention that current 9mm bullets leave a certain amount of lethality to be desired. To improve this, the Security Council has approved immediate funding for the creation of a poisoned 9mm bullet. The final product must:

[list][*]Be compatible with existing P229DAKs.
[*]Require minimal additional training.
[*]Have a reasonable shelf life and be easily transported.
[*]Incapacitate and kill the subject, the faster the better.
[*]Leave minimal to no harmful traces in an urban environment.[/list]

Please keep the Security Council informed on progress and results.
This program and any results shall remain classified until the Security Division decides otherwise.


Sincerely,
Alejandro Tiempo, Second Director of the Security Division
[/quote]

Edited by iKrolm
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OOC: Was wondering if your Aerial Defense Network program was declassified, if not then disregard this message.

IC: Acca Dacca would like to run intel on your Northern and Western Heron-Class Radar systems from this point on as we dont have the technology to cover that range. If this is at all possible, we will gladly discuss it over with you.

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[quote name='Acca Dacca' date='05 April 2010 - 11:02 AM' timestamp='1270490511' post='2249321']
OOC: Was wondering if your Aerial Defense Network program was declassified, if not then disregard this message.

IC: Acca Dacca would like to run intel on your Northern and Western Heron-Class Radar systems from this point on as we dont have the technology to cover that range. If this is at all possible, we will gladly discuss it over with you.
[/quote]

OOC: Yes, it's classified but with Section V of the treaty it'd share it with you. In another post, I also launched a number of radar-equipped satellites orbit to monitor planes & ICBMs which I'll send too, how & where do you want the data sent? As soon as the treaty is announced, I build a link.

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Today, the Selenarctan branch of the White Cross opened the doors of it's new offices in downtown Manila. At the inauguration ceremony earlier today, the branch president thanked the numerous donors including Filipino Steel, who reportedly donated more than 10,000,000NSC towards the effort. He also outlined the road ahead, including preparations for an influx of refugees from Acca Dacca and long term goals of the organization.


[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Modern_Building_in_Skopje.jpg[/img]


OOC: Federal Aid Commission IG

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FROM: Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation
TO: Alejandro Tiempo
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: RE: New Research Directive

Director Tiempo,

As requested, work has begun on the Poisoned Bullet Project. Based on the doses required, time from injection until incapacitation, and durability, we have narrowed down the field to just over 30 potential poisons (which is significant progress, considering we started with close to 1,000 possibilities).

As for the bullet, we have chosen two possibilities for further testing: the first method replaces the core of a bullet with a miniature hypodermic needle that injects a lethal quantity of poison while the second method is a hollow, high-temperature resistant plastic composite bullet filled with poison that shatters upon impact, divulging it's load of poison as it does so. We have begun to construct prototypes of both and will report back with the results of testing as soon as possible.

Thank you,
SSDC Research Division E

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[b]CLASSIFIED:[/b]

The Selenarctos Defense Corporation is pleased to introduce their latest creation, the Scorpion Medium Gunship. The Scorpion is not approved for export.

[IMG]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/Scorpion1.png[/IMG]

[b][size="4"]Scorpion Medium Gunship[/size][/b]

The Scorpion Medium Gunship is designed as a contemporary to modern helicopters. In service, it fills the gap in capabilities between ground-based units and the Predator-C UAV, providing heavy fire support through a devastating array of missiles and light guns.

The Scorpion derives vertical thrust from a pair of turbines located to either side of the aircraft's center of mass. To maximize thrust while keeping the size to a minimum, each turbine contains a pair of counter-rotating triple-bladed fans. As a result, the Scorpion has a slightly slower climb rate, but has a greatly reduced likelihood of entanglement and and can still maintain flight for several kilometers if either turbine is disabled.

Crew: 1
Length: 12m
Height: 4m
Width: 9m

Max Speed: 350km/hr
Cruise Speed: 300km/hr
Combat Radius: 600km
Max Altitude: 10,000m
Rate of Climb: 600ft/min

Engines:
2x turbines with 2 triple-bladed props each
2x rear-facing pulse jet engines


Armament:
6x 10mm Autocannons (fire 10mm armor piercing caseless rounds)
10x Mini-missile Pods
8x Hellfire Missiles


[b]Mini-missile Pod:[/b]
Each mini-missile pod carries & launches 19 mini-missiles. To minimize aircraft turnaround time, empty pods are completely detached and replaced with full pods. Empty pods may be reloaded with any model of mini-missile, but only one model of mini-missile per pod.

Mass (empty): 30kg



[b]Mini-missile:[/b]
The Mini-missile is a 'fire-and-forget' system designed specifically for the Scorpion gunship and comes in a variety of configurations for maximum effectiveness in any circumstances.
Mass: 8-10kg (varies)
Minimum Range: 50m
Maximum Range: 1,500m

Mini-missile A: Laser-guided, fragmentation or incendiary charge
Mini-missile B: Laser-guided, HE charge
Mini-missile C: Laser-guided, HEAT shaped charge
Mini-missile D: GPS-guided, fragmentation or incendiary charge
Mini-missile E: GPS-guided, HE charge

Laser-guided mini-missiles may be targeted by ground troops or by the a laser-marking system embedded in the sensor equipment located on the front of every Scorpion.

Edited by iKrolm
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OOC: In case I didn't mention it earlier, research of the poisoned bullets & knowledge that said researching is occuring is classified.

FROM: Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation
TO: Alejandro Tiempo
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: RE: New Research Directive, Update 2

Director Tiempo,

It is my pleasure to keep the Security Council informed of our research into poisoned bullets. Progress has been made since our last communication, though work has proceeded slightly slower than originally expected. We have continued to narrow down the number of potential poisons to 12 and will soon begin testing each on mice by introducing small quantities of each poison into various extremities and observing the effects. Once initial research is complete, the most successful candidate poisons will be chosen for testing on monkeys.

We have also made significant progress with regards to bullet design. Both bullet designs were extensively tested and several minor design flaws were identified. First and foremost, both bullets suffered from decreased range, however with a slight increase to the weight of the final product we believe under normal operating conditions the difference will be all but unnoticeable. During fire testing, the hypodermic needle bullet preformed quite poorly compared to the plastic bullet: the needle suffered from a host of problems including breaking off, clogging or passing through a simulated 'body' without delivering a sufficient quantity of 'poison.' The plastic bullet too had problems: the plastic proved to be too tough, occasionally failing to shatter upon impact though overall achieving a much higher success rate than the hypodermic needle bullet. As such, we have devised a third design almost identical in shape and poison-carrying volume to the plastic bullet, however constructed of of impact-resistant glass and initial testing has proved very promising.


Once again, thank you for your support and interest,
SSDC Research Division E

EDIT: removed a paragraph that managed to creep in from the last post

Edited by iKrolm
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FROM: Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation
TO: Alejandro Tiempo
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: RE: New Research Directive, Update 2

Director Tiempo,

In our third status report, we are pleased to announce we have selected a poison. Curare, specifically calebas curare, was originally discovered by native South Americans and used to poison darts for hunting. It is a neurotoxin that blocks receptors in the brain causing paralysis closely followed by death by asphyxiation as the target's lungs cease breathing. Even in a semi-dry state as found on the poisoned darts, curare is extremely lethal in very small doses but it would take longer periods of time to incapacitate and kill larger mammals. Our testing on primates has revealed that when injected in a liquid form and in larger doses than found on the original darts, though still in far smaller doses than are possible with the current bullet design, 100% of test animals died within a matter of minutes. Based on data gathered, we estimate an adult male of 75kg would be rendered combat-incapable within 30 seconds and suffer irreversible death within 10 minutes. In the case of friendly-fire incidents or the need to keep shot enemy combatants alive, you may be interested to know, an injected dose of a commercially produced drug known as Enlon-Plus[sup][size="1"]®[/size][/sup] sufficiently counters the effects of curare to keep the target alive but incapable of coordinated movement for a time after injection. Other than countering the effects of curare and similar neurotoxins, Enlon-Plus has absolutely no battlefield use and for as long as the existence of such poisoned bullets remains a state secret, opposing forces should have no reason to carry Enlon-Plus.

Efforts to mass-manufacture curare are already underway and we believe we can begin to produce a combat-ready curare solution within three months. The final curare solution is estimated to have an unrefrigerated life of one year before dropping below an allowable margin, but may be stored up ten years in 2-4ºC conditions. The curare solution should not be frozen under any circumstances as it will preform erratically afterwards. Finally, the curare solution is only dangerous if injected, ingested or inhaled curare is completely harmless and released curare quickly dissipates, posing no threat to the environment.

With three of the original five directives met, we hope work is proceeding to your satisfaction and are optimistic that the project can be completed within the next year.

Sincerely,
SSDC Research Division E

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  • 1 month later...

[b]CLASSIFIED:[/b]

Per Security Council Resolution 1354, (summary)

The system of Sonobouys currently deployed in Selenarctan waterways has been deemed insufficient to provide early warning and monitoring of the potential threats posed by modern navies. Acknowledging this fact, the Economic Division see fit to approve funding for the creation of a comprehensive Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), a network of passive and active underwater acoustic sensors to monitor waterspaces around Selenarctos.

The to-be-constructed Selenarctos SOSUS network operates as a large grid of shorter-ranged sensors. With reference the below image, lines of sensors lie along the the blue lines, breaking the waterways between and around Selenarctos into segments. Vessels may then be tracked as they move between SOSUS grid segments and, if necessary, appropriate defensive measures can be deployed. SOSUS sensors will be connected to eachother, to land-based stations connected to the Selenarctan military intranet and to the Strategic Command Bunker via fiber optic lines.

Construction of the SOSUS network shall begin within the next four months and early estimates place the time until completion at three years. Construction by ship-supported ROV shall begin first on the southernmost parts of the network and move northward from there. Placement of the SOSUS lines and sensors shall be done entirely in secret and in areas where lines extend outside of the Selenarctos Exclusive Economic Zone, the utmost care shall be used to ensure the location of SOSUS lines remains hidden.

[IMG]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/SOSUS2.png[/IMG]



[b]In other news, also CLASSIFIED:[/b]
The Strategic Command Bunker outside of Manila is now fully operational. Unexpected delays with the production of chips by Ersch Electronics necessary for the completion of the Global-Analysis and Strategic Planning super-computer array (GASP) have pushed back the completion of GASP to an undetermined date.


EDIT: OOC: My original explanation was not worded very well and I can see how confusion could arise, so please allow me to clarify: the lines on the map represent cables and sensors are placed along the cables. They are not everywhere on the cables, but the sensors at a minimum provide comprehensive coverage along the cables.

Edited by iKrolm
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  • 3 weeks later...

[b]CLASSIFIED:[/b]

The Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation has completed the first prototype 2O37-U strategic bomber, an autonomous variant of the 2O37 strategic bomber. Featuring the same high-payload, low-profile design of the 2O37, the 2O37-U can deliver 50,000kg of guided munitions, the MOP, MOP-C, or the Beta/Gamma nuclear bombs. The plane, which replaces the pilot's cockpit and apparatus with additional fueltanks, providing a range of almost 10,000nm without refueling.

The 2O37U makes use of the same fly-by-wire control interface as the 2O37, but replaces with the pilot with a series of EMP-hardened flight control computers. Using GPS, inertial guidance, terrain-mapping radar and star-chart positioning, the 2O37-U is able to take off, preform evasive maneuvers, deliver munitions, return and land without external input. If input is required for the mission, the 2O37 makes use several mission modes: Surveillance mode flies the 2O37-U to a location and preforms a series of pre-programmed fly-bys. Stand-By mode flies the 2O37-U to a target location and maintains position within strike distance until fire authorization is received. Avoidance mode may be paired with any other mode, and flies as low to the ground as the flight computers deem safe to avoid radar. Finally, Last Ditch mode takes in strike coordinates and locks out further input until the mission has been completed to avoid the possibility of interception via digital means.

As of now, the Air Force has not announced plans to purchase additional 2O37Us.


[IMG]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/2O37_unmanned.png[/IMG]

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[b]CLASSIFIED:[/b]

Funds have been allocated for general maintenance of and upgrades to the (Classified) Advanced Warning Radar Satellite System. The upgrades will include better firewall and anti-digital intrusion software, as well as infrared cameras designed specifically to track heat signatures of stealth supersonic planes and missiles at an altitude of at least 1000m above ground level. The satellites will also receive new hardware-encrypted LOS laser transmitters to send data to the Strategic Command Bunker's remote receiving arrays. Work will be preformed over three missions by the Kármán shuttles.

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  • 4 weeks later...

[quote]
FROM: Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation
TO: Alejandro Tiempo
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: RE: New Research Directive, Update 2

Director Tiempo,

In the fourth and final status report, it is our pleasure to announce the completion of the Curane Poisoned Bullet (CPB). The final bullet design has been completed and, barring final range and accuracy testing, is ready for deployment.

The bullet is a slightly elongated 9mm based on the 9x19mm Parabellum (see attached image). The bullet is elongated backwards into the cartridge, however, and is fully compatible with the P229 and the readily-available MP5 with which testing was conducted. The Curane itself is in a highly-lethal liquid formula storable in the aforementioned conditions. The solution is within a glass enclosure that shatters upon impact for proper poison distribution and durability before hand. Finally, the glass is covered in a thin coat of heat-resistant plastic that serves the double purpose of protecting the Curane from the heat of firing and interacts with the rifling of the gun barrel, providing improved range and accuracy.

The Curane poison solution is extremely lethal; a twentieth of the dose contained in a single CPB bullet is enough to kill 100% of 50kg monkeys. When injected with a sufficient dose of Enlon-Plus® immediately afterwards however, the lethality rate drops to under 5%.

Mass production of CPB Bullets can begin as soon as funding is allocated. Thank you for your support of this product, we are sure it will live up to your expectations in SecDev and field testing.

Sincerely,
SSDC Research Division E



[IMG]http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb26/iKrolm/SpecialBullets2.png[/IMG]
CPB Bullets
[/quote]


[quote]
FROM: Alejandro Tiempo
TO: Selenarctan Strategic Defense Corporation
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: New Research Directive

To SSDC Research Division E,

While I am disappointed in the delays that took place before the final product was finished, I am pleased with the CPB Bullet demonstrations I have seen. The Security Division has elected to keep the CPB Bullets in reserve for elite security forces and emergency circumstances only. Funding has been allocated for the production of 5,000 CPB Bullets as well as 20,000 non-poisoned bullets for training purposes. But as such, the CPB Bullet will not be entering general circulation and knowledge of the existence of the CPB Bullet will remain on a need-to-know basis only. Even the soldiers to whom the bullets are issued are not to know the composition of the bullets nor the name and purpose of the antidote. Please keep this in mind while producing, packaging and distributing the CPB Bullets.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
Alejandro Tiempo, Second Director of the Security Division

[/quote]

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  • 2 weeks later...

With economic growth stagnant for the second year in a row and unemployment rising, the Economic Division has announced spending cuts on construction and research projects. Supporters of the move, namely the fiscally conservative parties of Selenarctos, hope this will cause private industry to refocus their effort to producing goods for export, while opponents in the labor parties fear this will cause unemployment to rise even faster.


[b]CLASSIFIED:[/b]

Ersch Electronics has begun production of the first 128-bit, 128 core Symytron® processors. All planned units are reserved for military purposes, the majority for the GASP super-computer, and the export of the Symytron® is banned by the Security Division.


[b]Also CLASSIFIED:[/b]

Upgrades on the Advanced Warning Radar Satellite System (AWRS) has been finished. In a trail run, the system successfully identified a squadron of F-22s flying between Manila and Eyes at an airspeed of Mach 1.2.

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[size="3"][b]Singapore Port Construction:[/b][/size]

Selenarctos Dock:

The dock space leased to Selenarctos has been designated to handle military vessels should the need arise, but will primarily serve Selenarctan-national vessels. In this way, corporations will have access to prime dock space at cheap rates to encourage exports to friendly, east-asian nations. Construction plans include close to 300,000 ground-level square meters of warehouse space, including refrigerated and climate-controlled areas as well as. (To maximize space, plans are also underway for a multi-level warehouse with loaded-fork lift-accessible elevators.) Construction of the link to the InterAsian Railway has been approved by the USC government and wll begin shortly; the link is expected to be operational within three months and completed with in six. The port itself is already operational at low capacity, and the companies responsible for construction of the port facilities estimate two years before final construction is complete.

The port facility will also include a micro-embassy of Selenarctos, providing diplomatic services to Selenarctan citizens but large enough to support a ambassadorial representation of Selenarctos in Singapore. Thirty Ground Force infantry have been allocated to the port facility to police the facility alongside Singaporean officials, provide assistance in legal and jurisdiction disputes, and provide a security force to the micro-embassy. Off embassy grounds, their primary weapons will all be non-lethal.



COISCO Shipping, Ltd. Dock:

Singapore has long been a major port for COISCO with access to South East Asia, western China and the regions to the north. Following the withdraw of Selenarctos from Singapore, COISCO spread out it's shipping to port cities closer to the intended destination. With the opening of private port facilities in Singapore, shipping will be once again recentralized to increase efficiency and save money. The planned port facility will be largely open-air storage for containers and crates, with a single 20,000 square meter refrigerated warehouse.

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  • 3 weeks later...

[quote]
FROM: Ersch Electronics and SSDC Research Division E
TO: The Security Council
CC: Security Division Intelligence & Analysis
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: Progress Report on GASP (Part I)

Esteemed Members of the Security Council,

As Phase I of the physical construction of the Global Analysis and Strategic Planning (GASP) super computer array is completed, focus now turns towards software aspects and external interactions.

To successfully fulfill it's purpose, GASP must be capable of evaluating and interpret external actions and communications. For all practical purposes, it must be able to 'think' and apply logic to determine the best course of action given a set of circumstances. To accomplish this, aspects of the most advanced AI research from around the world are being utilized, as well as the best software engineers (blindfolded for the journey to the Strategic Command Bunker, where they will live for the duration of the project) who can be guaranteed to maintain operational secrecy.

With this in mind, however, we are not building a self-aware computer. Safeguards are in place to ensure GASP takes no steps to gain self-awareness and that the software engineers on the project do not push past the requirements to create a full Artificial Personality.

With regards this and to the program guidelines, the following requirements are to be integrated in GASP's final operating code:

[list][*]The ability to interpret early warning signs of potential threats to national security, and evaluate both the A. severity of the threat, and B. the liklihood of the threat coming to fruition.
[*]The ability to devise plans of action based on input.
[*]The ability to understand and interpret human actions, communications and rhetoric in local and the most common world languages.
[*]Evaluate the consequences of plans GASP devises with respect to the human factors involved.
[*]Evaluate the mood and morale of human factors involved.[/list]

Hardware-wise, GASP shall be linked to the following external systems:

[list][*]Selenarctos Aerial Defense Network
[*]Selenarctos Radar Satellite Network (via LOS laser comm)
[*]Security Division Memos
[*]Public (Read-Only) Records of all major world stock-markets
[*]Selenarctos SOSUS Network
[*]The Internet
[*]Selenarctos Government Intranet
[*]SecDev Intel&Ana Records[/list]

With such ambition goals, completion is not expected for at least five years though, as we suspect, even this may prove too ambitious of a time frame. The Security Council will be kept informed of all progress and we hope the final product meets with your expectations.

Sincerely,
The GASP Development Team
[/quote]

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  • 2 weeks later...

[quote]FROM: The Security Council
TO: Selenarctos Strategic Defense Corporation
ENCRYPTION LEVEL: 512-bit

SUBJECT: Termination of Projects


Due to long exceeding time and budget constraints established approximately seven years ago, funding for the following projects is hereby terminated:

[b]M1A3 Main Battle Tank[/b]
The hydrogen fuel cell has yet to be developed to a level that could provide sufficient power for a tank, and the expected safety measures regarding safe storage of hydrogen have likewise stalled. All research is to be archived and stored and the project ended.

[b]S-505 SAM[/b]
While a slight decrease in minimum range has been achieved, EMP hardening has been deemed not feasible and therefore we do not see a reason to continue funding. All research is to be archived and stored and the project ended.

[b]Predator-C1 UAV[/b]
Significant progress has been made in reducing the Predator-C's radar signature, however test pilots have expressed a strong feelings the the C1's flight characteristics are inferior to the Predator-C's. As such, we have decided to forgo development of the C1 and apply a radar-absorbing to existing Predator-C squadrons. Funding has been allocated to complete this within 1.5 years.

Thank you for your cooperation,
The Security Council[/quote]

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[b]Public Announcement:[/b]

The Selenarctan Air Policy has been updated to read as follows:

[quote]Selenarctos maintains a policy of open air. Any civilian plane may fly through Selenarctos airspace, provided they file a flight plan with local authorities at least 24 hours in advance for all flights exceeding 200nm or crossing the Selenarctan Air Boundary, or as required by local regulations. Military planes, planes with the intent to land and planes flying over city boundaries must file a flight plan with the Air Force at least 24 hours in advance.[/quote]

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

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