Factbook of the Soodean Imperium (Closed, Incomplete)

[The Soodean Imperium]

The Soodean Imperium

This is a Closed factbook. If you wish to comment, criticize, praise, or give advice, please do so via telegram.

OOC: This factbook is currently incomplete and undergoing major reconstruction. Please forgive me for its terrible appearance.

The Soodean Imperium

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Flag

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Motto: Strength in Unity, Faith in Authority

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Anthem: Our Homeland's Mountains and Rivers

Map

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Population: 2,420,381,094 (December 2014 Census)
-Density:

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Capital: Su'Cheng
Largest City: Sunglai (pop. 20,297,805)

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Official Language: Su'komun

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Other National Languages: Russian, Turkish, Japanese

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Demonym: Soodean

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Government
- Emperor: Su Dou
- Vice Emperor: Wan Feng
- Director of Diplomacy: Wen Hong
- Politburo Chairman: Grigory Poshulkin

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Legislature:
- Upper House: National Bureaucracy
-Lower House: Politburo

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Establishment: from Democratic People's Republic of Menghe
Independence: 21 December 1987
Government Formed: 5 March 1988

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Military:
Active: ~7 million
Reserves: ~17 million

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Land Area: mile²
km²
Water Area: km²
Water %:

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Elevation
Highest Point: 4,523 meters (Tai Shuan)
Lowest Point: 0m (coastline)

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GDP (nominal): $35.536 trillion (2014 USD)
GDP (PPP) per capita: $14,682 (2014 USD)

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Human Development Index: .682

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Currency: Ching (Ч)

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Time Zone: UTC +8

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Drives on the: Right

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OOC: If you want to see how this factbook should look, go to the later pages; the earlier ones are desperately in need of revision.

Overview:

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The Soodean Imperium is a large nation of some 2.4 billion people, located on the southern coast of the continent of Tethys. It is ruled by a Socialist, moderately Authritarian government under Supreme Emperor Su Dou. Its people are heavily influenced by the national culture, which emphasizes humility and order. Its armed forces are relatively large and moderately well-equipped, and see action in many military interventions abroad.

Geography:
The Imperium is located on the southeastern portion of the continent of Tethys, located in the eastern portion of Panelysium. It borders four other countries on land: Firmador, Maverica, [unknown?], and New Mombasa 8. It also shares a "maritime border" with the Imazunese Federation (Oaledonia). The climate is generally temperate, though it grows progressively more arid toward the north and west, and the country is crossed by several mountain ranges in the east and south.

Government:
The Soodean Imperium is currently led by a transitional Military-Civilian administration. Original plans held that the military, having seized power in the 1987 coup, would gradually relinquish power to a civilian government, but concerns about external threats and demands for improved national self-defense have reinforced and in some ways expanded the military's hold on power since 2005. The resulting State is highly authoritarian and centralized, with most political power resting in the hands of the current Emperor, Su Dou. Even so, it remains openly meritocratic, with promotion based on administrative skill and leadership ability and relatively low levels of corruption. Popular approval of the Soodean regime is remarkably high, though recent years have seen the emergence of several libertarian-aligned dissident groups.

Technically speaking, one of the Soodean Imperium's defining features is a State Socialist economy. The political leadership exercises a great degree of control over the economy, and all productive enterprises above a certain size are administered by the State. Even so, the Imperium rarely applies this reasoning to its alignment in foreign policy, or at least does not do so to the same extent as the preceding DPR-Menghe regime. That is to say, while the Soodean government has taken some drastic measures to restrain the influences of corporate globalization on its own soil, it does not see itself as a vanguard of the revolutionary proletariat around the world.

Economy and Development:
The Soodean Imperium is best described as a second-world economy, in between poverty and prosperity. Public goods such as medical care, education, and physical infrastructure are all surprisingly advanced, basic needs like food and housing are sold at low prices by the State, and income equality is fairly high. The consumer-goods sector, however, is very small, and luxury goods ranging from televisions to cars are hard to come by. Soodeans are largely content with their quality of life, as the national culture encourages people to shun frivolous materialism in favor of simplicity and social interaction.

Military:
As in its economics, the Soodean Imperium is a "second-world" military power; while lacking the resources to field large numbers of drones, 5th-gen stealth aircraft, and EMP blasts, it is not so poor that it has to rely on second-rate tanks and re-purposed pickup trucks. The Soodean Military is a largely defensive force; its planners have recognized that in their highly militarized international context, the Soodean Imperium is unable to project force on a unilateral basis. The presence of this highly militarized context, however, has led many in the militarist "Hawk Faction" to grow fearful about the risk of an attack and order substantial expansions of the country's military capabilities.

The last ten years have seen a major effort to qualitatively and quantitatively improve the Soodean military, with major shipbuilding programs, a new MBT family, and a substantial revision of military doctrine. Curiously, as per a constitutional mandate introduced in 1992, the Soodean Imperium has surrendered its nuclear arsenal; the question of whether to revive the national nuclear arms programme is a matter of great contention between military and civilian officials.

History:
It is generally agreed that the history of today's Soodean Imperium began around 180 BCE, when Han Chinese settlers arrived on the coast and began setting up independent villages. Prior to that point, the area had been occupied by wandering tribes of Caucasians, whose descendants make up a majority in several outlying Soodean provinces. For most of early history, today's Soodean land was occupied primarily by the "Three Civilizations:" Esfahad to the west, Regia in the center, and Donghua to the east.

By the end of the 19th century, Esfahad had faded, Regia had collapsed, and Donghua was slipping into a period of decline. Desperate to avoid annexation by encroaching border powers, the surviving administrations unified into the Greater Menghe Republic, by land area the largest country on the continent of Tethys. Emboldened by its success in reconstruction and modernization, Menghe began to act out on more aggressive motives, hoping to extend its benevolent authoritarian rule to more people. This led to its defeat in the Great Conquest and the installation of an Occupation regime.

In 1964, acting in response to the horrific crimes of the Occupation, a major Socialist revolution flared up. Acting with Soviet support, the rebels managed to seize control of the country by 1967, quickly routing the despised Occupation. In its place, they founded the Democratic People's Republic of Menghe, which restored the country's military capability and supported Socialist movements across the local region. By the early '80s, however, the DPRM had entered a distinct period of decline, plagued by corruption and inequality. This set in action a series of events that developed into the 1987 Decembrist Revolution, which tore down the corrupt regime and installed today's Soodean government.

Table of Contents:

(OOC: Links will be added later)
- Government and Politics
- Military
- History

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Selection of Government Officials

Overview:
The Soodean Imperium is rather unique among nations in that it is neither a Monarchy, nor a Democracy, but a Meritocracy. Government officials are chosen based on their leadership skills, to build a government that is responsible and efficient at all levels. The process begins at the Political Schools (Polit-Akademei), where individuals with promising leadership skills are given several years of education in the theoretical and practical aspects of governance. After several years in specialized education, graduates of the Akademei go on to serve as apprentices to existing leaders in their future post, allowing them to learn the actual operations of government as they are gradually shifted into the role. By the time the previous official has died, resigned, or been impeached, their replacement is already skilled and experienced in the job at hand.

The Polit-Akademei:
The Polit-Akademei is tasked with carrying out a number of different tasks at once. Its main goal is to educate future leaders and officials in the theoretical and practical aspects of governance. However, it is also constantly ranking and sorting students throughout the process. The sorting process divides students between their areas of expertise, such as international economic policy or the funding of research. The ranking process divides them based on their levels of ability, with sub-bureau heads at the bottom and the future Emperor at the top.

The Akademei looks for well-rounded leaders, who have ability in areas beyond pure political knowledge. A leader must also have charisma in order to inspire his followers, and talent at mediation and negotiation. More importantly, the Akademei searches for specific qualities, with the ideal leader being hardworking and incorruptible. This kind of screening is necessary because leaders are given a great degree of power in the Soodean State, and must be trusted to work in the name of their subjects rather than themselves.

While most areas of the Imperial Government are highly centralized and work in close cooperation, the Polit-Akademei is largely independent of the rest of the State. This arrangement is intended to reduce the arrival of a "spoils system" in which politicians who are already in office use the Akademei to illegally promote their close friends and relatives. However, it would be wrong to say that Political Professors are separate from the public eye; rather the Akademei's inner workings are made open to the public, and any Professors found guilty of falsely promoting students can face very severe punishments.

The Censorate:
The Imperial Censorate carries out the opposite duty of the Polit-Akademei by impeaching any current leaders who are found guilty of corruption or abuse of power. Members of the Censorate are typically young, and are chosen for their idealism and strict adherence to morality, as their power is easily abused. If a Censorate official is found guilty of intentionally demoting officials on false accusations, he or she is given a very strict punishment.

If the Polit-Akademei finds that an official is ruling inefficiently, the local Censorate branch must come to a consensus regarding whether or not that official should be impeached. If he or she is deemed sufficiently corrupt to merit punishment, the Censorate makes the crimes public in an official report which is published in the main newspaper Informant. Said official's subjects are then called upon to hold a Vote of Confidence; if more than two-thirds of them vote for impeachment, the corrupt official is removed from office and a new one is promoted to that position from the Political Academei.

The Politburo:
Politburo candidates are selected by the Polit-Akademei based on their ability to understand, discuss, and peacefully negotiate on major national and world issues. Rather than being assigned to districts, they are proportionally assigned to "sectors," or areas of the population classified based on their political and ideological views. Once the candidates are chosen, an annual election is held, in which the voting-age population determines whether to keep the current Speaker or elect a new one. This is the only case in which democratic means are used to select leaders.

The Imperial Politburo convenes on a regular basis in order to discuss the national issues at stake, and is meant as a center where the many different groups of the Soodean population can discuss their opinions and decide on a path forward that will satisfy everyone. Unlike most Houses of Government, the Imperial Politburo typically runs smoothly and cooperatively, as Candidates who are intolerant of other views are removed by the Polit-Akademei. Once a conseneus or near-consensus is reached, a report summarizing the recommendations is submitted to the Administrative branch, which may employ the advice in related policy decisions. It is important to note that the Politburo is merely an advising institution, and has no legislative powers per se. The real power lies with the Administrative branch of government, which consists of officials selected by the Polit-Akademei.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Su-Ne 1 "Dart"

Su-Ne 1 "Dart"
Overview:

Role: Fighter or Light Interceptor
Crew: One (Pilot)
Dimensions: Undisclosed

Performance:

Maximum Speed: 1470 km/h (Mach 1.2)
Service Ceiling: 12,000 meters
Rate of Climb: 180 m/s
Service Range: 1,000 km (internal fuel)

Armament:

Guns:
- 2x 23mm NR-23 autocannon
- 1x 37mm N-37 Autocannon
Hardpoints: 4 total, for a combination of:
- NS-45 autocannon in radar-aimed pod
- R-60 heat-seeking missile
- S-5 Rocket in 16x pod

A pair of Su-Ne 1s patrolling the seas during the Parndian Civil War.

Design:
The Su-Ne 1 is the first aircraft to be designed and produced under the Soodean Government. Intended as a light interceptor, it is in many ways a spiritual successor to the MiG-19, though it also resembles the earlier MiG-9. Its basic airframe is derived from early jet aircraft that saw service in the closing years of the Great Conquest, with two jet turbines mounted underneath the fuselage. Much of this stems from a general lack of design experience during the Great Occupation, when military design was more or less forbidden. However, it features a number of upgraded features, including modern radar and avionics.

Overview:
Its low-speed maneuverability is excellent, in part due to its responsive control surfaces and light airframe, and its capabilities in a low-altitude dogfight should not be underestimated. It also excels at interception, where its precise controls and state-of-the-art targeting system allow the pilot to easily line up a shot on a large bomber's engines. However, it is severely hampered by a low top speed of Mach 1.05 (Mach 1.2 can be achieved, but at great strain to the engines) and a low service ceiling. These flaws also limit its effectiveness as an interceptor, as more modern bomber aircraft can simply outrun or outclimb it. As a result, it is being gradually replaced in service by the more modern Su-Ne 2, which features a larger wing area and more powerful engines.

Tactics:
On interception missions, the Su-Ne 1 will typically patrol the skies at a high altitude, searching for planes through a combination of simple radar and eyesight. When a bomber is spotted, the plane approaches it at a downward angle, using its initial altitude advantage to build speed. If the bomber is equipped with defensive armament, the Su-Ne 1 will continue to attack in a "stitching-needle" pattern, zigzagging through the formation at high speed and making passes from the sides. If the bomber does not have defensive armament, the Su-Ne 1 will station itself behind the target at close range (100-200 meters) and fire short cannon bursts into the engines. Pilots will typically use only their cannons against large targets, reserving their missiles for more agile aircraft.

Against other fighters, the Su-Ne 1 will typically try to lure its opponent into a low-altitude turn-fight, where the emphasis shifts from speed and missile range to agility, stall speed, and cannon firepower, thus favoring the Su-Ne 1's advantages. Its typical loadout includes two to four heat-seeking missiles, which are meant to be used against fighter aircraft in medium- to close-range combat. If caught in a long-range, high-altitude engagement with a modern jet fighter, the Su-Ne 1 will typically dump chaff and flares and dive to a safer altitude.

In ground-attack missions, the Su-Ne 1 typically approaches at a shallow angle, making two attack runs with the wing-mounted rockets before switching to the cannons for any remaining light targets. Its 37mm heavy cannon is especially useful in attacks on soft targets like artillery emplacements and infantry in the open, although it has poor accuracy, armor penetration, and muzzle velocity.

Service:
The Su-Ne 1 remains in service with the Soodean Imperial Air Force, where it is typically used to intercept large aircraft such as the (A)C-130 or the B-52. It has also proven useful as a light ground-attack aircraft during offensive missions. Large numbers remain in service with the Homeland Air Defense.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Military Code of Honor

I look about myself and see a world rank with Injustice.
I look above myself ad see a cause lit by Righteousness.
I may fall a thousand ways, by blades or by fire;
But if it brings this world one step closer to the light,
Then my death shall not be a regret.
--Pledge of Imperial Soldiers, 1932.

Overview:

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One cannot understand the miliary of the Soodean Imperium without first understanding its unique mentality. Forged by years of difficult history and drilled into every recruit's head, the Soodean warrior tradition plays a central role in everything from diplomacy to combat doctrine. Often summarized as "War with Honor," it is both tolerant and unforgiving, compelling soldiers to sacrifice themselves in defense of the innocent. While the full set of laws is very complex, it is often divided into two categories: protection of noncombatants, and self-sacrifice.

Protection of Noncombatants:

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In Soodean culture, the most dishonorable act a soldier or nation can commit is a deliberate attack on civilians. This ideal has its origins in the nation's ancient military traditions, especially those of Dong Hua. It is often summarized in a quote by the legendary warrior Kachiun Ka'en, who stated that "A true hero makes it his duty to protect the innocent - not to prey on them." More

Protected Noncombatants:
- Civilians
- Medical Personnel
- Surrendered soldiers
Not Protected:
- Fleeing soldiers
- Support Personnel
(i.e., truck drivers)
- Convicted War Criminals

recently, it was reinforced by the Triple Imperium's defear in the Great Conquest, when the continent of Dalu was subjected to extensive campaigns of strategic and atomic bombing.

These principles have a strong influence on Soodean military actions. During international crises, the Soodean Imperium chooses idealism over politics, intervening against nations which have carried out massacres, genocides, or other war crimes. In battle, Soodean military doctrine forbids strategies with a high chance of collateral damage - hence the nation's lack of nuclear weapons. In military discipline, this law is harshly enforced: soldiers who intentionally kill, rape, or otherwise injure a protected noncombatant are stripped of their uniform and executed in front of the rest of their unit.

Because this principle is deeply engrained in military indoctrination and national culture, it is closely obeyed by Soodean soldiers. Especially among less-trained units, sight or word of enemy atrocities is likely to work Soodean soldiers into a battle frenzy and fill them with a burning resolve to kill the perpetrators. A skilled enemy commander will either avoid this outcome, or use it to their advantage, but should not attempt to demoralize Soodeans by killing civilians or prisoners.

Self-Sacrifice for the Greater Good:

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The second set of honor principles are also deeply rooted in the warrior culture of Dong Hua. Soldiers are expected to selflessly devote themselves to their cause, even if it means carrying out orders that will end in certain death. On the offensive, they will relentlessly attack a designated position until it falls; on the defensive, they will fight to the last man and the last bullet. It is not uncommon to see one ship, plane, or Company advance into certain death in order to secure victory, keep the battle lines intact, or protect a civilian population (see above section). These principles are often compared to the Japanese Bushido Code, especially as it existed during the Second World War.

It is important to remember that while Soodean soldiers are brave, they are not stupid. They will not carry out suicide charges if it is clear that the attack will fail to break through; and while they will seldom fall into a disordered rout, they will readily make an organized withdrawal when ordered to do so. This is especially true as you move up the training scale; fanatical Reservists rely on mass charges as a mainline tactic, but more elite units with valuable equipment are much more cautious about making sure their sacrifices are worth the cost. Thus, the tactic is less like the Japanese Banzai Charge and more like the Chinese Shock Attack (often misnamed the Human Wave).

Foreign Criticisms:

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Like many other aspects of Soodean culture, the Military Code of Honor often falls on deaf ears when heard by other nations. Many see the protection of civilians as a restrictive straightjacket that limits tactical options; others perceive the strict military discipline as harsh to the point of being cruel. The Soodean Informational Bureau recognizes these criticisms, and understands that such practices do carry flaws. However, they are also central elements of Soodean culture, and deeply rooted in the national mentality. For better or for worse, this is the state of the nation.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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1.a Climate and Terrain

OOC: I plan to revise this geography soon. Approximate locations remain, but the specific map is effectively null and void.

Overview:

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The Soodean Imperium is located on a small continent known as Dalu, which is roughly 5000 kilometers across. The climate varies greatly from one part of the country to the next, with hot weather year-round in the Great Southern Desert and icy winters in the Northeastern and Northwestern Tundra. It is located on top of a very tectonically active part of the world, resulting in numerous beautiful mountain chains but also frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

The Great Southern Desert
The Great Southern Desert occupies the large, peninsula-like area in the center-south of the country. Faced by warm, dry winds blown across the Sea of Eskandar, it sees little rain for most of the year, though the northern and southern areas are cooler and have some natural scrub vegetation. The area is fed by three major rivers - the Akkad and Babel, which feed the northeastern plains, and the Yilan, which runs through the center of the desert and regularly dries up during the arid season.

The Sea of Eskandar
Occupying the center of the Soodean continent, The Sea of Eskandar is believed to have formed on top of a Divergent Plate Boundary that is gradually pulling the two sections of the continent apart. It is connected to ocean by the Strait of Rachen ("The Throat") in the north, and the Szakadék strait ("The Abyss") in the south. Its waters are typically very calm, though in certain seasons they feed typhoons which roll eastward over the Great Southern Desert and provide the area with flash floods.

The Columbian Plain
Locates in the northeast of the country, the Columbian Plain stretches from the Pini mountains to the Sea of Eskandar and the Strait of Rachen. Throughout most of history it was only occupied by a few wandering tribes, and today it is only lightly settled with a few towns and villages. Its climate is typically cool, with steady west-east winds and plentiful rain, and its soil is good for farming. However, because of its stark weather, sparse population, and vast, empty landscape, it is known to many as the "desolate lands."

The Central Steppe
This desert sits in the heart of the continent's eastern portion, running from the mountains of the Great Rise to the inner reaches of Sheng Province in the east. Though hot and dry during the summer months, in winter it grows cool, and certain areas even see snow collect on the inner edges of the dunes. Unsuitable for farming and lacking important resources at its heart, it is still populated mainly by wandering nomads and livestock herders who wander from one sheltered settlement or desert oasis to the next.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Feidou-2Kai "Su-Ne"

*OOC Note 1: If you've been re-directed here from a link to the "Su-Ne 2," that's because this is its revised, retconned-in replacement.
*OOC Note 2: This page is still being revised. The image seen below is only a stand-in for the present*


Overview:

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The Feidou-2Kai is an improved aircraft derived from the Feidou-2, which was in turn a license-produced MiG-19. Initially planned as a fighter aircraft, it was later developed into a close-air-support aircraft, the FD-2Kai-B. Large numbers were produced at the height of the DPRM government, and these saw action on both sides of the conflict that followed the Decembrist Coup. Following the Soodean government's rise to power, the FD-2Kai remained in production, and even saw service in a navalized variant. With its distinctive swept-wing layout, it soon became a symbol of the new regime, but its obsolete qualities were increasingly troubling for Aviation High Command. Following the military reforms of 2005, the FD-2Kai was phased out of front-line service in favor of the much more capable FD-12, though a large number remain in rear-line units as basic trainers or reserve airframes.

Design:

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Almost from the very start, the Democratic People's Republic of Menghe expressed a strong interest in acquiring the MiG-19. Large numbers were purchased from the USSR following the DPR's declaration of independence in 1964, and in 1967 the young Socialist state was granted a license to produce the fighter as the Feidou-2. This aircraft incorporated several "modern" upgrades, such as a basic radar and the ability to carry up to 4 K-13 AAMs, that made it roughly equivalent to the MiG-19S. Despite its impressive production run, this aircraft was the subject of much concern for Aviation officials, who feared that it was too inferior to contemporary fighter aircraft.

Initially, there was talk of purchasing a license to build MiG-21s, but the country had already expended vast quantities of time, equipment, and money on gearing its aviation industry toward the mass-production of MiG-19-derived airframes. Therefore, the decision was made to attempt work on a far-reaching improvement of the Feidou-2, which would keep basic component commonality while adding new capabilities. Work on the new aircraft began in 1969, with the first prototype taking flight in 1973. Initially, designers hoped to employ it as an air-to-air platform for service in front-line units, and documents recovered from the program suggest that there were plans to develop a variant with a larger targeting radar for use with semi-active AAMs. In 1975, however, the purchase of MiG-23MFs from the USSR provided the DPRM with a vastly more capable fighter.

Hoping not to waste their existing progress, the designers instead shifted their goals to close air support, hoping to make use of the aircraft's good low-level performance. The new aircraft replaced the planned air-to-air radar with a ground-attack targeting and guidance suite and featured a different hardpoint layout. It was designated FD-2Kai, the "Kai" denoting a highly improved variant. Deliveries to front-line units began in 1978, and production continued at a high pace until economic problems reduced it to a trickle in 1986.

After inheriting a large number of these airframes from the DPR regime in 1988, the Soodean Revolutionary Air Force began searching for ways to take the design further. Critics allege that this attachment to the FD-2Kai stemmed from the aircraft's "traditional" thin-wing appearance, which won it the name of "Su-Ne" (or "Soodean Bird"). The decision to stick with the old but familiar was more likely a result of budget allocations which consistently left the Air Force at a position of low priority, stalling the development of "risky" or expensive projects. The Feidou-2Kai-B, featuring more powerful engines and better electronics, entered service in 1996; the Kai-2M, a navalized version for use on carriers, entered service the year after. These new variants saw service in Parndia, Bratislav, and Themiclesia, where startlingly high levels of attrition against more advanced enemy fighters led to the re-allocation of much-needed funds to Military Aviation in general and the FD-12 in particular.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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2.d Foreign Relations

Overview:
In the area of diplomacy, the Soodean Imperium tends to favor negotiation before war. The diplomatic corps is advised to pursue alliances and friendly relations with nations having similar ideologies, and will usually tolerate agreements with slightly different nations. This approach places pragmatism before ideology, allowing cooperation with democratic, hereditary, and capitalist governments. However, there is only a certain extent to which this policy extends; countries which abuse their populations, carry out war crimes, or take a bigoted approach to the Soodean ideology are typically excluded from normal relations.

National Political Views: (incomplete)
The Soodean Imperium supports:
Honorable Military Tactics, Socialism, Meritocracy, Diplomacy before war, Traditionalism, Islam, LGBT rights,

The Soodean Imperium opposes:
Killing of Civilians, Slavery, Racial Supremacy, Corporatocracy, Drug Use, Consumer Culture, Corrupt Government, Anarchism, Gun Ownership, Libertarianism, Imperialism

The Soodean Imperium is neutral to:
Democracy, Monarchy, Regulated Capitalism, Religion, Collective Economies,

OOC Views:
I don't get involved in political debates, but I will not tolerate irresponsible posting of any kind, including the following:
- Godmodding (using an unrealistically large or advanced military force)
- Thread Hijacking (moving an existing RP way off topic by introducing a new, irrelevant, or unrealistic event)
- Invulnerability (posting that your units have miraculously survived a barrage of deadly attacks)
- Mind Control (controlling the actions of another player's characters or military units in your posts)
- Flaming (making personal attacks on other players OOCly, especially if the insults are profane and incoherent)
- Puppeteering (excessive use of puppets, especially in war, diplomacy, and voting threads)
If I see any one of these from you, and you do not stop when asked, you will likely be kicked from the thread. Please, for your sake and mine, post realistically and responsibly.

Diplomatic Relations List:
The following countries are listed alphabetically by country name. Some may be missing, as this is still an early list.

- Araiya: Cautious. Carried out a terror attack at a diplomatic dinner, but surrendered after their homeland was occupied in response.
- Artite: Hostile. Attacked civilians during the Parndian Civil War, and attempted to annex Upper Parndia.
- Avorez: Hostile. Carried out chemical warfare attacks during the Mordakian Civil War, threatened to invade the Imperium.
- Consolidate Nations Alliance: Ally. Fought on the same side in many wars, co-founder of Triple Vanguard Alliance.
- Decius: Hostile. Known for its National Socialist government, its excessive aggression, and severe, chronic godmodding.
- Fascist Worcestershire: Ally. Fought on the same side in many wars, co-founder of Triple Vanguard Alliance, minor ideological tension.
- Gamilus: Optimistic. Fought on the same side in past wars, is an alien superpower.
- Moldovoska: Optimistic. Fought on the same side in past wars, but has made hasty, aggressive reactions.
- Mordance: Friendly Shares some political and cultural features, and has sent missionaries to the Imperium.
- New Besancon: Optimistic. Attacked civilians in the Parndian Civil War, but appears to have made a shift to moderate policy.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Armored Legions

OOC: This information is now null and void as it no longer meets my realism standards.

Overview:
The Armored Legion is the steel fist of the Imperial Army, designed to shatter enemy formations in large, all-out field battles. It is central to the Imperial Army's "Main Battle Strategy," which centers on a blitzkrieg offensive to achieve dominance in the enemy's open terrain. Thus, Armored Legions will typically focus on sweeping maneuvers and concentrated attacks on open plains. Forests, cities, mountains, and other dense terrain where tanks are at a disadvantage are avoided or encircled, to be slowly bombarded by artillery and then secured by infantry later on.

Like all Imperial Soodean Legions, the Armored Legion consists of exactly 10,000 men, and can operate independently on the strategic level.

ORBAT:

Four Armored Regiments:
- 480 Main Battle Tanks
- 160 Infantry Fighting Vehicles (1,120 infantry carried)
- 96 Self-Propelled AA Guns
- 96 Self-Propelled Artillery Vehicles
- 16 SAM vehicles (TELAR)
- 16 Cruise Missile Carriers
- 8 Cruise Missile Guidance vehicles
- 4 Mobile Radar Systems
- 4 ECM jamming systems

Four Footsoldiers Regiments:
- 4,000 footsoldiers

One Guards Regiment:
- 80 Armored Squad Carriers (640 Guards infantry carried)
- 20 Armored Cars (60 Guards infantry carried)

One Logistics Regiment:
- Miscellaneous supply trucks, fuel trucks, and command vehicles

Typical Equipment:
Tanks: T-64BV, T-72B, T-90A, or SCh-6
IFVs: BPT-2 (Soviet BMP-2 with slightly extended hull)
AA vehicles: 9K22M Tunguska (SPAAG), Buk-M1-2 (SAM)
Artillery: 2S3 Akatsiya

Command:
An Armored Legion is headed by a Legion-Komandir (abbreviated as LKmdr), one of the more prestigious ranks in the Imperial Military. This commander is stationed in a special armored car with communications equipment and tactical displays, and may either lead the force from the front or park in the rear and issue orders from a distance.

Armored Units:
The front battle line of an Armored Legion consists of 160 "Armored Platoons." These are small, 20-man formations consisting of three tanks and one fully crewed IFV. In a field battle, the IFV's extra fourth crewman selects targets and adjusts the formation, while the tanks provide the majority of the firepower with some support from the IFV's autocannon and guided missiles. The seven infantrymen carried in the IFV are equipped for close-quarters combat, and each squad carries a rocket-launcher for anti-vehicle operations and a MANPADS system for limited anti-air defense.

Anti-Air Units:
As the tanks are fairly vulnerable to air attack, each Armored Regiment includes a special Battalion devoted to anti-air combat. This unit is centrally coordinated from the radar vehicle, and includes both SPAAGs for close-range anti-air defense and specialized SAM systems for medium-range defense. These vehicles are vulnerable to Anti-Radar Missiles, though there are ongoing plans to develop a new SPAAG that tracks targets through other methods.

Artillery Units:
The third battle line consists of a substantial battery of self-propelled artillery guns. These are a critical element of Soodean battle strategy: in a tank engagement, they bombard the enemy armored units, frightening the crews and thus slowing the rate of fire and increasing aiming time to give the Soodean units the decisive edge. These artillery batteries can also be used to knock out infantry or light vehicles which are threatening the tanks with guided missiles. The third line is supplemented by several short-range tactical missile launchers, which use large high-explosive or thermobaric warheads to inflict heavy losses on enemy troop concentrations and thus force the enemy to disperse. In an engagement with enemy artillery, these batteries can use "shoot-and-scoot" tactics by firing a volley and then relocating to avoid counter-battery fire; however, their slow rate of fire means that this substantially reduces their effective rate of fire.

Infantry Units:
The formation is accompanied by four thousand footsoldiers, lightly armed troopers who can storm close-quarters terrain and defend the tanks from infantry attacks. When moving towards the battle, these footsoldiers will ride on top of the vehicles in the Tank Desant method. This allows the entire formation to move at 100 km/h on prepared roads and 50 km/h on open terrain, an impressive degree of strategic mobility. However, as the infantry are extremely vulnerable while riding, they disembark as soon as the formation enters the area of battle.

Special Forces Units:
The Special Forces regiment consists of elite soldiers carried in fast APCs, usually BTR-80s or -90s, as well as armored cars such as the BRDM-2. These units are designed to rapidly approach special objectives in their vehicles, engage the target, then withdraw before the enemy can counterattack. They are typically used in urban operations where a key enemy building must be secured and key intelligence gathered. The various APCs provide excellent fire support against light infantry, but are poorly armored against tank fire, so they tend to avoid open terrain in battle.

Logistical Units:
Because the vehicles require extensive maintenance, fully one in ten soldiers are part of an "Engineering and Logistics Regiment" which accompanies the rest of the Legion into battle. This unit includes a varied assortment of ammunition and fuel trucks, armored recovery vehicles, and combat ambulances. While these soldiers are mainly used in support operations, they have some combat training, and can defend themselves if attacked. In particular, the Engineers units are equipped with blasting equipment aboard the armored recovery vehicles; this can be used to demolish obstacles or fortified positions if conventional tactics are unable to succeed.

Sea Transport:
Finally, the unit's numbers are designed so that the entire Legion can be transported across the ocean aboard two Heavy Troopship Type As, or two Type Bs and sixteen Armored Landing Ships for beach assault operations (At 295 by 40 meters, Heavy Troopships have amazing capacity, but are easy targets for missiles, bombs, or torpedoes). This easy-storage arrangement allows for fast deployment of expeditionary forces to overseas conflicts.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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3.a Early Civilizations, pre-101 CE



The Huang Clan
It is generally believed that the first settlers were sailing villagers of Asian heritage, who arrived on the southeast coast of the Imperial continent between 1000 BCE. From there, they moved further inland from the mountainous southeast, eventually settling on the coast of the Gulf of Persis and building farming communities on the fertile, sunny grasslands. At this location, they established the Huang Nation. A culture built largely around farming, the Huang were a largely peaceful people, preferring art and music to the organization and militarism of other areas.

The Lan Clan
As the Huang farmers expanded their area of control and shifted further west, portions of their territory began to break away. The first of these was the Lan Clan, which set up farming communities of their own in the rich soil of the central southeast. Officially established in 460 BCE, the Lan peacefully seceded from the Huang, and the two nations typically acted as allies or at least neutral neighbors. Lan culture was built largely around water, with numerous fishing fleets operating off the southern coast. Excavations of ancient ruins have uncovered signs of complex and highly intricate irrigation systems and fountains, including what may be the first attempt at providing running water to a palace complex.

The Tu Clan
Founded by the last remnants of the original Huang settlers, the Tu People struggled to adapt to the harsh climate and rough terrain of the Far Southeast. They developed a primitive kind of terraced farming to supplement the valley fields, but this was not expanded for many centuries. Around 400 BCE, they began interacting on an equal level with the Lan and Huang Clans, and were generally accepted as a Clan of their own. Their warriors aggressively expanded into neighboring lands, developing new weapons and unique styles of heavy armor forged from copper and bronze.

The Akkadian Empire
While the Far Eastern Clans were populated by descendants of the same Asiatic settlers that arrived in the 1000s BCE, Akkadia was founded by a separate settler people in 475 BCE. These settlers were Arabian fishermen who had migrated up the rocky coast of the Southern Desert and finally set up large farming towns around the rich river floodplains of the Central region. They built large cities and monuments from the plentiful sandstone, and managed to support a large population that combined Middle Eastern and East Asian populations.

The Huo Clan
The Huo Clan rose later than its three predecessors, but still became a potent threat to the others. Threatened by the northward expansion of the Tu Clan, their warriors developed a method of smelting and forging iron, in some cases creating a very primitive type of steel. In 330 BCE, Huo warriors decisively beat back the advancing Tu clan, and established an independent State of Huo. From there, they used their sharp, strong weapons to expand to the south and east, bringing with them new teachings in metallurgy and organized military tactics.

The He Clan
With neither prime agricultural land nor metalworking skills, the He were a poor and backwater country, which developed from migrating settlers and exiles in 154 BCE. As it lacked an organized military, its main defense was a wall of mountainous terrain that ran around the outer perimeter. Isolated from many of their neighbors, the He mostly focused on sustenance farming and herding, and sometimes traded with the Lan Clan to the south.

Pesros
The nation of Pesros was a small settlement on the Northern coast, established by Greek sailors who landed there after a long, cold journey through the icy seas. Pesros became independent in 102 BCE, and its people soon spread out through the surrounding area. Due to its location, Pesros remained largely isolated from other nations for much of its existence, but eventually grew into a stable civilization and had some trade with Iksandros.

Iksandros
Another colony set up by outside settlers related to Pesros, Iksandros was established in a warmer climate to the south around 75 BCE. Its people were quick to set up trading posts along the Internal Sea, but many of these little towns were only lightly populated. Its traders interacted with both Pesros and Akkadia in later years, but only to a small degree.

Xotl
The Xotl were the final group to arrive in what is today the Imperium; mostly wandering pacific island fishermen, they landed on the distant West Coast around 80 CE, and began moving inland into the jungle. The civilizations they set up were relatively advanced, but would die out before settlers from other areas could make contact.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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5.d.ii. Amur-class Escort Destroyer



Armament:
- 2x6 9M317 "BUK" missile, with 24 more rounds in storage
- 7x2 25mm CIWS radar-aimed anti-air/anti-missile cannon
- 4x2 MU90 "Impact" anti-submarine torpedo launcher, with 12 more rounds in storage

Characteristics:
- Length: 95 meters
- Width: 10 meters
- Height (surface to mast top): 15 meters
- Top Speed: 50 knots (95 km/h)

Design:
The Amur-class Escort Destroyer was created as a response to numerous design flaws in the Namikaze-class Heavy Destroyer, which was designed primarily for anti-surface operations and had proven obsolescent against modern fighter aircraft. In response to this need, military designers created a smaller, faster ship with excellent speed and a powerful missile battery. However, the service of the Amur-class didn't end there; after suffering submarine attacks in the Parndian Civil War, Imperial Naval Command recalled all active Amur-class vessels and refitted them with launchers for the MU90 anti-submarine torpedo, which proved highly effective at reducing the Navy's past vulnerability to submarine attacks.

Overview:
The Amur's most prominent feature is its large battery of 9M317 missiles - the naval conversion of the Russian "BUK" system. These missiles are highly accurate even against countermeasures, and can hit any aircraft at a range of 50 kilometers. As the upgrade process continued, it was found that the missiles are also capable of hitting large radar-contrast targets on the ground, making them suitable for use against enemy ships at a range of 25-30 kilometers. Importantly, these missiles are maneuverable enough to hit incoming anti-ship and ballistic missiles.

More important at close range is the ship's formidable battery of seven dual-gun CIWS (Close-In Weapons-Support) turrets, which fire rapid streams of 25mm explosive bullets at aircraft and missiles. Aim-assisted by a radar-locking and ranging system, these guns can accurately hit most enemy planes and missiles in a 5-kilometer radius, and can even be used against light patrol or torpedo boats on the surface. A dozen Escort Destroyers surrounding a Battle Fleet are typically enough to protect it from even a large barrage of missiles.

Tactics:
In a typical naval formation, Amur-class escort destroyers will form a ring around the rest of the fleet in order to protect from submarines and aircraft. If a submarine shows up on sonar or the magnetic anomaly detector, the Escort Destroyer will typically break away from the rest of the formation to chase and destroy it; if the threat is aircraft, it will typically remain in formation and prepare to fire missiles.

In a ship-to-ship battle, the Amur will not engage enemy ships directly, as it lacks devoted anti-surface weapons (although its missiles can be used against large ships). However, it will usually remain close to the main combat ships, using its CIWS guns to thin out any incoming missile or artillery barrages.

Service:
Though it was a late start in construction, the Amur-class is now being produced at a rapid rate to aid Imperial fleets against aerial attacks. Even the smallest task force will typically have half a dozen of these ships on its perimeter.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Namikaze-class Heavy Destroyer

*this page is still incomplete*

Armament:
- 5x2 150mm Naval Guns (can fire guided and unguided shells)
- 3x2 25mm CIWS radar-aimed anti-air/anti-missile cannon
- 8x1 12.5mm Heavy Machine Gun
- 1x10 UGST torpedo, with 10 more rounds in storage

Specifications:
- Length: 111 meters
- Width: 15 meters
- Height (surface to mast top): 21.25 meters
- Top Speed: 35 knots (65 km/h)

Advantages:
- Powerful broadside capability
- Well-armored against enemy gunfire

Disadvantages:
- No Surface-Surface missiles
- No SAMs on most versions
- Amidships magazine vulnerable to explosion

Overview:

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The Namikaze-class is a Heavy Destroyer built around ten 150mm guns in five armored turrets. It was first conceived in 1937 as a "surface-to-surface destroyer" which would charge into small enemy naval formations to break their organization and inflict heavy damage at close range. For this purpose, its designers sacrificed anti-air and anti-submarine weapons in order to accommodate the broadside weight of a Light Cruiser.

Today, the all-gun Namikaze is a decidedly obsolete concept. A large number were rushed back into service during the Glorious Revolution, and from 1991 to 2004 they still formed the backbone of the Soodean navy. During the Military Reforms of 2005 most remaining Namikazes were scrapped in favor of more advanced vessels. Some, however, still remain in service as Coastal Bombardment Heavy Destroyers.

History:

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The Namikaze was based on the concept of the Fubuki-class Destroyer: a fast, light warship with twin dual-purpose guns in armored turrets, designed to engage other destroyers with less powerful surface-to-surface armament. The first hull was laid down in 1939 in the early stages of the Great Conquest; as the situation grew more desperate, shipyards dramatically increased the construction rate in the hopes that the new ship would be able to smash apart enemy landing formations. While the State perpetuated stories of "heroic martyr ships" charging into fleets of landing craft and fighting bravely to the last, most of these vessels met their end at the hands of enemy aircraft. The designers' decision to sacrifice AA guns for heavy ones had proven ill-conceived, and while the 150mm pieces were technically dual-purpose, the heavy turrets lacked the traverse speed or elevation to reliably hit aircraft.

During the Great Occupation, most of these ships were torn up for scrap metal, but a substantial number survived in hidden storage warehouses and underground pens. During the Glorious Revolution, Soodean rebels recovered the vessels and restored them to operable condition, using them as coastal gunboats to fire on Occupation troops. Due to inexperience in naval knowledge and a lack of suitable sellers, these vessels were kept in service by the Soodean Navy for thirteen years after independence, and despite several attempts to modernize their fire-control systems they remained something of an embarrassment.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Infantry Units

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Elite Units

Special Forces
Though their name implies a high status, the Special Forces are essentially the equivalent of the Marines or the Guards: men with better training and equipment than the average soldier. They carry the AK-107, which offers a good rate of fire with improved accuracy when firing in bursts.

Transport Soldiers
Transport Soldiers are a small sector of the Imperial Army, but they play an important role in battle. Carried alongside Armored battalions in the backs of IFVs and BTRs, they are charged with protecting the tanks from any infantry that might attempt to engage in close battle. They typically use either the AK-104 or the QBZ-95, compact weapons that make it easier to enter and exit the cramped spaces of their transport vehicles but still offer good accuracy in combat.

Footsoldiers
Footsoldiers (Pehota) are the backbone of the Soodean Imperial Army. Given relatively basic training and equipment, they are still a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. They are typically equipped with AK-74s, though they may also use the Soodean Alased assault rifle.

Reservists

Militia

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Su-Chong 6 "Vanguard"

Su'Chong 6 "Vanguard"
Overview:

Role: Main Battle Tank
Crew: 3 (Driver, Gunner, Commander)
Dimensions: L 9.76m, W 3.68m, H 2.31m

Performance:
Maximum Speed: 60 kmh onroad, 50 offroad
Operational Range: 750 km (external tanks)

Armament:

Main: 125mm Smoothbore gun
- Compatible with 9M119 Svir
Co-Axial: 7.6mm PKT Light Machinegun
Top: 12.7mm KORD Heavy Machinegun

Advantages:
- Good rate of fire (12-15 r/min)
- Good rangefinder and stabilizer
- Not prone to internal explosions

Disadvantages:
- Relatively thin armor
- Low ammunition load

Design:
Shortly after its independence, the Soodean Imperium supplemented its growing armored forces through the purchase of numerous T-90S, T-72B, and T-64BV main battle tanks. These tanks proved highly influential in the Soodean military, influencing the main tactics and design philosophies of the Armored Corps. However, they came with a large number of problems as well, many of which were associated with the vulnerable location of the carousel autoloader. Rather than wait for the development of the T-95 or the Black Eagle, the Military Design Bureau decided to pursue their own design.

The new unit, codenamed Ob'yekt 505, was built according to a strict set of orders from the Military Design Bureau. The requirements were based on the T-90's capabilities, but also called for a redesigned hull, a faster reload time, an improved stabilization system, and the relocation of the autoloader from the turret floor to the turret rear. These requirements foretold the development of a fast, agile vehicle designed to race towards enemy lines, firing on the move in order to cover more ground and offer a more difficult target. Due to its predicted role as a front-line "charging tank," and in honor of the Imperium's alliances, the tank was eventually codenamed the "Aвангард," or "Vanguard."

Overview:
Like its predecessor the T-72, the SCh-6 is a highly modular design; the basic variant is cheap and easy to mass-produce, while the most advanced variant features next-generation reactive armor and targeting systems. In terms of combat capabilities the main version is roughly the equivalent of the T-90S.

Tactics:
In a tank-on-tank blitz, the SCh6 will advance towards the enemy, then come to a stop at 5km in order to fire its guided missiles and thin out the enemy from a distance. Once the two sides have closed to main-gun range (typically 2km), the Vanguard changes its tactics considerably. The driver charges towards the enemy, typically on a winding, zig-zag course, in order to close the range make the tank a more difficult target. Meanwhile, the gunner fires on the enemy with the stabilized main gun.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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2.c Economic System

*this page is still incomplete*

Overview:
The Soodean Imperium uses a Centralized Socialist Economy. This means that the government is not only the main shareholder in all productive enterprise, but that it actively tracks production levels and re-distributes resources in order to perfectly match supply and demand. This system is similar to the "Project Cybersyn" which was planned (but never fully implemented) in Chile under Salvador Allende, although it developed independently. Each factory, workshop, or other business is equipped with a simple computer that transmits data on inputs, outputs, product quality, and a variety of other factors to a central nerve network, where administrators may track production and make adjustments as necessary.

The main advantage of such a system is that it creates massive economies of scale by replacing competition with cooperation. This removes the challenge of the "Prisoner's Dilemma," and thus increases efficiency by eliminating the need for firms to waste valuable resources on advertising and other forms of competition. It also removes the barriers of information that might exist between competing firms, allowing firms to coordinate their sales activities.

Wages:
Wages in the Soodean Imperium are determined by a number of factors. First is the skill required for a job; a surgeon or engineer will be paid more than a bricklayer. However, in most cases wages an individual worker's wages are adjusted day-to-day depending on whether he or she fell above, below, or near the production quota. This quota is calculated based on the average estimated productivity of a person using that factory's level of equipment, and also accounts for the quality of the goods produced. It is more common for manufacturing jobs, where quality and quantity are easy to assess.

Quality of Life:
In most Capitalist nations, popular culture encourages people to consume as many products as possible, because this will stimulate economic growth. In the Soodean Imperium, the opposite is largely true; people are encouraged to live simple lives, pursuing needs before wants and finding happiness in friendship and experience rather than consumer luxuries. This has sparked intense debates between the Imperium and Capitalist economies over which provides the highest quality of life.

According to the Capitalist argument, quality of life is determined based on the quantity of goods owned on average, determined by per-capita wealth or income. By this logic, the Imperium has a below-average quality of life, as its people tend to choose simple lives and typically do not invest in the suburban homes and cars that make up most of an individual's wealth in other systems. The balance is further skewed by the Imperium's lack of an upper class, with very few people receiving incomes of over $100,000 a year.

According to the Socialist argument, however, quality of life is captured by other measures. Though they own fewer items, Soodean citizens are generally happier, nicer, and more compassionate than the global average, demonstrating (in the eyes of the Socialists) that they have learned to obtain joy from cooperation and friendship and that material wealth cannot buy a good life. The nation also suffers from low rates of obesity and preventable cancer, which also reduces the quantity of resources that would otherwise be devoted to medical care.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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4.f The Great Conquest, 1925-1947

The Great Conquest is a very controversial topic in the Soodean Imperium's history; some people view it as a high point of nationalist glory, while others regard it as a mistake that is best left forgotten. In either case, it was a very important moment in history, and its influences can still be seen in many areas of military and political life.

The process began in 1925, when the Soodean continent was still divided between the three Great Nations of the Daiya Empire, Treikoronea, and Sovyetskaya Rus'. Until now these nations had been focused primarily on rebuilding the devastation created by the Great Quake of 1899, and restoring the balances of power that had prevailed before the collapse of the previous nations. However, by this point the speed and effort of reconstruction had created a storm of nationalist sentiment in all three Nations, and with no more room to expand, border tensions were running rampant. In 1927, after a series of incursions and incidents along disputed frontiers, the leaders of the three nations met in Yashad, a town in the mountains of the central area. For many, it seemed that a declaration of war was imminent.

However, the population was stunned when the final decision came out. In spite of rising differences, the three leaders - Emperor Kakudai, Commissar Narodnov, and Fuhrer Ksaszar - forged a pact of mutual cooperation and alliance, declaring that they would instead turn their imperialist ambitions against the outside world. Throughout the continent, this was seen as a great opportunity to spread Justice and Righteousness across the world, liberating the millions who lived under Capitalist oppression and foreign occupation.

In a flurry of action, large armies were gathered from all three countries and placed aboard large transport ships built specially for the operation. The first landings took place in 1931, and were followed by attacks and invasions - known as the Glorious Campaigns - across the area. At first, the attackers encountered little resistance, and through a combination of numbers and heavy air and naval support they were able to overrun many outposts and bases. The conquered areas were incorporated into the three Empires, and their inhabitants were given equal rights and privileges - in theory if not always in reality.

Unfortunately, as the attacks and campaigns grew bolder, enemy resistance gradually began to rise. In 1940 several large powers entered the war against the Three Empires, bringing the war to a deadly stalemate as large fleet clashes and land battles proved indecisive. The turning point, however, came in 1943, when an enemy admiral was able to trap a large portion of the Daiya Imperial Fleet in a major strait and annihilate it with aerial attacks from the land and sea. With their naval support lost, supply routes cut, and path of escape blocked, the forces on land were forcibly beaten back over the next year.

By late 1944, the war had pushed the Three Empires onto the defensive, and for the first time in known history enemy troops set foot on the continent of Dalu. The Imperial Armies responded with fierce armored counterattacks, but they were heavily outgunned and outnumbered, pushed back by the invaders. Realizing that a total defeat was possible, High Command began resorting to desperate measures in an effort to demoralize the invaders and force a withdrawal. In 1945 the Air Force began using its older planes as manned bombs and missiles, ramming them into enemy ships and troop concentrations. The Army did the same, relying on mass charges of partisan militia to slow the enemy advance.

Meanwhile, enemy forces continued their advance, leveling entire villages and massacring the inhabitants as an act of revenge against the fierce resistance movements. Strategic Bomber fleets made regular air attacks on the major cities and towns, and over time the large interceptor wings of the Imperial Air Force dwindled down to a few valiant aces who flew daily missions against the bomber raids. The cost in civilian lives grew higher every day, but every death only made the defenders more determined to fight to the last.

Treikoronea was the first nation to fall; already plagued by internal divisions, it was seriously fragmented by the turning tide of the war. Fuhrer Ksaszar abdicated from the throne in 1946, effectively announcing his nation's surrender; several weeks later, he was found dead, shot by a group of generals determined to continue the fight. In spite of their effort, the country soon collapsed, and Treikoronean soldiers across the Western regions surrendered in droves.

Sovyetskaya Rus' lasted a little bit longer, its soldiers and generals continuing to defend the last key positions even after Commissar Narodnov was killed in the defense of the Regional Capital. Countless cities became hellscapes of fallen brick and twisted steel, while others were slowly starved into submission as the attackers cut off all trade routes in the middle of the winter.

The last Nation to fall was the Daiya Empire, whose soldiers and citizens were among the most fanatical on the continent. Even in 1947, after the main cities and defensive lines were in ruin and the country was effectively under enemy control, small pockets of footsoldiers continued to fight in defense of hilltop caves and patches of forest. Emperor Kakudai left the Capital, which was destroyed soon afterwards, and went into hiding in a temple palace in modern-day Sheng Province. Crushed at the sight of his beautiful nation in ruins, he treated the war as his own wrongdoing, as he had been the first to propose this ambitious course of action. On November 13, 1947, he committed ritual suicide while on the high tower of the Bai Lian Temple, thus marking the official end of the Great Conquest.

The cost of the war had been truly severe. The national population was reduced to well below half its original size, and many more would die in the coming famines. A total of nine Atomic Bombs had been dropped by the enemy over the course of the attack; all the other cities had been reduced to ashes by conventional firebombing or artillery bombardment. Unwilling to risk letting the nation rise again, the invading forces set up a new government - the High Commonwealth - to keep the continent of Dalu under perpetual occupation. It was a blow from which the Imperium has only recently recovered.

Impact:
The main effect of the Great Conquest was a defining sense of political and military identity. In military propaganda, the war is often portrayed as a patriotic fight between good and evil, a fight from which the Imperium derives its identity. The positions where entire regiments fought to the last man are now reserved as national monuments, and the inteceptor aces who shot down enemy bombers in defense of the people in the cities below are treated as legendary heroes. To this day, Soodean soldiers wear uniforms similar to the kind issued in 1941, with tan tunics and knee-high boots. Tactics of self-sacrifice also play an important role in the military Code of Honor. While Banzai charges and Kamikaze/Taran attacks are rarely used, it is common for ships, planes, or entire ground formations to make dangerous maneuvers in order to save their comrades in arms. Both the initial war mentality (bringing a better life to people living abroad) and the final war mentality (giving up everything in order to defend the innocent) are vital in understanding the Imperial Military's strategic and tactical decisions.

On the other hand, the failed war and its costs also instilled a sense of caution and pragmatism to a people who had learned the hard way that rash moves can easily result in a heavy cost for all those who follow. The Imperium has sworn off the practice of taking foreign land as its own territory, and will typically only resort to warfare if diplomacy fails. There is also a great sense of guilt in many intellectual circles, as the Three Empires often resorted to totalitarian means in order to achieve their ends, sometimes forgetting to see the human cost of their pursuit of perfection.

In addition, the common experience of the war was vital in creating the shared national identity that holds together the Soodean Imperium today. Soldiers from every corner of Dalu fought and died side-by-side on the battlefields, and civilians in every region of the continent suffered the same treatment by invading forces. This sense of a common struggle was only in its infancy, however; it would grow much stronger during the Great Occupation that followed.



The Daiya Empire:
Inspired by the rapid industrial advances of Sovyetskaya Rus', the Daiya Tennou (Great Asia Emperor) launched a program to build up the Eastern reaches of the Imperium, constructing new factories in the cities and provinces away from the central area. Nationalism reached a dizzying, feverish level here, as the citizens reacted to their new prosperity with complete and total loyalty to the Emperor. Traditionalism also made an important comeback, as Classical dress and uniform entered into fashion.

Sovyetskaya Rus':
A Socialist economy based on the Soviet model, Sovyetskaya Rus' was a roaring industrial center by this time, and new efforts were already being made to expand agriculture to the untamed fields of the East and North. The national identity was focused not on a single race or nation, but on the identity of the Working Class itself; and in this way, the nation was able to unite disparate groups from the deserts to the tundras with the common promise of a better life. However, tensions between the working, middle, and upper classes also drove the arts into stagnation as wartime industry took the place of cultured life.

Treikoronea:
Originally a Republic, Treikoronea was by this point a largely Fascist regime, with a strong nationalist emphasis on historical traditions as the path to future greatness. Many have questioned in particular its practice of granting second-class citizenship to the Arabs and Native populations under its rule. These populations were left out of nationalist rhetoric and largely neglected by economic planners, and at several points there were suggestions of a plan to relocate them further south.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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3.b Quality of Life

*this page is still incomplete*

A wise man once said, 'Better is bread and a happy heart, than wealth with vexation.' These words, repeated many times, have been forgotten under the pursuit of individual material gain.
- Emperor Su Dou, Speech for the Second Five-Year Plan.

Overview:
There is widespread disagreement between Capitalist and Socialist observers over whether or not the Imperial State-directed economy has been successful. The terms of the debate largely stem from differing opinions of what determines a good quality of life. In most Capitalist nations, popular culture encourages people to consume as many products as possible, because this will stimulate economic growth. In the Soodean Imperium, the opposite is largely true; people are taught to pursue simple lives, shunning materialism and consumerism in order to become healthier as individuals and as a society.

Before continuing, it is crucial to note that this difference is economic cultures is voluntary and widespread; while there are state and religious efforts to encourage simple living, it would be incorrect to say that the Soodean people are brainwashed into poverty or denied the things they desperately want. Rather, it is a central part of cultural teachings to treat greed as the root of all evils, and instead appreciate the inherent value of living a humble life.

It is also important to avoid confusion with Western notions of "counter-consumerism." To Soodean observers, the "Hippie" and "Hipster" trends are simply variations of mainstream consumerism, as they demand that a person broadcast their individuality through the purchase of rare and sometimes expensive goods. Rather, Soodean "counter-consumerism" follows a combination of traditional and Soviet culture, calling on people to value virtuous behavior and healthy social relations rather than material gain.

Availability of goods:
As a result of the planned economy, basic necessities such as food, clothing, and apartment housing are readily available at a low cost. This, in combination with the progressive employment policy, ensures a remarkable level of social equality and in particular a very low poverty rate. It is also another reason why traditional measures of income understate the quality of life - wages are low, but prices for basic necessities are even lower.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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2.c Important Policy Positions

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Overview:
The Soodean Imperium is not strictly Left or Right, but rather combines different systems in a distinct political ideology that emphasizes self-restraint, law and order, and the importance of the collective good. In accordance with the Soodean National Ideology, it emphasizes "needs before wants, the collective before the individual, and the long-term before the short." Below is an alphabetical summary of the Imperium's positions on major political, social, and economic issues, which the uninformed observer can use to get a basic understanding of Soodean life.

Abortion: Abortion is illegal except in cases of rape, severe birth defects, and risks to the health of the mother. Unwanted pregnancies are rare, due to a combination of strong cultural restraints, progressive educational policies, and harsh punishments for sexual assault.

Alcohol: The purchase and consumption of alcohol are illegal in all provinces of the Imperium. Alcohol use has always been cast in a negative light, and prior to the passage of the Prohibition law it was typically limited to occasional consumption of wine and other light beverages. As a result of high enforcement and low demand, the smuggling business is at an all-time low.

Drugs: (except Tobacco and Alcohol) All illicit drugs and narcotics are illegal, and pharmaceutical medicine is highly regulated to prevent abuse. There is, however, an increasing trend of abusing Brazhesh, a rare herbal extract native to the Imperium which heightens the user's ability to logically analyze situations in the absence of emotion.

Environment: The Soodean Imperium has a high level of environmental protection, with strong restrictions on pollution and a focus on clean, renewable energy. There is a widespread government campaign to emphasize the natural beauty of the Dalu continent and either preserve nature or build in harmony with it.

Free Trade: The Imperium believes in the free-trade theory of comparative advantage, but all trade is conducted through the Imperial Government. Details on this policy can be found here:

Immigration: The immigration and naturalization process is open and easy, and the government even actively advertises the Imperium as a destination for people seeking good economic treatment and ordered society. However, many people leave the country soon after entering if they cannot adjust to the highly ordered way of life.

LGBT Rights: LGBT individuals are given the same social and political rights as straight individuals, including the right to marry their spouses, adopt children, and join the military. However, they also face the same extensive sexual restrictions as straight individuals.

Nuclear Power: Nuclear power currently makes up close to 80% of all energy generation, and the latest generation of reactor designs features decreased levels of waste and an automatic reactor shutdown in the event of coolant failure.

Nuclear Weapons: The Imperial Military has made no attempt to develop nuclear weapons, on the basis that they are intentionally designed for attacks on civilians. There is, however, a large reserve of high-powered conventional-explosive missiles for use against enemy troops.

Private Enterprise: Private ownership of a business is illegal in the Socialist system, but it is very easy to obtain a license for sale of goods as a State enterprise. There are also programs in place which experiment with limited small-scale business and farm ownership.

Smoking: Tobacco, marijuana, and all other smoked drugs are illegal in the Imperium. This law is harshly enforced, but rates of smuggling are low due to the treatment of former addicts. This program has saved the healthcare sector millions of Chings in cancer treatment.

Welfare: Social Welfare is generally unnecessary, due to the ambitious employment program and the high level of income equality. However, there are extensive pension programs for people who cannot work due to illness, injury, or old age.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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2.e Vehicles

OOC: Due to my recent revision of the military, this section is now effectively null and void.

Overview:
Soodean Battle Strategy relies heavily on the use of armored combat vehicles, ranging from formidable Main Battle Tanks that sweep through enemy ground formations to smaller Armored Personnel Carriers that transport infantry to and from the area of battle. Generally speaking, the Imperium uses Soviet vehicles, though the latest generation of vehicles are of entirely Soodean design.

OOC: Do not confuse these tanks with the cheaper Soviet equipment which was exported to Iraq and other Soviet client states. In Real-Life history, the Soviet Union generally exported old vehicles which had been phased out of service and stripped of their advanced equipment, keeping the more powerful units for themselves. The Soodean Army does not use the base T-55 or T-72 (although many T-62s are kept as emergency reserves). Rather, it uses upgraded systems developed at the end of the Cold War, which are fitted with gun-fired missiles, state-of-the-art targeting systems, and reactive armor. While still slightly inferior to modern MBTs like the Challenger II, M1 Abrams, and Leopard 2, they are by no means the steel cannon fodder used by Saddam's forces in the 1991 Gulf War.

Main Battle Tanks: 12,000 in active service
T-62A: 10,560 (in emergency storage)
T-62M: 2,880 (in emergency storage)

T-64BV. Note the heavy reactive armor and infrared searchlight.

T-64BV: 5,760 (simplified suspension and autoloader)
T-72B: 960 (thicker composite armor on hull and turret front)
T-90A: 2,400
Type 98G: 480 (serves 12th Advanced Armor Legion)
Su'Chong 6: 2,400 (independent Soodean design, upgrade of T-90)

Infantry Fighting Vehicles: 4,000 in active service
BPT-2: 3,200 (BMP-2 with lengthened rear section for 8 passengers total)
BMP-3: 640
BWP-2000: 160 (serves 12th Advanced Armor Legion)

Armored Personnel Carriers:
BTR-60: in reserves
BTR-80: Main squad transport
BTR-90: Being phased into service
TD-7: (Independent Soodean design, upgrade of BTR-90)

[The Soodean Imperium]

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International Trade in the Soodean Imperium

Overview:
While the Soodean Imperium can be very isolationist at times, it has relatively open trade policies, in part because the Theory of Comparative Advantage is similar to the Imperium's ideology of Cooperative Efficiency. That being said, the Imperium is also a Socialist economy, meaning that the barrier between the State-controlled domestic economy and the market-based world economy can be hard for the uninitiated to navigate. Therefore, the Bureau of Information has set up this section, to be used as instruction for any person wishing to engage in trade with the Imperium.

Trade Licensing:
All international traders must register with the Bureau of International Trade, apply for an importer/exporter license, and comply with the Bureau's protocols. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to acquire a license, as the current Government is open to trade. Licenses will be denied to persons with a history of dishonest negotiation, or those with ties to illegal mercantile activities. They may also be denied for political reasons in the event of hostile relations with the applicant's country of operations, though trade with neutral Capitalist or even Corporatist nations is still fairly common.

Trade Contracts:
Because the Soodean economy is Centralized Socialist, goods are acquired and sold based on the State's production schedule. Once his or her license is approved, a trader will be allowed to negotiate with a representative from the Bureau of International Trade to agree on an acceptable trade contract. As per the terms of such a contract, the trader will buy or sell a certain quantity of goods over a certain period of time, with the option to renew the contract as necessary once it is finished. The contract also sets the price of the goods, which is usually determined by supply and demand on the international market.

Exchange Rates:
In the Soodean domestic economy, all prices are set by the government, meaning that the currency (Ching) does not have an easily measurable exchange rate compared to other currencies. Fortunately, the Imperium does not use it in international trade; rather, it keeps a reserve of foreign currencies that were gained through previous trades. This reserve is part physical and part electronic, and is used to pay other countries' exporters in their own currency. The system is somewhat outdated and has many flaws, such as the inherent limit on the value that can be imported, but it has served the country well enough that it remains in use.

Main Exports:
Soodean goods are typically thought of as "cheap but reliable;" they are generally plain, simple, and inexpensive, but can withstand a lot of reuse and damage while staying intact. Traders are encouraged to form a manufacturing contract whereby goods designed abroad are manufactured for a low price in the Imperium. There are also a number of handicraft or cultural goods, which are known for their quality but are also generally based on Soodean culture and have a limited audience abroad. Main exports include:
- Books
- Textiles and clothing
- Tourist visits to the Imperium
- Music recordings (Classical, Military, Traditional)
- Simple manufactured goods
- Handicrafts
- Low-cost automobiles

Main Imports:
The main imports are consumer goods and other items deemed "luxuries" by the Economic Bureau. These items are rarely produced in the Imperium itself, and are instead provided almost entirely through importation. Main imports include:
- Computers and Electronics
- Furniture
- Carbonated Beverages
- Rubber and Plastics
- Clean Energy Technology
- Medium and luxury automobiles

Contraband Goods:
The following items are banned in the Soodean Imperium; they may not be imported as they are banned in the Imperium, and cannot be exported as they are not produced there. Any traders found guilty of smuggling these illegal goods may be subject to any punishment ranging from permanent loss of import/export license to execution. Contraband goods include:
- Weapons for private ownership
- Pornographic material
- Illicit drugs and Narcotics
- Alcohol, fermented or distilled
- Tobacco goods, including Marijuana
- Consumer goods featuring overly prominent logos or advertising (yes, this is actually banned)

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Togo-class Heavy Cruiser


Heavy Cruiser ISS Ikaro on trial patrol. The vessel in the background is ISS Ocun, an Amur-class escort destroyer.

Type: Heavy Cruiser/Fast Cruiser

Armament:
- (5x2) 200mm Naval Gun
- (1x10) UGST torpedo
- (10x2) 25mm 6-barrel CIWS autocannon
- (2x3) 9M317 "BUK" missile

Advantages:
- High speed for a ship of its size and firepower
- Very good range and accuracy for the Main Guns
- Very good CIWS/SAM to the sides and rear

Maximum speed: 42 knots (77.8 km/h)

Nomenclature: Important historical individuals
(ISS Togo, ISS Sultan Selim, ISS Yamamoto)

Dimensions:
- Length: 181 meters
- Beam (Width): 18 meters
- Draught (depth of keel): 5.4 meters
- Height (to top of mast): 24.3 meters

Disadvantages:
- CIWS/SAM defenses are relatively thin directly to the bow
- No devoted ship-to-ship missiles

Design:
Once the Namikaze-class Heavy Destroyer was already in service, Soodean naval engineers foresaw the need for a new, heavier ship, which would be able to serve as the flagship for small patrol fleets. In order to fulfill this role, the design would need speed and maneuverability, but also the command equipment to operate independently from the rest of the unit. After a brief design competition between the two leading naval design firms, the two programs were eventually merged into a single ship with a larger hull. Soon after the ISS Admiral Togo was launched, it became apparent that the designers had underestimated the ship's capabilities. On the first day of speed trials, the vessel reached a top speed of 42 knots, outrunning its Heavy Destroyer escorts. Its guns also proved remarkably accurate, especially when firing the new guided shells. Impressed by this performance, the Naval Design Bureau decided to increase the rate of construction, and the Togo-class was soon entering service as a battle cruiser rather than a task force flagship.

Overview:
The Togo's main distinguishing feature is its sleek profile, with low-lying turrets slowly ascending around a two-stage superstructure. At the center of the superstructure lies a helipad, which may be used to land a State Autogyro to ferry an Admiral to and from the ship, or a Ka-25 for Anti-Submarine operations or target-spotting. The perilous location between the two smokestacks makes for difficult takeoffs and landings, but was chosen because it allows easy transport to and from the bridge and clears up the rear turrets' line of fire.

The ship's main advantage in combat comes from its 200mm Main Batteries, which are an adaptation of similar guns mounted in stationary fortifications as coastal defenses. The combination of a long barrel and the option to use guided shells gives these guns impressive range and accuracy, allowing them to reliably score hits on enemy surface vessels and coastal positions. Its CIWS battery is also a force to be feared, with a total of 10 radar-aimed guns making the ship well-defended against incoming missiles. These guns have a small blind spot in that they are not able to consistently fire at a target directly in front of the bow when the forward turrets are at an angle. For this reason, Togo-class vessels will usually approach an enemy formation at a slight angle when fired upon.

Tactics:
In a naval battle, Togo-class vessels usually use their accurate Main Guns to provide "marksman fire" from slightly behind the main line of Heavy Destroyers. They can also serve as skirmishing vessels, rushing forward to fire precision volleys and torpedo spreads before quickly dashing back to safety. In small patrol formations, they may serve as the flagship to a group of destroyers.

Service:
There are currently 19 Togo-class Heavy Destroyers in service with the Imperial Navy; there are no plans to cease production or withdraw units from service. Most of the ships are assigned to Main Battle Fleets, while perhaps four are assigned to coastal patrols.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Standart-Class Battleship
Note: this article refers to the retconned decommissioned Standart-class battleships which were operated in the Revolutionary Navy.
For the modern Standart-class Guided Missile Cruiser built as part of the Naval Modernization Effort, click here.

ISS Standart and ISS Chuusei, the first two battleships of this class. Note the five-turret layout and the glass bridges.

Specifications:
- Length: 225 meters overall
- Draft: 9.7 meters
- Beam: 35 meters
- Standard Displacement: 32,450 tons
- Complement: 1,897 total
- Propulsion: 12-boiler steam turbine driving 4 propeller shafts
- Maximum Speed: 31 knots
- Traveling Range: 19,200 kilometers at 14 knots

Armament:
- 15x 300mm Naval Gun (5 triple mounts)
- 20x 150mm Naval/Flak gun (10 double mounts)
- other misc AA guns (WIP)

Overview:

---

The Standart-class battleships were better described as large battlecruisers, 225 meters in length and 35 meters wide. They each carried fifteen 300mm naval guns in five three-gun turrets, as well as a formidable array of dual-purpose AA/ASuW guns along the sides. Introduced in 1940, the class served under the Dai-Oukou Empire as main-line battleships, under the Occupation Navy as propaganda and intimidation vessels, and under the Soodean Revolutionary Fleet as shore bombardment, command, and fleet combat vessels. The sole surviving vessel out of three was decommissioned as part of a naval modernization effort, and is currently being used as a museum ship.

History:

---

The concept of the Five-Turret Battleship (Go-Hosho Senkan) had its origins in the years prior to the Great Conquest, as naval architects sought to create increasingly impressive designs to showcase the Dai Oukou's might and glory. The first round of designs were largely impractical, and never made it past the drawing board; but the onset of the campaigns raised a pressing demand for a more modern, more capable ship, and the designs began to look increasingly serious. The first hull was laid down in 1938, and commissioned as IDNS Standart in 1940; two more followed in 1942 and 1943, respectively, and at least three more keels were laid down by 1944. Some documents hint that there were plans to build at least nine ships in all, but the changing outlook in the war and the growing shortage of material meant that the hulls still in drydock were scrapped for steel in 1945.

The ships performed admirably in a string of naval engagements, achieving good speed and a high rate of fire, but arrived at a time when the shift toward airpower was eliminating the need for a fast battlecruiser like Standart. The third ship in the series, IDNS Geroizm, was sunk by dive-bombers while in the open ocean off the northeast coast in 1945, prompting High Command to restrict the surviving two ships to coastal defense patrols. After another air attack seriously damaged the ISS Chuusei in 1946, the vessels were both moved to fortified ports in the Gulf of Aqbar, where they were hastily refitted with more advanced radar and gun-sighting arrays. The war ended while both were still under repair; some reports suggest that ISS Standart weighed anchor and sailed out into the bay firing her aft-most turret as the enemy approached the port, but she was soon hit on the waterline, sinking into the shallow mud near the shore.

During the Great Occupation, both surviving Standarts were slowly refitted by occupation forces, and beginning in 1962 they were employed as heavy patrol vessels. The vessels were never used in combat, even against the surviving resistance strongholds. They were, however, useful as symbolic tools of humiliation and demoralization, and spent most of the Occupation years in dock or on show patrols. Shortly after the 1987 Decembrist Uprising established the Soodean Revolutionary State in the East, mechanics on the ISS Chuusei (stationed in the west of the country) mutinied and killed their occupation officers, raising a navy blue flag on the mast and declaring their loyalty to the revolutionaries. Standart, stationed in the East, was abandoned by its Occupation crew and captured by Soodean revolutionary forces shortly thereafter.

For the first few years after the Glorious Revolution, these vessels saw active service in the Soodean Navy, where they were used as fleet flagships and employed to moderate effect in multiple operations. After the Murder War in Themiclesia, which saw the sinking of the ISS Chuusei in what some conspiracy theorists hold to be an extraterrestrial attack, the Standart was decommissioned as part of a major effort to modernize and revitalize the Imperial Soodean Navy. Initial plans suggested that the ship be torn up for scrap, but widespread protests and demonstrations persuaded officials to convert her into a museum ship. She is currently located at the Museum of the Revolutionary Flotilla in the capital city of Su'Cheng.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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List of Imperial Legions

OOC: This ORBAT is based on a population of 1.2 billion. It may be revised when the population reaches its 2-billion cap.

Overview:

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The main strategic unit of the Soodean Army is the Legion, a force of 10,000 soldiers. It is roughly equivalent to a Division in most other armies. Their main forms include Armored Legions, Infantry Legions, and New Expeditionary Legions.

1st Armored: LKmdr Mikhail Vdokhnova. Tank: T-90A. Experience: **
2nd Armored: LKmdr Jacinto Pendon. Tank: T-64BV. Experience: **
3rd Armored:
4th Armored:
5th Armored: LKmdr Igor Brasovskii. Tank: T-90A. Experience: ***
6th Armored: LKmdra Kazuko Hisashi. Tank: T-64BV. Experience: **
7th Armored:
8th Armored:
9th Armored:
10th Armored: LKmdr Uqad Sharif. Tank: T-90A. Experience: **
11th Armored:
12th Armored:
13th Armored: LKmdr Bulent Kalmadir. Tank: T-64BV. Experience: *
14th Armored:
15th Armored: LKmdr Tamir Ka'en. Tank: T-64BV. Experience: ***
16th Armored: Tank: T-64BV. Experience: **
17th Armored: LKmdra Kiyoko Hayabusa. Tank: T-64BV. Experience: **
18th Armored: LKmdr Grigory Yashenko. Tank: T-64BV. Experience: *
19th Armored: LKmdr Huang Yuan. Tank: T-64BV. Experience: *
20th Armored: Tank: T-90A. Experience: **
21st Armored: Tank: SCh-6. Experience: **
22nd Armored: LKmdr Faisal Dakhad. Tank: SCh-6. Experience: **
23rd Armored: LKmdr Jian Hongbao. Tank: SCh-6. Experience: **
24th Armored: LKmdr Daisuke Isshin. Tank: SCh-6. Experience: **
25th Armored: LKmdr Viktor Starikin. Tank: SCh-6. Experience: **

*many more will be added in time*

[The Soodean Imperium]

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FnK-5 "Feszek"

FnK-5 "Feszek"
Overview:

Role: Self-Propelled AA Gun
Crew: 3 (driver, commander, gunner)
Dimensions: L 8.93m, W 3.50m, H 3.61m

Performance:
Maximum Speed: 60km/h onroad, 50 offroad
Operational Range: 950 m (external tanks)

Armament:
Main: 2x 50mm proximity-fuse autocannon
Missiles:
8x Igla-S (FnK-5B
6x 9M333 (FnK-5C)
4x 9M33M3 (FnK-5E)

Advantages:
- Superior gun range
- High damage and exceptional penetration
- Good armor for an SPAAG

Disadvantages:
- relies on other vehicles for scanning radar
- Poor missile range (except FnK-5E)

The prototype "Objekt 624," which would serve as the base for future "Feszek" developments

Design:
The FnK-5 project began in relatively recent years, as Soodean designers searched for an alternative to the 9K22 "Tunguska" already in service. While the addition of the 9M311-1M missile substantially improved that vehicle's capabilities, its main gun range was still considered low, and its penetration capabilities were being put into doubt by the possibility of new, heavily armored aircraft on the enemy side. What the designers believed they needed was a system for intermediate-range surface-to-air combat, to fill the gap between MANPADS systems like the Igla missile and medium-range SAMs like the Buk-M1-2.

The resulting prototype, dubbed "Objekt 624," presented a possible solution. As with the shift from the Shilka to the Tunguska, the gun calibre was substantially upgraded to allow for greater range and damage. Early models used the DBN-50 autocannon, which was introduced in 1938, but these were quickly replaced with a more modern 50mm weapon that could sustain a higher rate of fire. The lower half of its chasis was borrowed from the SCh-6 tank; the engine and lower hull were identical, though the upper hull was enlarged and the interior modified. Unique among anti-air vehicles, it has relatively thick armor, protecting it from nearby explosions, light projectiles, and even direct hits from certain missiles, though a tandem-charge missile is usually enough to penetrate its reactive armor.

While the designers had always intended to equip the vehicle with intermediate-range anti-air missiles, disagreement over which system to implement stalled the program, and the initial FnK-5A variant entered service with guns only. The FnK-5B, equipped with the Igla-S, was abandoned after designers reasoned that infantry with MANPADS could achieve the same missile range; the FnK-5E mounted the longer-range Osa missile, but the installation of a radar guidance system proved difficult, and this variant only saw limited production. In the end, the designers selected the FnK-5C, which featured the 9M333 missile of the Strela-10. Though it suffers from poor range and low speed, the 9M333 features an advanced tracking system and a heavy warhead.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Ha-150A Towed Artillerypiece


A battery of early Ha-150As performing field exercises in the Great Praries.

Ha-150A
Overview:

Role:Heavy Artillery/Light Howitzer
Crew:5 (commander, gunner, 3x loader)
Dimensions: Barrel Length 7.40 m

Elevation: -5 to +60 degrees
Traverse: -30 to +30 degrees
Maximum Range: 20 km
Minimum Range: 500m (direct fire)
Rate of Fire: 3 r/m (maximum), 1 r/m (sustained)

Overview:
The Ha-150A is a 150mm light howitzer/heavy artillerypiece in widespread use with Soodean "trench-fighting legions." It can be used either to bombard defensive positions, such as infantry in buildings or trenches, or to suppress mobile or armored units in battle. A typical barrage consists of HE or thermobaric rounds, though smoke, HEAT, and laser-guided range-extended rounds are also carried.

[The Soodean Imperium]

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Soodean Military Summary

*OOC: this page is a work in progress*

Overview:

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The Soodean Imperium operates a relatively strong military, with 7 million active soldiers and 17 million reserves. From a (capped) population of roughly 1.2 billion, these add up to 0.58% and 1.42%, respectively. Of the active soldiers, 2 million are designated as ready to deploy to foreign conflicts, and the remaining 5 million are generally reserved for defensive duties. The reserves are similarly divided up, with 11 million in organized labor and 6 million in typical man-at-arms reserve service. More thorough information on this system can be found in our article about the Line System.

Manpower:

---

From a population of 1.2 billion:

By Line System:
Line One (Active, on Standby): 2,000,000
Line Two (Active, in Fort): 5,000,000
Line Three (Reserve Labor Service): 11,000,000
Line Four (Reserve Reinforcement Service): 6,000,000
Line Five (Emergency Partisan Volunteers): Up to 20% of the invaded area's population.

By Conventional System:
Active: (Lines One and Two): 7,000,000
Reserve: (Lines Three and Four): 17,000,000