World On Fire: Shadow Ops [OPEN] (OOC/Fantasy WW2)

[Wolfenium]

Does this post please you, Longpost Beast!? Does this please you!?

EDIT: Also, I obviously can't speak Pennsylvanian Dutch, so expect awful Google translations with personal modding.

[Minroz]

I'm going to post soonish so I can catch up.

[Monfrox]

While Matt is pretty great,

Jannie would be a better Mass Effect companion.

Jannie: [long diatribe about the advantages and duties of class, aristocratic rule, etc.]...You may go, Commander.
Shepard: I should go.

Yes, he should

[Occupied Deutschland]

I took the liberty of giving the SS officer a rank, Agri (Hauptsturmfuehrer). I can change this as necessary.

[Agritum]

I took the liberty of giving the SS officer a rank, Agri (Hauptsturmfuehrer). I can change this as necessary.

That's an LT, right? No issues with that.

[Occupied Deutschland]

I took the liberty of giving the SS officer a rank, Agri (Hauptsturmfuehrer). I can change this as necessary.

That's an LT, right? No issues with that.

Captain, actually. I can move it down to LT with the magic of the 'edit' button though if you wish.

[Agritum]

That's an LT, right? No issues with that.

Captain, actually. I can move it down to LT with the magic of the 'edit' button though if you wish.

That would be good.

[Latznavia]

Player Character App (Shadow Ops Operative)

Name: Ian "Chap" Wellesly
__-(False name: George Carlow)
Gender: Male
Age: 151
D.O.B.: 25 Feburary, 1792; ca. 1818 (Vampirism)
Physical Description and/or Picture:

Species: Vampire
Nationality: Irish/British
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Religion (if any):
Bio:
Ian Wellesly was never born into lavish or luxuries as a child, but instead was faced with the dark reality of a poor farmstead in Northern Downpatrick. The family was in the vast majority of Catholics that inhabited Ireland, which was an unfavorable position of the Protestant government and became the victims of much sectarianism. These laws made it tough for the family to achieve much more than a single farmstead and monetary assistance which lead to their near famished lifestyle.

In 1798, following the announcement that all Catholics were barred from the Irish House of Commons and limited voting, His father joined the Society of the United Irishman in hopes of granting his family a better life. Though payments were frequent, his father could not afford them to sail away until finally in 1798. The Rebellion of 1798 forced Ian and his mother to escape from Ireland, as chaos rain rampant through the Isle. Ian's mother and himself went to London, shortly after they were informed that his father had been killed in the Battle of Three Rocks.

Ian grew up, forced to survive in the city of London. Though, things were not as bad in Ireland. Here, times were changing and Catholics were more welcomed and often treated better. His mother became a seamstress for a linen company and Ian became an apprentice blacksmith. Ian's chance came with luck in 1812, when Britain declared war once again with America. Ian, needing a better paying job, quickly signed up for the British Army in 1812 at the age of 21. He soon became a Private in the British Forces and sent to America. Serving under Sir George Drummond, a Canadian, in the Niagara theatre of the war. During the war, he earned the rank of Captain after his feats in Battle of Buffalo, Lundy's Lane, and the Siege of Fort Erie before being returned in 1815 after a British Loss.

After the war, even though greeted back as a Hero, work became hard and he gave into petty thievery with pals. It was around this time he began to join the rising Street Gangs of London and became part of a group known as "The Bleeders", a street gang renowned for leaving nearly bloodless corpses all about. His skills as a Defender earned the trust of the Gang Leader, Harold Fitzroy who welcomed him into the inner circle. The vampire, known as "The Count", showed Ian the way of the gang. Honor, loyalty, these were things that Ian slowly grew to know. The life he had wanted, luxury and respect were coming to him at last. In 1818, Harold "The Count" Fitzroy offered him to join as a child of his Courtship to which Ian willingly agreed and began his servitude.

With the growing fear of Vampirism though, it wasn't long before Harold was found dead in the streets by some of London's more "respected" Vampire Hunters. "The Bleeders" were divided by leadership, and soon broke apart into numerous smaller gangs but Ian didn't like that. He began his gang known as "The Hooks", and through a bizarre combination of fear and respect, he retook the former leaders of "The Bleeders" and recombined the gang under his rule and his Courtship in 1887. "The Hooks" became grossly popular, it's members were gentlemen and it's trade and smuggling were overly successful by the start of the 20th Century. They went mostly unchallenged due to their love of placing their enemies on meat hooks. Ian overlooked all operations with a strict code, "Honor with Respect, Dishonor with Death".

The start of World War I gave Ian an opportunity to become familiar with the growing trend of machine technology, and quickly joined under the alias of George Carlow and was granted the position of Captain. It was here that his stance on Honor took a large advantage with his vampiric need, those who lied to him, refused to respect him, or even talk of mutiny, were quickly dealt with and their voices were silenced. By the end of the war, Ian was mortified by the death of his mortal friends and the waste of so much blood and life. Traumatized, he returned to the safety of London where his Courtship had grown during his vacancy. His regent, and best friend, helped him to readjust and continue his activities which only grew more active as many veterans started gangs themselves in the London Area.

The Great Depression brought new wealth to the gangs, which was done through the smuggling of whiskeys and wines into New York under the muse of food rations. Though, the 1940s brought back memories when the Germans began the London Blitz. To help London, his gang personnel became Robin Hoods. Helping citizens find shelters, and even turning their own homes into shelters, as well as stealing food for those who could not get to it. But for Ian, it wasn't enough, he wanted to show the world the power of the English and soon rejoined the Army. His records, which now were on file, surprised many English Officials. Shadow Command were one of the first to see his file, and his records, and invited him.

Psychological Profile:
Time has done much to Ian's psyche. never the product of an aristocrat, Ian has always tried to assist those who could never help himself. It is generally believed it is because no one did the same for him. Although fighting dirty and cheating in gambling were not honorable ideals for a child, these acts were quickly removed after his service in the army with the idea of Loyalty and Honor. These only seemed to grow with the integration into the vampiric underworld as well as the criminal underworld. With the death of his Count and the rise of power, he has done his best to not allow his new status and wealth corrupt him. Even with time, his ideals of honor and loyalty have not faded and in fact grown stronger as he formed his own courtship. Ian never really wants to fight, he finds it unnecessary to get worked up to the point of fisticuffs though it is not said that he won't refuse when the opportunity arises. During the time of World War I, he has learned that it is impossible force his ideals of honor and respect on others though isn't afriad to berate those who lack it when they need it.

Ian also is a Catholic follower. Although not always practicing, he has little patience for the Protestants whom forced him away in his early life. Though he doesn't care for politics, he believes that a good democracy is impossible and that many fail to realize how much of a dictatorship it is. It is because of this, many believe he is pro-monarchy despite the troubles it brought him as a child. He believes that every man has a set place in life and that all men spend their lives getting to that point, which is why Democracy is failed due to it allowing all voices to speak at once with no control. Ian also shows excellent self-control, though will show his temper against those he sees as unfit to serve. He is very knowing of his abilities and is comfortable with his skills, but fails at deducing others capabilities and often enjoys testing others in their ways, capabilities, and even beliefs to see what they are made of.

Ian enjoys drinking blood, but isn't completely mindless to it's muse. He can control it well, and unlike much of his courtship, will not need to jump at it on sight.
Why do you fight?:
“So you ask me why I fight. Well, honestly and for truthfully mate? It is because there is an enemy, and don't think of it as some revenge thing. It's not. The truth is, I can't see much honor in a man having his goons come into someone's home and declare that it is his and the family has no rights to be there. It ain't fair, it ain't right. So, why do I fight? It is because when evil shows it's ugly mug there has to be a judge, a man to look right back at it and say no. This ain't right. You can't do this. And if that ugly mug should point its guns and its missiles and its tanks and planes at you, you can't back down. You have to stand for your belief, and if it gets you shot. Then you're a Martyr, and you died for what you believe in. Good for you. You have given something to those around you, an idea of what a hero is. A man who stands up when the mug says stay down. Thats what I fight for, and you can type that up and take it to the German Furi- Foor-...f**k it's name. Take it to Hitler for all I care.”
**End excerpt**

Defining Quote: “Honor with Respect, Dishonor with Death”
RP Sample: From before

This man will be replacing my app for Ian McKinnon. I decided to keep the Irish feel, because I love what was going on with Britain and it's easier to understand then Ireland.

[Agritum]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfeZxrN_db4

This influenced me a lot back when I was writing the OP. Great video.

[Monfrox]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfeZxrN_db4

This influenced me a lot back when I was writing the OP. Great video.

10/10

Also, you magnificent bastard, telling Willow to get a motorcycle.

Couldn't help but think of this

[Agritum]

It's moment like these that you wish you had been a werecat, Malshan.

[Rupudska]

Markus got ran over by the Beast, I believe.

[Malshan]

Sorry, haven't had the time to post. Makes for an amusing turn of events, however.

So, Agri....just how much damage am I allowed to do to the car? Because we all know Markus isn't going to just let go of it.

EDIT: Also, no. Glad that I'm NOT a werecat. Felines are good for nothing but trouble. >_>

[Reverend Norv]

Bit of writer's block. Will post in a few days.

[Nature-Spirits]

Sorry, haven't had the time to post. Makes for an amusing turn of events, however.

So, Agri....just how much damage am I allowed to do to the car? Because we all know Markus isn't going to just let go of it.

EDIT: Also, no. Glad that I'm NOT a werecat. Felines are good for nothing but trouble. >_>

Felines are cuter than canines. :3

*runs up a tree*

[Agritum]

Sorry, haven't had the time to post. Makes for an amusing turn of events, however.

So, Agri....just how much damage am I allowed to do to the car? Because we all know Markus isn't going to just let go of it.

EDIT: Also, no. Glad that I'm NOT a werecat. Felines are good for nothing but trouble. >_>

Take out the car but don't endanger the driver.

For obvious reasons.

[Minroz]

I posted. Btw, I'm trying to shoot at the tires, not killing the drive or Markus, just to let u guys know.

[Agritum]

So because I have a inbuilt magnet for right wing cranks and loonies, I discovered the channel of an English speaking Japanese far right nationalist woman who makes stilted, upbeat pop songs about how Japan brought freedom to the co-prosperity sphere, Korea made up the whole comfort women system and other revisionist themes dear to Uyoku Dantai troops. She's got 53k followers.

I'm not going to link of it, because the videos are frankly brain rotting and, since we've actually got Chinese RPers in here, I guess it would be the equivalent of posting Nazi Rock on the Jewish discussion thread.

*Beat*


It's things like these that makes me think MacArthur fucked up.

[Monfrox]

So because I have a inbuilt magnet for right wing cranks and loonies, I discovered the channel of an English speaking Japanese far right nationalist woman who makes stilted, upbeat pop songs about how Japan brought freedom to the co-prosperity sphere, Korea made up the whole comfort women system and other revisionist themes dear to Uyoku Dantai troops. She's got 53k followers.

I'm not going to link of it, because the videos are frankly brain rotting and, since we've actually got Chinese RPers in here, I guess it would be the equivalent of posting Nazi Rock on the Jewish discussion thread.

*Beat*


It's things like these that makes me think MacArthur fucked up.

You mean aside from wanting to invade China up through Korea and not listening to anyone but Truman?

[Agritum]

So because I have a inbuilt magnet for right wing cranks and loonies, I discovered the channel of an English speaking Japanese far right nationalist woman who makes stilted, upbeat pop songs about how Japan brought freedom to the co-prosperity sphere, Korea made up the whole comfort women system and other revisionist themes dear to Uyoku Dantai troops. She's got 53k followers.

I'm not going to link of it, because the videos are frankly brain rotting and, since we've actually got Chinese RPers in here, I guess it would be the equivalent of posting Nazi Rock on the Jewish discussion thread.

*Beat*


It's things like these that makes me think MacArthur fucked up.

You mean aside from wanting to invade China up through Korea and not listening to anyone but Truman?

He took the Renegade option when dealing with the Hirohito dilemma, I'd say.

[Wolfenium]

You mean aside from wanting to invade China up through Korea and not listening to anyone but Truman?

He took the Renegade option when dealing with the Hirohito dilemma, I'd say.

Instant sunshine helps persuasion quite a lot. That and waves upon waves of Soviet steel.

So because I have a inbuilt magnet for right wing cranks and loonies, I discovered the channel of an English speaking Japanese far right nationalist woman who makes stilted, upbeat pop songs about how Japan brought freedom to the co-prosperity sphere, Korea made up the whole comfort women system and other revisionist themes dear to Uyoku Dantai troops. She's got 53k followers.

I'm not going to link of it, because the videos are frankly brain rotting and, since we've actually got Chinese RPers in here, I guess it would be the equivalent of posting Nazi Rock on the Jewish discussion thread.

*Beat*


It's things like these that makes me think MacArthur fucked up.

Considering my cable TV's showing God-Mode-Yamato at the Magic High School on Animax, I'd say I personally don't mind that much, but I can't speak for others.

[Reverend Norv]

You mean aside from wanting to invade China up through Korea and not listening to anyone but Truman?

He took the Renegade option when dealing with the Hirohito dilemma, I'd say.

Ordinarily, no one is a bigger fan of killing monarchs than I am. In my view, the only good crowned head is a decapitated one.

*nods at flag*

But in this particular case, allowing Hirohito to remain on the throne saved hundreds of thousands - maybe millions - of lives. Hirohito honored his bargain: he renounced his divinity and helped Japan transition to genuine democracy. And as a result, true right-wing cranks are on the political margins of Japan, and the country has remained a democracy - however flawed - for generations.

Had MacArthur killed Hirohito, he would have created a martyr for the militarist cause, and even if democratic forces had won the inevitable civil war, Japan would be a deeply divided country in which militarism retained intense emotional and political appeal. Realistically, there is no good outcome foreseeable from the emperor's death.

So in this particular case, I have to say that it was better to let the emperor live. Whether Japan should still have an emperor - that is a completely different question.

I am inclined to think that Truman chickened out in another way, though. With the benefit of hindsight, we should have chased Stalin out of eastern Europe in 1945. It was a unique opportunity: we had nearly as many troops as the USSR, way more airpower, and exclusive control of the atomic bomb. Letting Hirohito live brought peace to Japan. Letting Stalin keep Eastern Europe brought slavery to a hundred million people. It was by far the bigger mistake.

[Rupudska]

He took the Renegade option when dealing with the Hirohito dilemma, I'd say.

Ordinarily, no one is a bigger fan of killing monarchs than I am. In my view, the only good crowned head is a decapitated one.

*nods at flag*

But in this particular case, allowing Hirohito to remain on the throne saved hundreds of thousands - maybe millions - of lives. Hirohito honored his bargain: he renounced his divinity and helped Japan transition to genuine democracy. And as a result, true right-wing cranks are on the political margins of Japan, and the country has remained a democracy - however flawed - for generations.

Had MacArthur killed Hirohito, he would have created a martyr for the militarist cause, and even if democratic forces had won the inevitable civil war, Japan would be a deeply divided country in which militarism retained intense emotional and political appeal. Realistically, there is no good outcome foreseeable from the emperor's death.

So in this particular case, I have to say that it was better to let the emperor live. Whether Japan should still have an emperor - that is a completely different question.

I am inclined to think that Truman chickened out in another way, though. With the benefit of hindsight, we should have chased Stalin out of eastern Europe in 1945. It was a unique opportunity: we had nearly as many troops as the USSR, way more airpower, and exclusive control of the atomic bomb. Letting Hirohito live brought peace to Japan. Letting Stalin keep Eastern Europe brought slavery to a hundred million people. It was by far the bigger mistake.

Well due to Japan's lack of a military on paper, the Emperor is little more than a figurehead. And anti-war sentiment has been deeply ingrained into Japanese culture, to the point where the remnants of those right-wing cranks are now fringe groups at best.

And as for going after Stalin, the problem is that we likely would have had to do it largely alone. Europe was (quite justifiably) sick of war, and the UK and France in particular were in no position to help. China was too busy violently tearing itself apart to be of any use, and even if we were to convince Japan to help then and there, they were in no economic or industrial position to help either.

[Reverend Norv]

Ordinarily, no one is a bigger fan of killing monarchs than I am. In my view, the only good crowned head is a decapitated one.

*nods at flag*

But in this particular case, allowing Hirohito to remain on the throne saved hundreds of thousands - maybe millions - of lives. Hirohito honored his bargain: he renounced his divinity and helped Japan transition to genuine democracy. And as a result, true right-wing cranks are on the political margins of Japan, and the country has remained a democracy - however flawed - for generations.

Had MacArthur killed Hirohito, he would have created a martyr for the militarist cause, and even if democratic forces had won the inevitable civil war, Japan would be a deeply divided country in which militarism retained intense emotional and political appeal. Realistically, there is no good outcome foreseeable from the emperor's death.

So in this particular case, I have to say that it was better to let the emperor live. Whether Japan should still have an emperor - that is a completely different question.

I am inclined to think that Truman chickened out in another way, though. With the benefit of hindsight, we should have chased Stalin out of eastern Europe in 1945. It was a unique opportunity: we had nearly as many troops as the USSR, way more airpower, and exclusive control of the atomic bomb. Letting Hirohito live brought peace to Japan. Letting Stalin keep Eastern Europe brought slavery to a hundred million people. It was by far the bigger mistake.

Well due to Japan's lack of a military on paper, the Emperor is little more than a figurehead. And anti-war sentiment has been deeply ingrained into Japanese culture, to the point where the remnants of those right-wing cranks are now fringe groups at best.

And as for going after Stalin, the problem is that we likely would have had to do it largely alone. Europe was (quite justifiably) sick of war, and the UK and France in particular were in no position to help. China was too busy violently tearing itself apart to be of any use, and even if we were to convince Japan to help then and there, they were in no economic or industrial position to help either.

Sure. But here's the thing: with all that, 1945 was still the best moment to go after Stalin. We had an enormous wartime army, most of which was already forward-deployed in Germany. Wait even a year, and half those troops are mustered out of wartime service and back in civilian life on the wrong side of the Atlantic. The Soviet Union was still devastated by war, which meant we could outproduce them in armor and aircraft. Wait even a year, and the Soviets get to move the rest of their factories from the Urals back to the Russian heartland. And most importantly, we were the sole possessors of the atomic bomb, and the Soviets knew that we were willing to use it. By 1949, Stalin had a bomb of his own, and a conventional offensive in Europe was off the table.

The point is this: knowing what we now know about Soviet rule in Eastern Europe, it seems clear that there was a moral imperative to keep Stalin behind the USSR's prewar frontiers. And the only moment when we could realistically have done that was in 1945, immediately after Germany's surrender. Truman let the opportunity go by. I continue to believe that this was a mistake.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Well due to Japan's lack of a military on paper, the Emperor is little more than a figurehead. And anti-war sentiment has been deeply ingrained into Japanese culture, to the point where the remnants of those right-wing cranks are now fringe groups at best.

And as for going after Stalin, the problem is that we likely would have had to do it largely alone. Europe was (quite justifiably) sick of war, and the UK and France in particular were in no position to help. China was too busy violently tearing itself apart to be of any use, and even if we were to convince Japan to help then and there, they were in no economic or industrial position to help either.

Sure. But here's the thing: with all that, 1945 was still the best moment to go after Stalin. We had an enormous wartime army, most of which was already forward-deployed in Germany. Wait even a year, and half those troops are mustered out of wartime service and back in civilian life on the wrong side of the Atlantic. The Soviet Union was still devastated by war, which meant we could outproduce them in armor and aircraft. Wait even a year, and the Soviets get to move the rest of their factories from the Urals back to the Russian heartland. And most importantly, we were the sole possessors of the atomic bomb, and the Soviets knew that we were willing to use it. By 1949, Stalin had a bomb of his own, and a conventional offensive in Europe was off the table.

The point is this: knowing what we now know about Soviet rule in Eastern Europe, it seems clear that there was a moral imperative to keep Stalin behind the USSR's prewar frontiers. And the only moment when we could realistically have done that was in 1945, immediately after Germany's surrender. Truman let the opportunity go by. I continue to believe that this was a mistake.

I wholeheartedly agree, alongside internment I've always seen the abandonment of Eastern Europe as probably the largest American betrayal/cowardice/etc. of the war. Allowing one dictator to be traded in for another was immensely disgusting from the perspective (at least my own interpretation) of American principle and (my own assessment of) practicality.