The Athens Times

[Lynneth]

"Our congratulations to Athens' launch loop. Truly, a new age of space exploration is beginning."

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Secure Transmission to the Athenian Federation[/b]

"First and foremost, the Swedish Government would like to congratulate the Athenian Federation with its achievement in the completion of its launch loop system. It is truly a historic moment for Athens as well as Europeans in general.

On behalf of telecommunications giant, Ericsson, Saab Aerospace, as well as the Swedish Defense Ministry, we would like to inquire about being able to launch a total of ten to twelve satellites at an Athenian Federation facility. As Sweden has no existing launch facilities, although plans are in the works for the building of such a facility, we would like to be able to proceed with due haste in getting these satellites into orbit. Some modules would have civilian purposes, while roughly two-thirds would contribute to Sweden's national defense, and we would like to be able to deploy all of them for the economic, as well as security, benefits they would provide to our nation. We are willing to provide reasonable monetary compensation for these services, and if at all possible, we would like to keep these launches a classified matter.

All of the satellites are currently ready to be shipped at a secure facility in Gothenberg, and can be underway in as little as twenty-four hours."

[i]Christian Nyquist
Minister of International Affairs and Trade[/i]

[Centurius]

**Secured Reply**

Minister Nyquist,

I thank you for your congratulations. Such an operation would certainly be within the realm of our operational capacities. Your transports can go to ports in Cape Verde, Lisbon, Malta and Athens for fast launch into space. I am certain the lower offices of our government can come to a fair compensation.

-Silvia Renaldi,
Magistrate of Technology

[TheShammySocialist]

[b]Secure Transmission Reply[/b]

"We thank the Athenian Federation for their assistance in this matter, our Treasury Minister will have contact with your government following the successful arrival of the satellites in Athenian launch facilities."

[b]Classified[/b]

With the approval of the Athenian Federation, multiple small container ships would leave the port of Gothenberg with their precious cargo of satellites, destined for the ports of call outlined by the Athenian Federation. The vessels would make port at various points over the next week, and transfer their cargo, along with Swedish Orbital Agency personnel, which would arrive via normal airline service, to the Athenian launch facilities to help with the process of launching the new satellites into orbit.

[Centurius]

Swedish personnel would be granted Special Visitor access to the HSA facilities and in addition to aiding Athenian technicians with the specifics they required to launch the satellites of a different origin they would also be let into the command centers of the various launch locations. Within weeks all Swedish satellites would be in their orbits.

[Centurius]

[b]Classified[/b]

AlertCon Delta was declared throughout the Athenian Federation indicating a serious threat of war on the Eurasian continents, the First Army units stationed on the mainland were ordered to mobilize for potential future operations. This would in total be 100,000 Thracians, 800 M1 Cerberus, 50 M1201 Reconnaissance and Surveillance Vehicles, 200 M1202 Mounted Combat Systems, 400 M1203 Non-Line-of-Sight Cannons, 400 M1204 Non-Line-of-Sight Mortara, 100 M1205 Field Recovery and Maintenance Vehicles, 900 M1206 Infantry Carrier Vehicles, 150 M1207/8 Medical Vehicles and a M1209 Command and Control Vehicle for each platoon ready for deployment on very short notice. Plans were made for strategic redeployment of these units should Athenian involvement be deemed neccesary.

As was common for this state of alert fighters and interceptors would make more regular patrols of Athenian airspace while the Atlantic Fleet stayed closer to home.

[Centurius]

[b]Classified

Project Theseus[/b]

The Hellenic Forces were strong and the High Guard among the elite of the world, not even considering the skills of the Razors however they weren't strong enough yet. Over the years they had seen reports and heard stories about certain chemicals that could increase the skills of a soldier. Risks were attached however experts predicted that someone of a strong enough will and already existing abilities could control the negative effects. To achieve this a highly secret facility was built on the Hellenic World Services land in Antarctica. Knowledge of this base was limited to only those who really needed to know. Scientists from different fields working in both the civilian and military industries would work at the base under the banner of the Apollo Institute. At the same time as research began FIA and CSS operatives would receive instructions to find as much as possible on existing serums, especially old databases in Switzerland would be searched for anything the Germans left behind.

[Centurius]

[b]Classified[/b]

The Athenian Federation is taken to AlertCon Beta and all forces are being mobilized, the Pacific Fleet is ordered to move to the northern border of Rebel Army territorial waters in South America while Thracians and soldiers are being prepared for deployment. Military units are being positioned near the Rebel Army borders in Europe for easy deployment should the issue explode which it most likely would.

[Centurius]

[b]Classified[/b]

The alert condition is raised to the maximum of Alpha normally indicating an active state of war with a high probability of going nuclear. Military and government networks are physically disconnected from the normal networks and only accessibly by military units or actual government or military buildings, the cyberwarfare divisions of various branches and organizations are wotking in a defensive mode. Any tourist or immigrant from the Kingdom of Cochin or Guyana is being watched by the CSS and FIA while access to government and military facilities is denied to nationals from these countries. The space warfare division of the HSA is ordered to prepare for defensive procedures on Athenian space assets and to track locations of enemy satellites for future use. Replacement satellites and UAVs are being prepared to take over the spot of any lost satellites. The government is taken to the bunker network in line with procedures. Police, reserves and paramilitary are preparing the evacuation of civilians should war be declared.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Centurius

[Centurius]

[quote][b]From: Imperial Command
To: Reserve Command[/b]

All reserves are to be activated and prepared for deployment to replace units lost in combat. Local and regional commands are to prepare for home defense operations.[/quote]

[Centurius]

Following a conference the Athenian Federation and France have signed a MDoAP with trade clauses.

Edited December 5, 2011 by Centurius

[Centurius]

[color="#FF0000"][size="5"][center]Prisoner Transport Plane Crashed in the Acarnanian Mountains[/center][/size][/color]

[b]Missolonghi -[/b] Local authorities were rocked this morning as an Airbus A310 crashed into the Acarnian Mountains killing the 200 prisoners and twenty guards on it. By the time emergency services reached the wreckage it was already too late with most of it burning. The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the plane was a transport for high level prisoners among which the former leader of MoG[Corp] and convicted members of the former National Front.

An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing however experts expect it to have been caused by the terrible weather conditions in the region and failing equipment in the aged design.

[Centurius]

[color="#FF0000"][size="5"][center]Occupy Sofia[/center][/size][/color]

[b]Sofia -[/b] In a rather sudden movement that surprised both opposition and government a group of students at the Imperial University of Sofia have gone to the new Prince Alexander I Square. Calling their movement "Occupy Sofia" they protest the relatively large military budget and the lack of economic development in Bulgaria and the north of the Eastern Athenian Federation in general.

Within hours after this first sign the students were backed by locals throughout the city and even from those just outside of it. So far the movement has remained peaceful following all police instructions for now. To ensure order the Imperial Administrator of Bulgaria has order the Gendarmerie to the square. So far there has been no response from Athens.

[Centurius]

[center][color="#FF0000"][size="5"]Parliament Approves Motion for Flag Change[/size][/color][/center]

[b]Athens -[/b] Following a relatively easy debate both chambers of parliament have approved the motion to change the flags to new proposed ones. The motion introduced by the Democratic Party seeks to replace the flag which has been closely tied to past Greek cultural imperialism. Under the new system the Athenian Federation as a whole will have a specific flag but much like Monaco-Valencia both the East and West will get their own. The design comes from students at the Milan Art Academy in cooperation with the Political Science faculty in Athens and the history faculty in Madrid.

[img]http://data.treksimming.com/athenian-federation/Flag_of_the_Athenian_Federation.png[/img]
The national flag featuring a Phoenix, the national animal of the Athenian Federation and symbol for the eternal life of the Federation.
[img]http://data.treksimming.com/athenian-federation/Flag_of_the_Eastern_Athenian_Federation.png[/img]
The Eastern flag featuring a wolf, the national animal of the Eastern Athenian Federation and the house of Heraclius.
[img]http://data.treksimming.com/athenian-federation/Flag_of_the_Western_Athenian_Federation.png[/img]
The Western flag featuring a bull, the national animal of the Western Athenian Federation and the Italian house of Bourbon.

Within the Eastern Athenian Federation and the Western Athenian Federation all public buildings will display two flags, the first that of the Athenian Federation as a whole on top and just below that the flag of the actual part of the Federation. While the motion still needs to be approved by the Monarchs it is expected the new flag can be used as early as next week.

[center][color="#FF0000"][size="5"]Occupy Movement Gains Momentum[/size][/color][/center]

[b]Sofia -[/b] With Occupy Sofia only a week old the movement seems to continue to increase in an exponential way, the protest that started by only a few dozen students has grown to reach thousands on the square. As it is right now most of the people on the square are students and unemployed. Both sides have remained peaceful so far with the participants following the directives from the police forces and both the police force and Gendarmerie allowing the movement some space by closing off roads to the square. The movement also shows signs of spreading throughout the Federation soon with similar movements calling for the occupation of the financial district in Milan, the Imperial Palace in Madrid and several other cities throughout the Athenian Federation.

The Imperial Administrator has officially stated that she can understand the concerns of the movement and that Athens would be wise to at least consider what is being called for. So far Athens has declined to formally comment however this has not stopped the leader of the Democratic Party to show his support for the movement. Even within the coalition there seems to be division with the Magistrate of Internal Affairs stating he understood the concerns of the movement.

[center][color="#FF0000"][size="5"]HSA Begins Transport to New Athens, Licenses 200,000 Seats to Astrium[/size][/color][/center]

[b]Athens -[/b] Following the recent change in Space Habitat provided by Guyana the HSA has begun selecting volunteers for relocation to space. Due to the massive size of the habitat it is expected full deployment could take years. Whoever hasn't been able to secure a seat by the extensive selection criteria have another chance to be among the first Athenians to live in space longterm. The HSA has licensed 200,000 seats to Astrium at a price of 1 million per seat. Astrium has again offered the seats on sale for 1.1 million. It is expected that the profit from this licensing and the money paid back by Guyana will result in a massive jumpstart of Athenian space ambitions.

---

[b]Actions[/b]

The experts were right, this new funding for the HSA numbering in the trillions would allow the kind of projects needed to get the Mars ambitions functional, while the decision had been made to avoid purchase of technology from Guyana this would only provide a minor concern. Plans were already proceeding steadily on the research on a new type of combination engine using Ion drives. Two spaceship designs were also under development assuming completion of the engine technology. One configured to be able to transport a large amount of people and the other to transfer a large amount of cargo.

[Centurius]

[b]Movements[/b]

With the Kingdom of Cochin practically collapsed the AlertCon is lowered from Alpha to Gamma indicating a war readiness and limited military operations. Forces deployed in Central Asia are returning to the Athenian Federation for a well deserved leave of absence and eventually redeployment. Forces deployed along the Rebel Army-Aeon border remain in place for now.

[Centurius]

"Following global developments and a change in strategic interests the Athenian Federation hereby invokes the cancellation clauses of the Sovereign Initiative"

---

[b]Movements:[/b]

While Africa normally was the domain of Rebel Army it had become clear that recent events had somewhat compromised its ability to defend its protectorates, with the anarchy of the Tangier Union so close and it even having led to international incidents it was clear that the Athenian Federation could no longer stand by and watch. A regiment belonging to the Third Army led by Colonel Dovah Kiin was ordered to move on the Tangier Union and establish law and order after which further action would be planned, for now however the protection would be in no way official and the official protectorate status would be discussed later on with the Rebel Army.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Centurius

[Owned-You]

[i]***Private Message to Alexander Bakas Magistrate of Defense***[/i]

[quote]Greetings Mr. Bakas

The King has insisted upon making a number of additions to the Royal Air Forces and akin to this he would like to inquire about purchasing a number of Air-Superiority Fighter craft from Athens. Give we've already got F-99's producing to serve as our multi-role craft we would like to add a craft that would be geared to insure air-dominance in the field of combat... it goes without saying Athenian technology is among the best in the world and with that we would like to purchase some. With that in mind would it be possible to add a new series of craft to our production runs provided by your department? Just name your price and we will gladly pay it.

Sincerely,
Treasurer Lord Fernandez
[/quote]

[Centurius]

[quote name='Owned-You' timestamp='1325115413' post='2888253']
[i]***Private Message to Alexander Bakas Magistrate of Defense***[/i]
[/quote]

[quote]Lord Fernandez,

After discussion within my government we have decided to release the F-1 Quantum in its unaltered form to New Spain. An initial batch of two squadrons can be transported from our current active assembly lines in the mainland, for further production Airbus America will be allowed to establish a new line in its current facilities. Of course this technology comes at the term that they are to not be reproduced.

-Magistrate Alexander Bakas.[/quote]

---

The attack on Germany was to put it quite simply shocking and caught all elements of the Hellenic state by surprise. It also showed just how far Asia had reverted to its barbaric roots. The debate that followed would understandably be heated. In a closed session of parliament the Council of Magistrates had been barely able to prevent a motion to condemn Tianxia for its action from being introduced. While the power of the Magistrates was strong in parliament it wasn't outside of it. By now the Occupy Sofia movement had already had thousands of followers however with recent events it escalated into a full pacifist movement reaching every city in the Athenian Federation. Millions marched to the streets as police were barely able to prevent hostilities. Athens and Rome, two cities normally not a single demonstration happened, weren't exceptions. Thousands began marching to the embassy district of the two cities where they were stopped by High Guard desperately trying to prevent them from breaching. To many outside observers it would seem the situation was blowing up.

While the government didn't act directly against the still closest ally it couldn't completely ignore the situation either. A message was sent at the same time to both Germany and Tianxia informing them of Athenian neutrality and the fact that no Athenian base or territory could be used for combat operations agains either of the two. Embassies and consulates beyond the ones in the capitals would be evacuated and the personnel at the still opened embassies kept to a minimal. Negative travel advisories were issued and Athenian citizens were recommended to head back as soon as possible. High Guard protection at the embassies of Germany and Tianxia was increased to prevent any from the demonstrators to do any damage.

Other motions in parliament would pass with incredible ease. The annual military budget which was to increase military expenditures by 5% was approved nearly unanimously while previously it was expected to barely reach a majority. A motion to keep the Atlantic islands as the vanguard of Athenian defensives was also passed without much difficulty. Finally more controversial ones to militarize the eastern border and to suspend the DWZ in Athens and Rome were passed with a slim majority.

In the end this meant that St. Helena would be built up to be just as advanced and capable as Cape Verde, similar constructions would begin in the Canary Islands and in the Caribbean. In line with the increase in budget military facilities would begin wartime productions to make the already enormous reserves even larger. All in all while Athens didn't choose a side it sure was getting ready for surprises.

[Owned-You]

[i]***Private Response***[/i]

[quote]King Enrique will be pleased to hear of these events. As with the F-99 we will not reproduce them for foreign use; it'll remain strictly confined to the Royal Air Force. Additionally, King Enrique has sent 20 lbs of his personal wine-stock as a sign of friendship. It is our hope that you do not drink it in one night, but we will concede it's flavor may compel you too.

With Delight,
Treasurer Lord Fernandez[/quote]

[Centurius]

**Classified**

Following global developments in obtaining sixth generation fighters and with recent wars showing significant weaknesses in the F-99 and a similar design in Tianxia the decision was made to begin development of a new fighter to replace the F-99. The F-2 Dark Phoenix will enter initial production within a reasonable timeframe.

Edited January 10, 2012 by Centurius

[Centurius]

As it has been effectively a dead bloc for years the Athenian Federation announces its intent to leave and thus desolve the Mediterranean Economic and Military Union.

[Centurius]

While peace had returned across the Athenian Federation a new threat was near, one that would require proper preparations. While the forces nationwide were at the lowest, peacetime, readiness the American forces would be taken to Alert Condition Delta indicating a credible threat for war in the near future. The full First Army would remain in the Union Protectorate, New Orleans and the Bahamas while the Atlantic Fleet maintained patrolling in the western Atlantic Ocean. Air units would continue patrols however now with even less time in between and with more planes in the air.

[Centurius]

[b]Movements[/b]

The Athenian Alert Condition is raised to Gamma while the theatre levels in Africa and Asia are raised to Beta. The First and Fifth Army are to began preparations for redeployment. The Pacific Fleet is ordered to move away from the Americas and head for bases in Asia.

Edited January 26, 2012 by Centurius

[Centurius]

With a large part of land gained it was the ideal opportunity to extend Athenian military capabilities, Egypt especially proved a tempting location at which research could be done with no damaging effects to the local population. As such a large electromagnetic wave weapon test ground was established in the Nile Valley which would find itself used almost around the clock.

[Centurius]

[b]Classified[/b]

The FIA would begin repositioning spy satellites over the islands Canada posessed in the Atlantic, Colorado and Wyoming. At the same time as spy satellites were positioned U-2As would begin surveillance flights in the high atmosphere to assess a longterm pattern in these regions and to properly prepare doctrines for a potential future operations.