World of Flames [IC/ALT-FT/OPEN](COBALT NETWORK SPONSORED)

[Pacificora]

OP: Pacificora

Co-OPs: Welfresio

Advisors: Plzen

Map 14/2/2017

OOC

Welcome to the world, but it is not the one you know.

Today, the world is barren and bare, except for small pockets of population. People can't survive without water, so we live near water, lakes and rivers especially. The Nuclear Apocalypse changed everything, for days the world was covered in massive dust storms, for weeks massive waves smashed at the coasts, for months winds were so unbearable few ever left their homes, and for years, up until this very day, the world is ravaged by disastrous weather conditions. Nothing is the same, and nothing ever will be again.

Only in the last few decades have nations come back into existence again, and only in the last few years have some become powerful in any meaning of the word. Expansions are a sort of newfangled thing, with only a few nations pursuing it. People live simple lives in most nations, farming, manufacturing to a small extent, and other more simple industries. In this world, water is the source of civilisation.

According to our calender, it's the year 91 AR (After Rebirth), but to yours, it's the year 2347.

If the world never was damaged, technology would be at the standards of 2347, but 91 AR is different, in 91 AR, we live simply...

Ever since the world was engulfed in flames.



Okay, so it's time to set out some rules, and trust me, I'll be very serious enforcing them, but if you want to bring some of them up with me, I'm willing to discuss it with you, and even change them.

1. Pretty obvious, no godmodding. Punishments vary, but most of the time It'll just be revoked

2. Wars take a rather long time here, conquering land is a lot more efficient of you want to expand. Trying to rush them will result mostly in revoke, but if you continue, it can result in a temporary kick.

3. No OOC in the IC forum, will result in warnings and eventually a kick.

4. No shorter than 5 paragraphs. This isn't an RP I want to be filled with short posts. Will result in warnings or kicks.

5. There are no WMDs, so, well, yeah. Revoke, kick, ban.

6. Don't do posts for one thing, you have a country to run not a e-mail to answer. Will result in warning then ban.

7. Common sense, and I mean it.

8. Don't be an idiot, try and be nice on the OOC, I don't care how your idealogies clash or your you haven't gotten along with them in the past, you can argue it to hell on the IC, but I don't want ANY PERSONAL arguments on the OOC.

(This list will be added to)

[Welfresio]

Sevastapol , 91 AR

---

The 7th Support Element, assisting the SBU in their mission, preparing their vehicles.

Once in the nation of Ukraine, they were one of the most stable and fast growing countries in Europe, quickly becoming a rich powerhouse for investment and modernization aftermath of the Donbass War beating the Russian-supported populace and denying influence into the country, the Army that had many conscripts and paramilitary just to push the militants away slowly demobilized and life became normal. However, this quickly changed when the Nordic's invaded Russia, the same day Ukraine got admitted to the European Union, where a intense border conflict against the weakened Russians led to the partition of 400km worth of land, this decision made them a target.

The Republic of Kreissa, hails its tenth president in power, Danylo Marko, people celebrate their long-lasting nation state and values with
flags, candles and drunk dancing, fifty kilometers away however, lies the Vehynl Military Base in Arminansk, where they prepare to execute a order that has never been done in a hundred years; expand & explore.

This decision was met with mixed views, where the conservatives argue with possible radiation and unpopularity, the progressives argue for recreating the ancient state, known as ''Lkraire", an batttered ancient sign that is preserved recovered at the former boundary to 'Nolova''; the name that had once beared all people before the flames, after a fierce battle, the senate eventually agreed to a decision to propel the idea, by mobilizing SBU Unit 131 ''Yehernsk'' and support elements of the 3rd Army, a fierce combination of firepower and dedicated support.

Likewise, once the decision was announced to the people, they were shocked, but in a good way as they quickly supported the reasons given by the Senate, people wanted to volunteer their services to the unit as well as donating some of their supplies to accelerate the deployment process, it was a event one would change the mostly isolationist policy to a internationalist.

People in Sevastapol cheered for the departing, fierce men, rumbling in their ancient trucks that nicely wrapped them in tarpulin, they departed to the former city of Donetsk, intent on occupying the city whether the occupants want it, or not, it was time that Kheissa became known to the unknown.

The president also reformed the country, introducing a bill that encourages job specialization, education was fortunately still existent thanks to some libraries from schools and institutions, he plans to gradually build up industry and revitalize the stagnant economy of Kheissa as well reintroduce ancient systems that were found in the book called 'Basic Economics'

Little industry in Sevastapol and Odessa is greatly preserved, producing ammunition , civilian & industrial goods, agricultural is mostly prevalent in the country, taking advantage of leftover mechanical equipment as well as converted tracked vehicles, farmers enjoyed relatively good harvest thanks to the arable land in the country, however, without the import and export system, the food table is greatly decreased, but enough to give enough calories and vitamins to the populace.

The progress made in the year was a surprise, and gained internal support for Marko's regime, will they survive the test of time? Or will they fall to the same mistakes made hundred of years ago, blowing everything to dust?

[Plzen]

Town Hall, Roskilde, Københavns Kommune, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
09th June 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

"...and now, we shall hear from our guest speaker. A round of applause, please, for Representative Jens Norddahl of the Copenhagen Fishers' Union!"

Some applause. The room was quite packed. A very significant portion of Roskilde's residents were gathered here, at the newly-built town hall, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Copenhagen Commune. From the crowd, a man stood up and made his way to the podium. The crowd once more settled into silence. Jens cleared his throat, and directly addressed the crowd.

He did not look down on his notes. There was no need to.

"Comrades farmers and workers of the Copenhagen Commune, I stand here in admiration of all that we have accomplished together in just the past few years. No longer is this island a land of death and ruins, of poverty and desperation, but rather a pinnacle of commerce, co-operation, industry, and harmony! We have shown the world what a truly free citizenry is capable of. We have shown the world the strength of a revolutionary democracy. We have, indeed, shown the world the very definition of true prosperity."

Some, mostly the young, cheered. Some of the other young students and workers looked away, bored at yet another speech.

The older, more hardened workers simply nodded. The Copenhagen Commune has only existed for some two decades, and have been a part of the Union for less than half that time. They remembered very well the days before the Union and the days before the Commune. To them, a revolutionary democracy was not an exciting doctrine they could argue about, nor was it the tired old bromide of the union leaders.

To them, revolutionary democracy represented life itself.

"Even in our newfound freedom, comrades, we should never forget the values that our Commune stands for: liberty and enlightenment for the international working classes. Never forget that beyond the borders of our Commune, a mere hundred kilometres away, still reigns oppression and poverty. It is our right and duty to liberate our friends across the border and introduce them to the light of our revolutionary democracy. You have no doubt heard about the new diplomatic policy paper adopted unanimously at the last session of the Nordic Congress of Trade Unions held a mere week ago. It calls for the liberation of all Scandinavian and Nordic peoples in twenty years. I say that we can do better! Why let another generation of farmers, labourers, and the intelligentsia go to waste, when we can provide them with the means with which to help themselves? Why twenty years, when we can do this in ten, or even five? What say you, Roskilde? Will you help the traders, diplomats, and soldiers of the Copenhagen Commune liberate your comrades across the border?"

Another cheer. Louder this time. Seeing a simple fisherman so inspire the people of Roskilde, the Representative of the Copenhagen Commune smiled.

The people are ready, he thought. With absolute certainty, we are ready to take what we deserve. The only real question is, then, if the world is ready for us?

[Pacificora]

Al-Dinqana • Nilea District 1 • Nilean Republic • Nuevo Africa

شركة القاهرة الجديدة • النيل منطقة 1 • جمهورية النيل • أفريقيا الجديدة

Welcome to Nilea District 1, the centre of all Nilean politics, and all Nilean affairs. The centre of the Muahhadist Chruch, the centre of Al Dilqana, and the centre of the entire republic. Al-Dilqana lay on the outskirts of the once great city of Cairo, that had been bombed badly during the downfall of humanity. People flocked to the area following the Blank, a period of time left out on calanders simply because no one knows how long it lasted. The area's attraction was that it was near the river, and once you cleared the dust and the sand, it was still extremely good land to farm on. Rain was unpredictable, like it was all over the world, but floods were seasonal, and land was arable.

Sitting in the middle of the capital was a large circular building with four towers coming out of it, three on the edges and one for the centre. Each one represented a head of the Nilean Government, the Legislative, Militaristic, Jusicial, and Executive branch. The building was simple, and covered in a sandy red hue. This was the centre of the Nilean Government, the Husaya Kharyahd.



Fariq Juqana was one of the 4 advisors to the leader of Nilea, Premier Musaq, and was likely the most important one. He was the advisor for Foreign Affairs, and today, he had been informed of something brilliant from one of his employees, who had gotten the story from a merchant sailing in the Indian Ocean.

Fariq's glasses were slipping off his nose as he ran down the hallway, with fog building up in his lenses after coming in from the rather humid day outside. His oily hair was in a complete mess when he entered the Premier's office.

<Fariq> "Sir, I have some very interesting news for you"

A man in a long and deep black robe turned around to look at Fariq, his hair an abyss black, his face a deep Nilean tan, his cape billowing in the air as he turned.

<Musaq> "What do you have for me today Fariq? Another ship lost in the Mediterranean? Another squat storm wiping out a farm in the south? We have more than enough foood for our population, regardless of the amount of farms."

<Fariq> "A merchant shipper in the Indian Ocean has informed us of a new nation in the war East, with a grandiose empire and an even more grandiose emperor. According to the man, the nation goes by the name of Shandong."

<Musaq> "Hmm that's is interesting, it must be further investigated. Now leave, I do have their major things to attend to."



Groups of Nilean settlers and explorers are moved to a mysterious area south of District two, in a place that the Nileans call Harabia (the Nilean interpretations of the word 'Arabia' from old Arabic). They mainly explore two areas on the border of the Nilean Sea (Red Sea), on a search for a supposed holy city, the centre of old Islam.

[Welfresio]

Sevastapol , 91 AR

---

SBU Infantry advancing against the bandits, with a BMP-2 providing fire support.

The rumbling of trucks and marching filled the ears of the survivors in Mariupol, of course there had to be occupants, the men were cautioned in the urban enviroment, against people equipped with pistols and shotguns, wide-eyed against the massive firepower facing them, the sign; Prymors'kyi District, apparently, there was an organized civilization in the city.

When the commander talked with the wide-eyed leader inside one of the Soviet-apartment buildings,negotiations was key in absorbing them, promises were thrown, from guarantee of rights and autonomy to manage their own issues, to material support, as he explained that bandits from the north of the city were armed and ruthless, as well as several other small communities that is unluckily with them, if they clear them out and save them from eventual destruction, his support would be benefical.

Thus, the fierce urban fighting began in the first time since the Donbass War, fortunetly, none of the bandits had RPG's, the SBU did. 30mm shells penetrated the thin concrete walls and exploded thousands of shrapnel bits, the advanced tactics inherited from the old world were once again in use, round upon round absolutely slaughtered the wicked and bad, grenades were in abundant supply as it absolutely demolished strong points set up by the bandits.

Once in a while a heavy weapon appears, with 12.7x108mm rounds bouncing off the BMP-2 well-sloped armor before the last thing they saw is a flash of light, for them, it was chaos, for us, it was just another day, the ruined buildings of Mariupol were cleared left and right, blood spilled, the SBU/KHEAF units were assisted by the Prmorysk miltia, quickening the pace.
The Kheissan forces sucessfully saved four enclaves located within the city, evacuating them back into the District and effectively slaughtering over an estimated 200-600+ militants, as well as capturing key roads within the city which was handed over to them.

Kheissan infantry breaching & slaughtering the garrison in the City Hall.

News spread of the operational success made by the deployed forces, and cheers were heard throughout the country, internal & external support for Marko increased even further, gaining him heightened status.

---

A reform regarding industry was passed by the Senate, some left-over mechanical equipment and tools were refurbished and used to activate industrial and [/i] commercial [/i] buildings, from old tank factories, abandoned hospitals to ones producing firearms and artillery, materials and resources were used to refurbish and reactivate these buildings, as well as civilian volunteers and engineers working together to build up the future of Kreissa, as well as tons of recovered materials awaiting to be refurbished.

Rumors were always documented by the Ministry of External Affairs (MOEA), one special one came in regarding the former city of ''K-arkiv'', a secret depot that was recently activated back after the Donbass War brimming with repaired tanks and equipment the ''Slobozhanshchyna Base'', a team of expeditionaries and volunteers are to be sent and recover proof of this, thus operation <<Karkiv 91>> starts.

The Kreissan Ground Forces eventually plans to increase their numbers to a whopping 20,000, as well as 1,000+ more SBU servicemen to defend against threats as Kreissa breaks her isolationism, this reform would be implemented once enough equipment is fabricated for these large amount of people, as for the Air Force, it only contained a handful of turboprop planes, as well as a three unfueled, preserved Mi-171A2 transport helicopters, captured from the Russian forces during the nuclear war, the knowledge of operating it died long long ago, so it stands there inside the hangar, probably forever, a plan is to repair the helicopter as well as find other derelict aircraft, expanding the countries air assets.

[Plzen]

Stavanger Harbour District, Stavanger, Bergen Kommune, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
12th June 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

"...and then up to Svolvær and Narvik," the mariner concluded.

The Junior Representative looked doubtful.

"You propose to do this with... what?"

"With my boat and crew, of course," the mariner impatiently gestured. "It may be just a fishing boat to you, but it's 15-year certified in the Baltic. It should be sturdy enough, as long as I keep supplied in parts, which I can easily bring with me. It's not like the Norwegian coast is lacking in pre-war harbours."

It was a windy day outside, and thick clouds drifted over the skies of Stavanger. Soon enough, it would rain, the junior representative thought. Storms in the North Sea could be lethal. People died out there, and likely would die again. She found no point in sending another life into the storm, and so pulled her eyes back to the man in front of her, simply replying:

"I see."

The mariner looked offended. It was not the first that the junior representative offended someone in her office. The people of the Union took great pride in their work, and that was especially so in a border town like Stavanger where one's work, literally, was one's livelihood. People did not take well to having their pride dismissed. But the representatives of the Commune were honest people, unable to hide what they truly thought. Normally, it was appreciated. No other sort of person would ever be elected to the post of Commune Representative.

"You don't trust me? I assure you..."

"I have no doubt," she interrupted, "that your ship would perform admirably in an exploration mission - in the Baltic. Unfortunately, sir, Stavanger does not sit on the Baltic. These waters are not sheltered and quiet, the way the Baltic is in summertime. The North Sea is lethal. I cannot in good conscience approve your expedition along the Norwegian coast."

"I came here to see if you were interested in discovering more of our lost world. Clearly, the answer appears to be no. Very well. That knowledge I will acquire - whether of not Bergen Commune wants it."

The junior representative placed her left hand on her chest.

"As the people seek, so shall it be," she recited, quoting the Central Paper. Readjusting her cap, she continued: "If you truly wish to leave, sir, stopping you from doing so is beyond my authority. But you have come here to seek my counsel, and the advice that I must give you as a Representative of Bergen Commune is that it would be extremely ill-advised."

"Thank you for your cautionary advice," the mariner coldly replied. "I shall do my best to see it wrong."

[Kerbodine]

91 AR (After Rebirth), 84 PW (Post Winter)
The United States of the Great Lakes and America
Markett, Superior
Federal Capitol Building

---

The 82 State Representatives, two for each of the 41 States of the Union, were in session in the Senate wing of the newly-completed Federal Capitol Building. Though cold outside- it always was during the winter-, it was nothing compared to the horror stories they'd heard about the conditions their grandparents or great-grandparents had struggled to endure. Indeed, the motto of the Union, inspired by the events of the past, was posted prominently on the wall in ornate lettering: "Forwards and Endure".

These days, however, were nothing near as harsh. After the Long Winter, as that multi-year irradiated deathtrap of starvation and fear was reverently referred to, winters had become significantly more mild again; though nobody was quite sure if the winter season was stronger or weaker than it had been before the Long Winter, as official meteorological data pre-Winter was hard to come by and memories were likely biased by years of ice, most survivors swore by it being similar. Indeed, the past two decades had been a great time of prosperity for the Union.

That was one of the many subjects being debated today in the Senate. Senator Lamal Brown (N. Illinois, Snake Party) was currently giving a miniature speech on the state of the Union. "...and today, my brethren, we stand united under one flag, under one God, and under one government. This is something we can applaud. However, I must stress-" Sen. Brown glared down at his primary political opponents, the Classical Party. "-that our nation is great not because of our government, indeed, not because of our God, great though He may be, but because of the people, because of who we are as a nation. We crawled out of the ashes and ice of the War and the Winter-" The entire Senate chamber recoiled slightly, his intended effect; it was a bit of a faux pas to bring up such devastating events insensitively... "-and created our nation, forged out out of the nothingness of the Old World. We are strong. We are prosperous. Our technological levels outpace anything we've run into, from both small nation-states and bandits to our limited contact with the Westerners and Southerners. Farmers are using tractors again! Trains ply rails that were hardly used even before the Great War, to our knowledge on a scale little-seen for centuries before! Our mighty Lakeships, our boats of progress, ship heavy goods and massive loads of raw and developed material alike across our nation!"

Senator Brown continued; his own party was clearly listening, though the Classical Party representatives were intentionally refusing to show interest. "Our provinces even have electricity and inner-net lines. We maintain pre-Event aeroplanes, and have a small but functioning airforce. Can you imagine any other nation in the world with such technology? It is due to our unique placement, our ingenuity, and our Lord that we have been able to improve living conditions so much in the past several decades." Senator Brown continued for another minute or two, playing up the nation and how wonderful it is, how great the people are; he was aware that this particular speech was being recorded and would likely be redistributed among his state government's officials, those who appointed the state Senators. Either way, it was now time for the true point of his message: "...and now, my friends, it is time to push, to push for expansion like no time before in our history. We are practically unopposed in most directions. Shall we follow the Mississippi River?? Expand into the Appalachians?? Push West, to capture resource-rich plains?? Or even North, to tap the uninhabited wildernesses?? We are the ones who can improve the conditions of not only our own citizens, but of perfectly valid civilians living around us. There has already been some talk of allowing Upper Pennsylvania State to expand into its traditional territory, moving for Repittsburgh." Nobody could disagree with this speech. By now, everyone was listening, especially those from states who could benefit from expansion.

After finishing his speech and some general deliberation, the USLA Senate voted on what had already been passed by the House: The Bill of Expansion. It provided federal funds for encouraging states to expand, and every year, a committee would vote on what region would be focused on and pushed into. The Expansion Bill passed 62-20, and was signed into law later that week by the President. The initial target set would be the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul just to the West, followed up by Pennsylvania State- currently one of the smallest in the Union- expanding into its historical borders; neither of these goals was particularly ambitious, but would provide a critical example for the future.

Expansion was now the official law and policy of the United States of the Great Lakes and America.

---

An image showing Markett and the Capitol the summer before; note that it appears nearly untouched by the War and Winter, which is one of the reasons it grew to dominate first the nation of Superior and later become the center of the Union.

[Welfresio]

Sevastapol , 91 AR

---

The expedition to Kharkiv, a platoon, consisting of SBU , military and civilian specialists, the city remains relatively untouched, other than over a thousands of 1000kg bombs that were dropped during the brief, but bloody war, however, its industry such as the famous Antonov , Kharton and Moroz-Malyshev Tank Bureau remained deep underground in camoflauged bunkers, problem is, it's location died long ago.
Objective, other than proving the existence of the mythical tank depot, is to establish an operating base and presence in the area, thus, FOB Kharkiv is born, located inside Vysokyi Suburbs, fortified by mere sandbags, H-barriers and boarded up shooting holes. Radio contact was established, and the platoon planned their next action.

In another front, a battalion was sent of mostly SBU and KHEAF units, to occupy and expand towards Dnipro, along with a hefty amount of logistical equipment to set up permanent presence in the area, it also included volunteer settlers from Sevastapol and Odessa, and thus the Or'toyrsk State is formed on the occupied hamlets and towns.
Bandits however, were actually encountered, tracers flew up and down as the forest quite literally caught in fire, unfortunately for them, it was accompanied with harrowing armored personnel carriers equipped with 14.5mm guns, they all quickly went down.
The relatively small province was cleared out, but the real challenge is to settle , rebuild and protect everything.

Another month, another day, one step forward towards reunification.

---

Industry of Kheissa is quickly pacing up, with its energy supplied by coal or hydroelectricity, factories are being built up by fabricated mortar and brick, using advanced construction technqiues copied from books, as well as a ever growing food industry such as bakeries, fish and butcheries giving away quality food out of demand and for the state.

23rd century equipment, deemed to be too valuable and only used by the most elite and secretive units of the SBU, has been revealed to the public in parade, sleek multi-camo rifles and advanced equipment and vests that werent fried by the blasts, dubbed ''Task Force Perun", they are intended
to surgically attack or defend certain areas and instill fear into the enemy, it was accompanied by armored trucks and APC's.

A important expedition is planned to re-explore the Black Sea, with a modified military barge, the older models that was kept in reserve in case to readily transport cargo to Odessa in times of
war, was reused by the Kheissan Navy. Fitted with 14.5mm turrets and as single 120mm recoiless rifle, along with a ton of trading goods, diplomats and a heavily armed platoon of soldiers to back it up.
It's purpose? If it ever encounters a civilization, it would engage in trade, and thus the long-unused Kreissan Ruble (KR) would be reactivated.

[Tundra Terra]

Cossack Industrial Hegemony
New Vostraya, 91 AR

---

Ahh New Vostraya...the crown jewel in a hard land built by people of even harder lives. For the past 20 years, New Vostraya had quickly became a beacon for the lost and disparate surviving in the irradiated wastelands that is former Russia, Latvia, Estonia, and lastly Belarus. The Cossack Industrial Hegemony had not expected to have such a population boom for such a relatively budding nation and times became hard as the food and water had to be rationed until the can factory provided enough containers to preserve whatever bounty had been harvested. Thankfully, the numerous factories and other institutions that survived the nuclear war or built after brought stability to the region through irrigation and other machinery.

Olav put his hands over his face as reports came in from various traders and border troops. Apparently the Nordic Republic wants to expand itself all over Scandinavia in the North which could mean a direct rival or threat to the Cossack's safety. In the South, Kheissa is making expansive moves up north to expand its pitiful capabilities. Olav was tempted to almost invade these countries as he had around 250,000 men to use as they had far less, yet he decided that they would be put to better use securing more land to feed the people. He had the men, the industry, the equipment, the power, and not the food.

And so it began in the Solar-powered streets as Soldiers began their march. Soldier dressed head to toe in combat gear walked their long march to return their rightful lands to the Hegemony's people as bio-gas fueled engines roared alongside them. Olav tuned his radio to broadcast mode for the whole populace to hear:
"My people, everyone one of you know how long it has been since we have had full meals in our bellies...let alone a whole celebration. The soldiers you see now...move for you. They move to secure land that will bring us better days. They move to bring land with which we can live upon. They move for the Volga, the Dnieper, and the rest of the Daugava rivers. Those in the capital know of the crammed living quarters, the stench, and such hardship. Therefore, I Olav Romanov hereby declare a Migration Expedition...a movement that will fully support the claims, security, and materials for the newfound settlements that follow. Those with brave spirits are allowed to establish new farms along these banks and for fisherman to send all of their catch be sent alive to the Capital to support our new National Fish Farm project in the heartlands. Be brave my people. For the Hegemony!

[Plzen]

Harbour District, Stockholm, Stockholms kommun, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
19th October 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

The red-on-yellow banner of the Republic now flew proudly over the buildings of Stockholm. Well, what was left of the buildings, that was. The city did not survive the war particularly intact.

The operation has been swift and relatively bloodless. One regiment of servicemen under the Stockholm Commune supported by another regiment of servicemen under the Göteborg Commune simply stormed the city in the dead of night. Not much more than a few primitive states existed in this region, and what military they fielded was weaker than even that of the Commune.

But their job was not yet finished. It was the objective of the Stockholm Commune to incorporate the entire region, not just the city itself, into the Commune's borders. It, after all, was their duty to fight for the liberty of all workers in central Sweden: whether they lived within or outside of their borders. It was also the objective of the Stockholm Commune to liberate the region, not just conquer it. Work still remained to be done.

So, while the regiments charged on to the next city towards the long-coveted north and the slightly shocked residents of the ruins that was Stockholm and its suburbs watched the marching armies with some degree of nervousness, the Commune's clerks began the long work of integration. The same happened in every city liberated from the clutches of reactionary tyrants: suspicion and distrust. The same solution was always used, and it never failed.

Soon, aid would flow in from the rest of the Union. Reconstruction efforts would begin, and thousands of workers would be given a standard of living to help with the reconstruction efforts. The petty kings, so-called presidents, and wealthy men who previously ruled Stockholm and its environs would be summarily executed. They would see with their own eyes the miracles of a revolutionary democracy. At one point, Oslo did. So did Aarhus. So did Stavanger. Redistribution and reconstruction would again wield its popular magic.

Now, it was Stockholm. The liberation of the working classes must proceed.

---

Town Hall, Pori, Helsingin kunta, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
21th October 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

"So," one representative noted, "the Swedes did it after all."

"Indeed. This entire affair is making us look terrible. We've been dancing around the problem of liberating Helsinki for, what, half a year now? Helsinki Commune should not fall behind, I think. Not in this all-important matter of the liberation of our comrades. It's time to be decisive, not careful."

"Should we present our proposal to the trade unions in the next session, then? I don't think this plan is going to really get much better. It's as good as can be."

"Indeed," noted the first representative. "That, we should do."

---

Town Hall, Stavanger, Bergen Kommune, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
21th October 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

"So, sir, I see that your boast was not entirely without justification," commented the junior representative.

The mariner grimaced.

"Casualties?"

"Nine, I'm sorry to report. You were indeed right. The North Sea is harsh. We've lost one of our three ships to a sea gale."

"I see," the junior representative responded. There was nothing more to be said. Indeed, she was right, he was wrong, and nine people were dead because of it. But the time was never right for an I-told-you-so. The representatives were there to serve the people. If they made stupid mistakes, the representatives dealt with it. They did not gloat. They did not comment. They simply did what was necessary.

After all, does the Central Paper not describe even the Chairperson of the Congress, the representative of representatives, as a mere 'civil servant'?

---

Somewhere in the North Atlantic
26th October 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

The ship was not as lost as the mariner suspected. It was lost, yes, but not yet sunk. Three of its seven crew were still alive, keeping themselves fed and the boat intact as the strange arctic winds drew them towards the west. Their motor was broken and the sails too fragile against the unusual westwards winds, but they were nonetheless alive.

Hoping to stay alive, as it were.

"Land!"

Three pairs of eyes were immediately redirected towards the direction pointed at. Land, indeed, it was. A thin sliver of brown and green, at this distance, but they were unambiguously being pushed towards some large body of land.

They, of course, did not know what their position was, nor did they know what the landmass was, but it was the coastline of a land that men have once called Quebec.

While they spotted the land, those of the land also spotted them.

[Kerbodine]

November 1st, 91 AR (After Rebirth)/84 PW (Post Winter)
The United States of the Great Lakes and America
Montmagny, Quebec State
Ferry Dock

---

The small Bras-Saint-Nicolas river met the mighty St. Lawrence here, in this town of 6,000. An affluent little settlement due to its location as the Easternmost settlement of the post-Winter Canadian Federation and now United States of the Great Lakes and America, Montmagny was located where trade- fish, pre-Winter scraps, agricultural goods- from varying small settlements and nations to the East and South would flow to on its way to Quebec City. It was also an important military outpost; the well-equipped garrison of 40 was responsible for defending this town, as well as the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. All ships- mostly East Canadian or New England fisherman- sailing on to Quebec City were to stop here, where customs would search and register their goods before forwarding the manifest to the docks in Quebec City. Shipping would then go upriver to the City, where major transportation- mostly trains- would be able to distribute whatever the goods are to wherever their end destination was.

Today, a very odd pair of ships pulled into harbor at the old ferry-dock. Sergeant Felix Gagnon of the 4th Quebec Infantry, Montmagny, and three subordinates, watched as a known Nova Scotian fisherman's ship- NS-93- pulled into dock towing a small, dilapidated vessel. As soon as the boats were safely docked, the Nova Scoatian captain hopped down and began talking to the subordinate he knew to be the translator. Though running between Sergeant Gagnon and captain Smith through a translator, speaking French and English respectively, the conversation went something like this:
(Smith) "Greetings Sergeant."
(Gagnon) "Hello, captain."
(S.) "I realize this is before our usual stop, but a few days ago we ran into a stranded boat with three men on board."
(G.) "I see. And you bring them to us why? What boat is this?"
(S.) "They are speaking some strange language not known to us. It is neither French nor English, sir."
(G.) "Odd. May I see these men?"
(S.) "Of course."
At this time, the captain called up, and a few moments later, three thin, pale men walked down the gangplank onto the dock. Wearing clean(ish) clothing lent from the Nova Scotians, it was clear they'd been stranded up until recently; dirty and malnourished, the men looked as though they'd been at sea for a month. The Sergeant talked to them a little in English and French, but they showed no recognition of what he was saying. Sgt. Gagnon turned back to the captain of the ship; "Why did you bring their boat with you? Would it not have been easier and less costly to just save the men?" The captain agreed with him, but said "This is a very unusual occurrence; we don't remember anything like this happening since 30 years ago." The Sergeant nodded; 30 years ago, a single Scottish man, driven mad by his voyage, had washed up off New Brunswick; sadly, they had only saved the man, and due to his insanity it was very hard to tell what state his home region was in. "Since we couldn't understand them, we decided it was better to rescue their boat in case it was useful." The Sergeant agreed.

After this encounter, Sergeant Gagnon took control of the men, and a few things happened. Replacing the borrowed Nova Scotian clothing with town spares taken from the charity box, he thanked the Nova Scotians for their good act and sent them off. He then personally paid for these odd guests' stay at Hotel Castor- also known as the Beaver Inn. Coming back from dropping off the men, he asked his subordinates- who had been searching the odd men's boat- what they had found. Radio equipment, the remains of old food- all scraped clean-, an empty water supply, some dirty clothing, broken or damaged equipment of varying types, especially fishing and finally- last but not least- a crude map and log books. Sergeant Gagnon took these back to the local fort and wired a version to Quebec State Headquarters, with a message describing what had happened and calling the men "probably European".

---

Though the good Sergeant had no way of knowing this at the time, from here, it was forwarded to Eastern HQ, and from there to Overcommand, the core military command organization with many connections, where the report was sent to various universities. It was quickly determined the language was a form of Norwegian, and quickly, Professor David Schwartz, the leading USLA Germanic language expert, set sail from Green Bay towards Quebec City, where he expected to meet these strange Europeans in four or five days. With him, he carried a 200-year-old Norwegian-English dictionary, some scribbled hurried notes, a computer equipped with now-glitchy 100-year-old voice-to-voice translation software, and fluency in German and Danish. He looked forward to finding out what had happened to Europe, as little was known outside of rumor and legend...

[Pacificora]

Al-Dilqana • Nilea District 1 • Nilean Republic • Nuevo Africa

9:00am, 6th of May, 91 AR

شركة القاهرة الجديدة • النيل منطقة 1 • جمهورية النيل • أفريقيا الجديدة

General Kurakan, the military officer responsible for dilizering the updates of the happenings in Arabia regarding Nilean expansion there, walked through the extremely busy streets of Al-Dilqana. He sticked very faithfully to the main roads built by the state close to the founding of Nilea, instead of moving through the faster streets that zigzagged through the centre of the city. While the main roads were slower, they were much more safe, and even if Kurakan had a weapon on him, he didn't want to take the chances involved in having to use it.

Hundreds of people walked past and alongside him, making their daily trudges towards their work. This was one of the only cities were agriculture wasn't the centre of society, where people mainly worked in industrial areas instead of agricultural areas, were people could actually become well off, but it was a one in a million lottery.

The forecast had predicted yet another dust storm this evening. While cities were still getting lots of them, less and less of the storms were moving into the agricultural sectors, which was giving Nilea a sudden boost of food. The small Nilean science community is deeply investifgating the event to try and see how it could be replicated. Becuase of the dust storm, Kurakan had a dust cloak in his possession. They were generally thin woollen robes with built in face masks and everything. Their inventor, or so he claims to be, Khanlique Hujuqan, is one of the most powerful men in Nilea.

Hundreds of people, all leading their own lives...



<Musaq> "I'm expecting only good news Kurakan, I've heard the rumours. Is it true? Have we found the holy city?"

Musaq still stood at the window looking out at Al-Dilqana while he was talking to the most powerful men in the nation, so him not turning to face a mere general is more than understandable if you are aware of his personality.

<Kurakan> "Well if you are looking for only good news, you're in for a good time, but since I also have some more interesting developments, you'll be even glad we I presume.

Firstly, we have found it, the holy city, but, it isn't as empty as we had predicted. They call themselves the Free State of Mecca, they are ruled under a elected, but absolute king, a system that they seem to have taken from a pre-AR nation in Europe. They haven't expanded too far out of the city, mostly they just remain there, and travel between the city and their farms. The dust storms aren't as strong there. We are sending an ambassador in a ATV (Armoured Transport Vehicle) along with an escort to discuss relations between the two of us. They speak... oddly. We can vaguely understand it, but it seems a bit more archaic and ancient then our language. It isn't easy to listen to, I've been read a small bit of it, and heard it over a recording, and if you try real hard, you can get it."

Kurakan placed a recording device on the Premier's desk and pressed the play button. A man speaking a much more relatable version of Arabic than the Nilean Arabic booms out of the device. After about 10 seconds, Kurakan turns the device off.

<Kurakan>"The more interesting this is that it seems we have finally broken the language gap with Turkacia, and contact seem so to be skyrocketing. We suggest that you make a short trip across the Mediterranean to discuss things with Turkacia to attempt to secure an alliance with them."

Even through all of that, Musaq still stood at the window.

<Musaq> "It shall be done."

Kurakan left without saying a word.



- Nilean explorers reach the borders of the Free State of Mecca, and discussions between Nilea and Mecca have been commenced.

- Nilea has sent a message to a Turkacia regarding an alliance and a state visit from Premier Musaq.

- Rumors of the Eastern Empire now given the name 'Eajb Alshsharqia' meaning Eastern Wonder, have continued to spread throughout Nilea. Some have even traced its actual name, Shandong.

[Plzen]

-snip-

Quebec City, United States of the Great Lakes and America
03 November 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

The men were getting rather depressed. They have been detained - an extremely comfortable detention, sure, but unambiguously detained - for several days now, and their attempts at inquiring about their situation have been met with foreigners speaking an unfamiliar language. They have been separated from their ship, a relatively new light cargo boat of the Bjørgvin series, and have been brought down to an unfamiliar city.

"Still nothing," one remarked.

"Indeed," another replied, in a desperate effort to break the silence.

Time passed. They did not see much in the past few days. Supplies were provided, but they were neither required nor permitted to really do anything. With the people strolling of quickly walking through the streets below the inn providing visual entertainment, they made another effort to break the silence.

"Where do you think we are, Svend?"

"I have not the slightest clue. We've been blown strongly to the west, so... perhaps Scotland or Ireland?"

They went over this a hundred times already during their stay here, of course, and quite conclusively determined that they had no idea where they were. Still, going over the old discussion again filled time. It wasn't like they had much else to do anyways.

"I think we went a lot further than that," one replied. "One of the islands beyond..."

That was when the door to their room opened, and an unfamiliar man came in. The three mariners all adopted a more braced posture. The man was carrying what looked like a small computer, papers, and... a book. Most of it was gibberish, but one line in the book cover immediately caught the men's attention.

Norsk-Engelsk ordbok: tospråklig

"Scotland," commented one of the mariners, "wasn't a bad guess, eh?"

[Aidannadia]

Orinoquia

As the sun rose above the Atlantic to the East and looked down upon the island of Trinidad, the citizens of San Fernando woke from their slumber and trudged towards the coast. They spent their days drilling nails into the hulls of the new ships. Guards stood along the coast, watching carefully on the horizon for any sight of bandits; it had been weeks since the last raid, and some say they were overdue for an attack. Thankfully, forces had finally been sent from Ciudad Guayana, after weeks of pleading for aid from their mainland countrymen and the construction of a fleet had begun here on the island coast and they were now begrudgingly able to continue work on coastal forces to protect from raids that the rest of the country were protected from by the winding deltas of the Orinoco.

As the adults began work, many of the children watched on and played casually. The most common of their games consisted of strapping sticks to their hands with cloth and sparring for control of a substantial circle in the sand. The adults still partook in this play in their free time, using more serious weaponry than sticks to combat opponents in the ring. It was good fun, and if one got home without a few scrapes, they obviously hadn't fought hard enough. The cloth wrappings and blades attached to the back of their hands were to resemble claws, to harness the brutality of the wild. Legend has it that El Oso himself refused to use a standard knife, and instead used his 'claws' to beat his opponents into submission. The practice also kept all of the citizens ready to fend for themselves in case of a raid or vie for power.

Meanwhile, all the way the way on the western portion of the country, citizens held their handguns close and their plows closer. These were people of the land and they knew to protect themselves from bandits of a different sort; While Trinidad and Tobago may have pirate raids week to week, the people of Los Llanos watched for roaming banditos, following herds and raiding farming settlements. Their land was their life, and every single farmhand would give their life to defend it.

There were two seasons in Los Llanos: wet and wetter. During the summer, the water would completely engulf the fields in floods, providing the crops with a fresh set of nutrients for the planting season every year.

And then there was everything in between. There were various small communities along the drainage basin, with most living from fishing, fruit, and limited trading, but there was one spot of note along the Orinoco: Ciudad Guayana. Centered around the Guri Dam, with a nearby 'palace' serving as a organizational hub of the country, it was one of the last testaments to the wonders of the Old World, before the great collapse. Here, there was a burgeoning intelligentsia and a rebirth in Old World studies. The citizens attended classes on the maintenance of the dam, electricity, water, petroleum, engineering.

The palace dwellers discussed the far reaches of the realm, from the occasional insurrection from the petrol drills, to the pirate raids on the coast, to the lawless west of Los Llanos. They discussed how large of a military they could maintain, and how much was needed to enforce law and whom they needed to 'tax' more to provide themselves with softer cushions upon which to rest.

The most pressing discussion, however, was about the expansion of territory. The ruling class knew that in order to provide opportunity for the citizens, they needed to produce more food. Some argued for expansion into the West and the subjugation of the llaneros of the plains, while others discussed taking land in the Lesser Antilles and focusing on fish, and even some talked of making a mad dash for the old hubs of industry of the Old World, of the 'Venezuela' that once was in Caracas.

The nation of the river basin Orinoquia was at a crossroads that would decide its fate.

[Kerbodine]

-

Morning November 10th, 91 AR (After Rebirth)/84 PW (Post Winter)
The United States of the Great Lakes and America
Quebec City, Quebec State
Rail Depot

---

Professor David Schwartz and "his" three men- whom he'd unequivocally proven to be Norwegian-, as well as a single National Guard (both for security purposes and as a show of military might- it was rare for the population to see a fully armed high-tech soldier of the Union), were standing there waiting for a train. They were taking a multi-day journey to Markett, by which time Dr. Schwartz was supposed to have a speech together describing, to the best of his knowledge, what the state of Europe- especially Scandinavia- was.

It had been difficult, actually; as it turned out, not only were his Norwegian books terribly out of date and slightly off for their dialect, Norwegian had also, he theorized, morphed slightly in the post-apocalyptic world; perhaps it was just these men's dialect, or hell, village accent, but the way they pronounced things was more guttural than any pre-apocalypse recording he'd heard. It had, in the first couple of days, made communication rather difficult, with sentences that should've made sense apparently not making any whatsoever.

However, over the past couple of days, they'd figured out communication. The Professor, as the men called him, was an eccentric man; that being said, the Norwegians and him got along well enough. During their conversations, the Professor had constantly scribbled out illegible notes. He'd tried to describe as much as possible to the Norwegians; the government system, their location, the sheer scale of parts of the nation- with cities far larger than the nation of sorts the men had described to him-, their technology; in general, the men seemed astounded by how different everything was. The Professor was equally astounded, and by twisting a few connections (combined with the legitimate importance of contact of sorts with Europe), had secured a speech before a combined Congress.

Svend, Oskar, and Klaus; the three men, all not particularly extraordinary fishermen and sailors, had only agreed to this big voyage even farther from their home because the Professor had convinced them that this was the only way to secure a passage home for them. Perhaps with the permission of Congress, and maybe the support one of the big shipping companies and charities, they'd be able to build a large seaworthy vessel at Quebec City, from where it could sail to Europe, exploring the varying states that the Professor expected existed in the war-torn continent. And from there? The United States of the Great Lakes and America had little knowledge of the outside world beyond North America, only really aware of the other political entities on its own continent. Perhaps a trip to South America was also warranted?... Who knew what the implications of such voyages could be?

---

November 17th
The United States of the Great Lakes and America
Markett, Superior State
Capitol Lobby

Professor Schwartz had finished his speech just a few minutes ago. In it, he had detailed, to the best of his knowledge, the state of the Nordic Union; he had made it clear that it was fairly decentralized, and impossible to determine the exact extent of their technology and society from the available information. He'd also made it clear that it was very difficult to tell what was going on in the rest of Europe.

Both branches of Congress were currently discussing what had happened.

---

A month later, progress was underway on the USS Global in Quebec, the first large sea-faring vessel known to have been built in the Western Hemisphere since the Winter. The government had also decided, with the backing of the President, to redouble efforts to repair the canals and infrastructure that would allow possible trade from Europe or abroad to sail all the way into the Great Lakes. It would still be about half a year before the now-famous 'European Voyage' would take place, but it was going to happen, and that's what mattered.

[Plzen]

Outskirts of Helsinki, 15km from the previous border
15th November 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

The Operation has finally begun. It was quite possibly the largest operation of reconquest since the Jutland Liberation twenty years ago. The target was the entire southern Finnish coastline all the way to the borders of the Cossack hordes and Lake Ladoga. On one side were a bunch of autocratic clans. On the other side - the Commune of Helsinki, all of its determined inhabitants, and volunteers from across the Nordic Republic.

The plan was extraordinarily simple. All forces involved were to liberate Helsinki in one determined and decisive push. From there, their paths would diverge.

The Guards of the Commune of Helsinki, an elite force numbering some one thousand men, would follow the coastal roads all the way to Viipuri, where they were to secure the new borders against a potential attack from the Cossacks, eliminating all the raiders, petty kingdoms, and any other non-revolutionary forms of societies in the way. The Finnish Transportation Authority would take its private security force of about six hundred men and follow the railroad to Sortavala, again liberating the lands they passed through. Any volunteers from other Communes would push north to Tampere and Nokia, liberating the twin cities, then returning to friendly territories in Pori and Rauma to be demobilised. Finally, the reserve brigade provided by the Finland-Swedes' Industrial Union would be used to maintain order in and integrate the societies of the liberated territories.

All in all, some four thousand men would march across for hundreds of kilometres in the largest operation of liberation in two decades, estimated to cost some three to four million Labour Credits. But everyone involved were optimistic. Everything was perfectly planned. There were no great uncertainties between Helsinki and Viipuri.

Now, at first light of dawn of the 15th of November, Socialist Year 91, rifles opened fire on the reactionary guards of Helsinki.

The operation have begun.

---

Markett, Superior State, the United States of the Great Lakes and America,
17th November 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

The city the three men walked around was extremely well repaired. Here, the signs of war were barely visible. It was also a populous city. Certainly there were more people here than Stavanger, and possibly even more that Copenhagen - although the men never really saw Copenhagen except from its harbour district.

Here, they were also more free. They were free to wander around, secured only by an accompanying soldier of the National Guard - somewhat equivalent to the Republic's Red Army, the men guessed - and their inability to truly communicate beyond a few phrases they picked up here and there. They had gotten themselves new clothes and a meal at a cheap restaurant from the budget of the Professor.

Here, too, they had time to think.

What a strange city it was! From what the Professor told them, the entire country - the entire shoreline around these huge lakes - was like one large Commune, with one highest body of administration. This, apparently, was its "capital" which, as the men quickly came to realise, meant a lot more than just "the largest city." How can a Commune so large, be so centralised, and yet be so stable? Clearly it was possible, because they weren't surrounded by anarchy.

Even the restaurant operated itself on strange principles. Currency was a concept they knew about - they had received a good education, after all - but it was still an unfamiliar experience to see it in action.

Here and there, though, they saw more unsettling sights. This was plainly a place of great wealth... but also of great poverty.

"I, for one," noted Klaus, "can't wait to go back home."

The other two agreed.

[Ceasario]

Tamassee, West Saluda, Carolina, Republic of Chatham.
2:00 AM, November 17th, 91 AR.

Tamassee, a small outpost town near the mountains, far outclassed by nearby settlements such as Seneca, was mostly occupied by military personnel. The town was the gateway to the rightful expansion of Chatham; the Blue Ridge mountains, and someday Appalachia. The town itself had been relatively isolated after the war; the population was mostly farmers and hunters, and the town had remained independent before joining Chatham for protection after the remnants of Greenville had done the same. The town had a small schoolhouse, one of the two centers of the community; the other, the home of the Pastor Johnathan Graham, the unordained but well-respected leader of the community, was currently serving as the main headquarters for the 50 troops stationed in the town.

Within that home, two men sat at a small oak table; several soldiers, armed with rifles, patrolled around and outside the building. The table itself was set with a crude map in the center, with several distinct marks made in pencil; these outlined various communities and hot spots of banditry. "...But what of the people, son?" This was the voice of an older man, that of Johnathan Graham; he was a rather smart person, at least smart enough to negotiate with various surrounding groups. He would be important for northward expansion; he had already been fairly important in assuring Tamassee peacefully entered Chatham. "These communities, though home to these marauders and bandits, are the lifeblood of this fine region!" The man across from the pastor leaned back in the old chair he sat in; he was young, a member of the military, and the commanding officer of the forces in Tamassee.

"Mr. Graham, the fact of the matter is that they are criminals. There have been numerous raids across Saluda. They've been causing plenty of trouble to the folks down in Savannah, and they already have the Sea Islands to deal with. Just a few days ago, they burned nearly half of Salem, and that's already dangerously close to here! I could try and send a messenger down to Walhalla and hope it gets wired down to Savannah, but I don't know what more to do."

"Perhaps, grant them amnesty in exchange for joining the republic? Their past crimes forgotten, why, they would make excellent expeditionary forces into the mountains! This is their region, and if you put them on government pay, they'd probably be glad. Their towns can be negotiated into the state, bloodshed can be avoided, if we-"

"Enough, Graham. I'll see to it your intentions get down to the capital." The officer rose up from the table, taking the map with him. "I'd like to have you come with me, though. You're decently respected enough around these parts. Don't wanna be shot because I'm not from 'round here." The pastor nodded, and rose as well.

Savannah, Chatham, Georgia, Republic of Chatham
10:00 AM, Novembert 18th, 91 AR

Savannah had largely escaped the nuclear consequence of the war, though the city had still faced much damage from the aftermath. The capital of Chatham was also the largest city in the republic. The nation was relatively isolated, the capital being a main point of trade, at least regionally. Piracy was a major problem, and most trade was not done in the ocean, but through the intracoastal waterways, which were generally less dangerous. Some say that they had even, through travelling around Florida, found a legendary old river, navigated it, and found their way in some massive nation to the north, although such rumors had little confirmation from the government; all that was known officially was that someone up there wanted to buy some Chatham goods. Some traders went by land to the north, but this was a far more dangerous affair, and usually required some sort of guide. Most trade was, indeed, done within the nation, or with various groups outside of it.

It was here that President Vernon Holcomb lived, where representatives came from across the nation, where those wishing to become citizens of a new entity came to begin again.It was also here where the fleet of Chatham was under construction; it was hoped that an actual navy could help combat the lawlessness and piracy on the waters.

"Jacksonville, sir. Heavily damaged, a shell of what it once was for sure, but a valuable prize nonetheless. Expansion southward, now that's what I believe in. Much easier than the mountains, and it unlocks a whole new potential to Chatham." The man who spoke, General Robert O'Connell, was rather passionate about what he considered his front of the war. He was very expressive, moving his hands for emphasis, and trying to get his point across to the president, who sat rather calmly in front of the general.

"General, there is no need to convince me, everything has alre-"

"I know that, but I have to tell you, the Jacksonville expedition will be excellent for the republic! Just think sir, finally taming all that land, think of the possibilities! Not to mention, more secure trade. We can certainly recruit from the populace down there, just gotta welcome them into the fold. I'm sure Florida will have some bright new minds, as well."

"And how does the north fare?" The president asked; it was another important topic, especially among representatives from the northern areas of the country.

"The same. I'm getting real tired of this problem with all those communities up there. Wish a solution would hurry up and show itself. We'll have it all soon, I'm sure. At the least, we'll get some news from the frontier. After all, as I see it, the future of Chatham is now." Both nodded in agreement.

[Tundra Terra]

Cossack Industrial Hegemony
New Vostraya, 91 AR

---

A breath of joyous cheer had warmed the city from all manner and walks of life. Entire families were jubilant when the first shipments from new lands came in. "Milk and Honey!" could heard among the populace as for the first time in Cossack History: Olav had lowered the Rationing Laws. What seemed as small trivialities, simple crates filled with live fish, various canned goods, numerous fresh vegetables, jars of actual honey, and bundles of cloth turned into a glimmer of hope. Despite it being a realistically minor amount, the government rode on the wave f hope it created by implementing multiple constructing projects and devoting more support towards the Migration Expeditions. Although many still find discomfort to leave already established lives...the brave and entrepreneurial joined the swelling ranks to leave the Heartland and establish newer and bolder settlements in the Hegemony's name.

While it wasn't instant, the resulting weeks it took to grab land had not gone unnoticed. Various warbands, looters, and cannibals had to be consecutively and methodically crushed under the Cossacks' iron boot to bring safety to the region. The Soldiers could only give a jeer dinking beer before returning to their duties. Cossack training is easily brutal in its own way, but what is unknown to outsiders...is the actual amount of work one does in the military. For many of these soldiers guard duty is their active job to protect the citizenry, yet for those not in rotation are delegated to Civil Assistance. In older times, a country's Engineering Corps might have had to only work for the Military, but no longer. If these men were to survive...then all efforts would have to be made to assist civilians in any way to rapidly increase progress and to keep the supplies secure. No one will get in the way of feeding their families back home.

Olav switched his radio station again for the 5th time in a day. Boredom was his condition despite the obvious enthusiasm the rest of the Country felt. While people began widespread celebration as their problems seem to be steadily disappearing...Olav had not felt the same as worry set in as reports buried his office. He had dispatched a total of 150,000 troops as to not strain his supplies even further than what was acceptable. Food supplies had thankfully had not been a major issue, medicine is always in use, bio-gas stockpiles had sadly fallen, and bullets aren't even a concern. To Olav it seemed the standard issued harpoon gun alongside their other weapons offered a unique solution. Like crossbows, harpoons offered a silent and retrievable ammunition useful against either human or animal. While the 150,000 Expedition troops had split off into groups of 30,000...the remaining 100,000 back at home would run support operations and help secure claimed land even further.

While much progress has been made, yet Olav was worried that his troops in Southern Finland will soon be meeting those of the Nordic Republic very soon...particularly the Commune of Stockholm. While his troops would easily curb their slow expansion...he feared this might also cause an incident that might lead to war. While his Northern troops easily outnumber them Stockholm is an already established city and has sea routes to keep supplies coming in while his men only have the wilds and whatever smaller settlements they established to support them until reinforcements came. For now he would have to watch what happens with interest how this might develop. Hell they might even come to an agreement and maybe become trade partners...

[Plzen]

Border Checkpoint, 40km south of Viipuri, Helsingin kunta, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
15th December 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

In the newly-built checkpoint, the Guards of the Commune of Helsinki were wearily eyeing the stationed Cossack troops, a mere half a kilometre away. Theirs was a regular force, and so the Guards stayed to secure the border even after the reserve troops engaged in the just-concluded operation were dismissed and demobilised.

"This is not a stable situation," one officer noted. "Eventually we will need to come to some kind of accommodation with the Cossacks. The Guards can't keep pretending as if they do not exist. We need an actual border, not just a frontier."

Some agreed.

"Bloody reactionaries," commented another officer. "It's terribly unfortunate that we can't just eliminate them and their corrupting influence from this earth, as we did to all the petty autocrats on our way here."

"Terribly unfortunate, indeed. But perhaps when we are stronger...?"

Many heads shook with disapproval.

"It's very unlikely that many Communes will agree to an operation that is likely to produce hundreds of thousands of casualties. No Commune wants to see its workers dead, after all."

"Face it, comrades," one officer summarised. "The Cossacks are here to stay."

---

Nordström Conference Hall, Jönköping, Göteborg kommun, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics,
18th December 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

"This Congress will come to order!"

The Nordic Congress of Trade Unions was just about halfway through its annual meeting, and the item on the agenda currently being discussed were entirely internal matters. There were some concerns that the Helsinki Commune was starting to get too large, and needed to be divided. There were also concerns regarding the matter of security in newly-liberated territories. The list went on and on.

Right now, however, chaos reigned in the conference hall. One representative just threw many assumptions into question.

"...and therefore it can be concluded that a democratic leadership is unnecessary for the construction of a revolutionary society. Indeed, it is a hindrance. As explained previously, history clearly shows that trade unions with more centralised leadership relying less on referenda has demonstrated superior performance. In this matter I am supported by those Representatives whose signatures you may find on this Charter..."

The Charter of Revolutionary Communalism... It was one extremely controversial piece of writing. Its author intended it to be a direct competitor to the several other unofficial charters that defined political affairs in the Nordic Republic. Much like the Charter of Socialism, it argued for total state control over economic affairs. But that was about the only similarity.

"...it is absolutely essential that the Commune and district leadership be brought into line with the policies of this present Congress! The principle of solidarity can only be achieved in a unified nation capable of..."

For the first time in over a decade, a representative in the Nordic Congress of Trade Unions was challenging the central idea of the Nordic Republic: revolutionary democracy. After the long speech was over, two representatives of the Congress shouted across the hall.

"How did that madman even get himself elected?"

"Surely the people will reject this insanity!"

Those shouted comments, really, summarised the speech much better than any analyst.

---

Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag Province, Trøndelag Republic
25th December 2347 Common Era (Socialist Year 91)

The negotiations between the Union of Nordic Socialist Republics and the Trøndelag Republic were experiencing some difficulties.

Some difficulties, of course, could take years to resolve when it came to negotiations of international diplomacy between those two entities. The delegation of the Union of Nordic Socialist Republics had to constantly check for the approval of the Communes and trade unions sponsoring this project, while the delegation of the Trøndelag Republic couldn't agree to anything not approved by their inefficient parliament.

The main aspects of the integration were already established and, barring final aberrations, agreed upon. The Trøndelag Republic would sign the Central Papers and join the Union of Nordic Socialist Republic as the Commune of Trondheim. Its Prime Minister and cabinet would serve as the first representatives of the new Commune and its provinces reorganised into districts. There was nothing more to discuss than a large number of secondary issues, mainly related to the unionisation of unaffiliated workers in the Trøndelag Republic and the nationalisation of property in Trøndelag upon joining the Nordic Republic.

The parties involved being the parties involved, of course, discussion on those secondary issues would likely drag on forever. But progress was being made.

The closer the Trøndelag Republic came to joining the Nordic Republic, the tighter the pressure on Bergen became. The Commune of Bergen was itching to integrate its nominal capital, and a new Commune of Trondheim would allow them to surround the city.

All, in short, was well.

[Kerbodine]

May 10th, 92 AR (After Rebirth)/85 PW (Post Winter)
The United States of the Great Lakes and America
Quebec City, Quebec State
Dock District

---

The USS Globewalker and her three sister ships, the Windchaser, the Voyageur, and the Trailblazer, were underway. The Globewalker, head ship of the class, had been formulated on old documents and shipwrecks/hulks of some of the old 'Salties'- sea-faring vessels, as the Great Lakes-region dwellers colloquially called them. Funded largely by the Superior Steel Corporation, the Great Lakes Shipbuilder's Union, and the U.S.L.A. government, alongside dozens of smaller organizations and businesses, the ships were fairly large. Measuring in at 500 feet long and with a beam of about 50 feet, she was the largest sea-faring vessel known to the USLA, though several much larger ships still sailed the Great Lakes. Prepared to be hardy and well-protected, they were being built with the latest modern technology; proper ultra-hard steel experts and shipbuilders had been called in from the Twin Ports and Chicago, the military was installing several high-speed advanced large-caliber defensive weaponry, high-power radar and radio was aboard, and there were even several high-powered computers aboard for storing and working with large amounts of data.

The Globewalker was the farthest along of all the ships, being prepared to sail to Europe late in the summer if possible. The Windchaser and Voyageur were respectively being prepared to sail to South America and Asia, with the Trailblazer (ironically) expected to be sent on any follow-up missions or rescue missions after the other ships.

Admiral Joseph K. Burns had never sailed at sea before. Head of what amounted to the official government coast guard, Admiral Burns was just as legitimate a sailor as any used to the ocean; Lake Superior was not to be trusted, and the November Witch was not to be trifled with. Prepared to head the expedition to Europe in about half a year, he had been reviewing old documentation of the sailors of old. These ships would be more than capable of dealing with whatever they'd run into, he determined, turning away from the massive construction site to accept a cup of hot cider.

---

Federal City of Madison
Open Marketplace, Downtown

Madison had been hit pretty hard, both by an immense nuclear explosion just to the West of town and by the Winter that followed. It had remained a cesspit up until the United States of the Great Lakes and America had intervened a few decades ago. In the two generations that had followed, it had managed, after the crime lords previously ruling the city had been deposed, to pull itself up from the bootstraps and find a new place as the central trade-hub of what had previously been Southern Wisconsin. Surrounded by two fairly clean lakes, it had become a popular location for refugees from the parched and desperate West.

Here in the Open Market, it was said you could buy anything. No, really; anything. Drugs, expensive fabrics, raw materials, information, exotic foods, rare electronics, vehicles, the occasional work animal- the only thing that couldn't be found here was people for sale (though there were certainly people selling varied services, ranging from accounting or plumbing to rather private activities).

A Mr. Freeman was walking through this marketplace; a rich man who loved cars, he'd heard there was to be an auction on a rare pre-Winter vehicle. Walking into the back of a massive crowd, he could just hear what the auctioneer was saying: "...that's right, a Ford Solaris, 2298 model, great condition. Bidding starting at seven hundred dollars..." What a fascinating vehicle. Purportedly self-driving, and ran entirely on energy harvested from the sun! Fast and sleek, the car seated six and outpaced anything produced post-Winter. Freeman began to bid. "...one thousand eight hundred..." "three thousand flat..." "four thousand fifty..." The price rose quickly. Freeman kept bidding, and quickly the people around him pulled away slightly.

A little while later, bidding had closed. Freeman had won at the dizzying cost of five thousand five hundred dollars- maybe ten times what a normal person made in a year.

---

Later on, leaving the market, Mr. Freeman was assaulted and robbed. Three hundred dollars were taken, and he was left in a dark alleyway with a massive gash on his head. Freeman's first though, waking up in a hospital a few hours after being found that evening, was that there would be consequences, and that this absolutely could not happen again. Madison would be 'fixed'. He and his friends would make sure of it...

A picture of downtown Madison; the closest building is the Open Market, and the collapsed dome farther away is the Old Capital

[Plzen]

National Radio Service, Göteborg, Göteborgs kommun, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics,
06:00:00 Scandinavian Time, 27th June 2348 Common Era (Socialist Year 92)

Greetings to any and all! I am Hans Stålberg, Swedish Broadcaster of the National Radio Service, broadcasting for the first time nationwide. The Radio Service has successfully installed the new radio system that will allow our broadcasts to be heard nationwide, from the North Sea to the Cossack frontier, despite the climatic aberrations that have made previous broadcasts so difficult.

For the next few weeks, until we have the irregularities in our service sorted out, we will only be broadcasting sixteen hours a day from 06:00 to 22:00 Scandinavian time - that's 07 to 23 for any Finnish listeners dropping in - but we will work towards bringing you a 24/7 nationwide, Scandinavian-language program as soon as humanly plausible. We also hope to bring you more nationwide channels broadcasting information and entertainment of nationwide interest, as well as some nationwide television channels to complement radio.

We would like to give our sincere thanks to the Göteborg Commune and the Copenhagen Commune for providing their approval and resources for this project, and the Göteborg Telecommunications Union for providing the labour necessary for making this broadcast a reality. Without you, this nationwide broadcast would not have been possible.

Starting off the broadcast today is some music! In honour of the traditions and ideas that have allowed the Republic to stand where it stands today, we present "When I see the red flag flying," a pre-war revolutionary song written by Oskar Hansen and Jobs Madsen, sung by the Roskilde District Choir. Afterwards we will move on to choice records donated by the Syndicate of Swedish Rock...

---

City Hall, Trondheim, Sør-Trøndelag Province, Trøndelag Republic, Trondheim Commune, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
2nd August 2348 Common Era (Socialist Year 92)

Cheers and applause. Flashes of the camera lens and the shaking of many hands. Pen swerving against paper and ink making a lasting stain. Beer and spirits, filling glasses.

"Cheers, representatives, for our shared and prosperous future!"

Two weeks of general strike across Trøndelag had really truncated the negotiations. The Trøndelag Republic, fully conscious of its inability to sustain prolonged negotiations, settled for a few key concessions and otherwise agreed to most requests by the Union of Nordic Socialist Republics.

The Nordic Republic have published syndicalist and socialist broadsheets for as long as anyone could remember, and this had a remarkable effect on the consciousness of the workers of nearby nations. So the workers of Trøndelag knew. It was they who ran the machines in the factories providing goods for everyone. It was they who toiled in the boats so that nobody had to starve. It was they who served in the police and the army defending the nation from raiders and bandits.

So when the workers of the Trøndelag Republic wanted an end to their exploitation by their bosses, all they had to do was simply remind the government of that simple fact.

The strike lasted 13 days. Then the government capitulated. Still, the concessions made were significant, even including partial compensation for the owners of industries that would be nationalised following their incorporation. Even with a general strike in action and demonstrations happening every workday, the delegation of the Trøndelag Republic managed that much.

A new signature on the Central Paper. A new Commune for the Nordic Republic.

Cheers and applause.

---

Administrative Building, Bergen, Bergen Commune, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics
30th September 2348 Common Era (Socialist Year 92)

"So, then. We are all agreed?"

Everybody nodded. Although voting by everyone present was the legal method of making decisions in any meeting by any official representatives of the Nordic Republic, there was no need. Here, down at the district level, decision-making by voting was the exception, not the norm. At this level, discussion could and often did continue until every single representative present was satisfied with the proposal on the table.

Consensus, of course, meant that proposals that left the table were often dramatically different from proposals initially brought to the table, but that was the way the Republic managed its affairs, and everyone was more or less used to it. Just as much as they were used to the prolonged meetings with days of intense discussion and debate that was sometimes necessary to bring about such a consensus.

"Good," the senior representative of the district commented. "We are all agreed. Invite the Americans to the conference hall."

For some four hours, now, the USS Globewalker sat at Bergen's extensive and recently-repaired harbours, guests in a strange land. The fishermen that initially found them sailing the North Sea and guided them towards the Bergen's dockyards were completely confused as to what to do about the enormous ship and its crew, being clearly foreign in nature. The mysterious ship's crew, after about thirty seconds of overhearing the dockyard workers' frantic conversation, made everything simpler by greeting them in Norwegian.

The ship's captain introduced himself, through a translator, as Admiral Joseph K. Burns, from the United States of which he was now a representative, and introduced his ship as the USS Globewalker. He also expressed a strong desire to open cultural, technological, and diplomatic contact between the nations of this region and the United States

The head of the dockyard section found himself calling the representatives of Bergen District in one minute.

Now, four hours later, as the sun began to slowly sink beneath the open seas that Bergen fronted, Admiral Burns, along with a few academics and translators, found themselves seated in the administrative building in Bergen. The representatives of Bergen began introducing themselves.

"Welcome to Bergen and the Union of Nordic Socialist Republics, Admiral Burns. I believe that I speak for everyone here when I say that we are keenly interested in hearing more about what is happening with the United States, as you are in hearing more about us. My name is Kennet Næss, and I will be representing the District of Bergen in this meeting. Next to me is representative Runa Rasmussen of the Commune of Bergen, who will be the most senior representative present in this meeting."

Runa nodded.

The representatives noted a slight change in expression in Admiral Burns with that greeting. Oh, right, the representative of Bergen thought, remembering the briefing given by the returned fishermen. Counter-revolutionary, these guys. I'm surprised they didn't faint at our red-and-yellow banner.

"Antonia Knutsen. I will be representing the Bergen Syndicate of Fishers, since our regular representative is still down in Stavanger. Our sincere thanks for rescuing our fishermen."

"Gerd Albertsen, Chairperson of the Steelworkers' Organisation of Vestlandet. Pleasure to meet you."

The introduction went round, for a solid ten minutes, as Bergen's representatives and the delegation of the United States both introduced themselves to the other party. Then a few minutes of solid pleasantries, accompanied by offers of food and drink made by Representative Næss. Most of the American delegation was interested in food, but very few in drink. There was nothing special on offer. Just the usual round of fish and pork, really, as plain as the building in which the conference was being held. It probably was considerably beneath what a diplomat of a capitalist nation might be used to, but this was Bergen. Even by Nordic standards the city's representatives didn't indulge in many luxuries. To do so, with the relatively poor residents of the city keenly observing them, would be complete electoral suicide.

"So," one representative finally said, with a roasted fish and half a pint of low-alcohol beer in him, "which matters do you wish to discuss first?"

[Tundra Terra]

Cossack Industrial Hegemony
New Vostraya, 92 AR

---

Progress had shown its favor it seems as the Heartlands were experiencing a major rise in well...everything. The National Fish Farm Project had been successfully implemented as sufficient amounts of fish had sent from various villages to jump start what would become a major addition to the food supplies of the people. Aside from additional food sources, other areas enjoyed growth as alternative energy sources were established, better materials came from the factories to ensure a better standard of living for the Cossacks, supply lines were established along protected routes, and even the military received newer equipment or spare parts to help their efforts. However it just wasn't the Heartlands that recieved growth...as even the frontiers of the Hegemony were receiving assistance of their own in return in whatever forms was needed whether it be bodies, material, medicine, or even basic supplies if truly needed. Such efforts became possible as the Hegemony had been repairing ancient train lines and brought forth newer steam engines. While mostly bio-gas fueled...the trains quickly became a logistical wonder as more massive amounts of cargo or people could easily be transported to newer areas. The Engineering Department even went as far as to introduce a different design in case of need to reach areas not tracked.

Olav could only sit in anger as he heard the news broadcast from all the way over to Sweden. Radio had been an advantage the Cossacks had taken great use of to easily take over more pathetically organized groups in the past. Now the that the damned Nords have an official radio it would be only a matter of time before they can use it for military use as well. Thankfully it seems the Westward expansion is soon to be claiming the rest of Estonia and Latvia...that will bring its own adavantages. Southward it seems Khessia has not made any contact, which is good as that means more land can be taken before being forced to put down a border. As for the East...well...it doesnt seem much issue exists aside from wild tribes and a little arable land.

---

Cossack Industrial Hegemony
Nordic Border Checkpoint, September 30, 92 AR

To many of the guards this was a welcome sight, but also disgruntled position. The Nords have a border...a pathetic one but a border nonetheless. Many viewed this an easily laughable attempt since they could easily swell their numbers if needed and even then troops fromother divisions sought to beeline territory and curb any further expansion by the Nords. Added with the new trains, supply and material no longer became a concern as they could erect proper defenses at a surprising rate in case war ever broke out. The plan was to curb Helsinki expansion, thus leaving another Cossack force once assigned to continue northward expansion into Finland undisturbed until Northern Sweden becomes a possible problem. Yet in the meantime offshift troops were more than happy to celebrate with one another in typical fatalistic fashion as games, dirt races, and spirits were present.

---

Cossack Industrial Hegemony
St. Petersburg, September 30, 92 AR

With the restoration of the harbor work could continue as seaward operations like fishing could commence unless due to stormy weather. However one massive ship was also under construction as it would serve a visiting dignitary's envoy to the Nordic Republic. The purpose of the talks was to formally declare borders among other things, make any possible trade deals, and also as a display of Cossack military might. Thankfully for everyone the airplane section of the ship had been converted to a living transport as the Cossacks had not enough time to make properly trained pilots. Besides the boat was made for protection and ocean stability or travel not major combat operations.

[Aidannadia]

Raised voices shook the room as the tall, gangly figure of the ruling warlord entered the debate hall. He was adorned with a bear pelt that has been passed down from generation to generation from El Oso himself and his bladed knuckles clicked on the table, sending hard knocks across the room to bring the debating countrymen to order.

The warlord motioned for the room to go back to its proceeding as he listened quietly. It was the same tireless debate on expansion; All agreed that their current population was increasing too fast to maintain under current borders. As the day dragged along with the intelligentsia discussing with their charts and numbers and who we are deep under our culture, the warlord sat quietly. The current strongman was put in place by the last warlord, and as a result, has never been accustomed to the debates of the makeshift 'congress', instead relying much on his military expertise from his times quelling rebellions in the North.

Eventually, the leader called for attention, deciding that the government would send an expeditionary force to the ruins of Caracas and begin sending support to the coast for the development of a working navy, in order to protect the future industrial hub of the nation. Los Llanos would be left to fend for themselves.

And the llaneros preferred this life; Away from the influence of the central government in the 'lawless' west where they expanded their territory and took their lives into their own hands. They often found themselves ogranizing into bands and heading out into the plains, hunting down bandit hoards and the traveling vaceros. The little communication they had down the river consisted of trading for metals, fruits, and manufactured goods from travelling merchants that bought and sold along the Orinoco. It had begun to seem as if the Orinoquia were becoming instead two countries than one.

Meanwhile, the mists of the Caribbean moved in on the coastal city of San Fernando; guards looked out blankly towards the horizon, not able to see the bay in front of them.

It was then that the horn sounded, and reverberated across the water surface. For week after week, that horn signaled fear and dismay among the island population, but instead, the attending officer gave only a wry smile. The pirate's large ship was slow and immaneuverable, especially near the coast like this. It allowed the coastal people's rafts to surround the ship from the misty depths below, and scale the side of the wooden hull. The scream were the only thing able to escape the thick fog, and it was not until the next morning that the rank and file of San Fernando saw the red tinge to the bay and the conquered ship in the harbor that they knew what had happened. It was now only a matter of time before they were able to manufacture their own fleet based on the pirates' design.

[Mangjukoia]

南寧國

State of Nanning

The City of Southern Tranquility, the capital of the new Cantonese nation. Nanning, affectionately known as Little Nanjing far beyond its pre-war days. It was the center of the country, residing on the fork of the You and Zuo rivers, tributaries of the Pearl River, the lifeline of their existance. The city was busy expanding, repairing, and replacing, with an aura of age emitting from its shell, resembling its years during the first republic. Compared to Guangzhou, the hardest hit in the nation, Nanning was let off lighter than other parts of the former China, owing in part to its underdeveloped industry compared to the economic importance Guangzhou had been.

Among most of the population, many were getting by with rice and yams, but lived in poverty in population dense shanties, resembling the Kowloon Walled City, to make way for arable land. Nanning was the haven for the social elite, dining and residing as if the apocalypse never came. Most of their riches came thanks to the Chengs, who, getting people in their pockets, took control from the chaotic and disorganized government, seizing what was left of the industries and rich institutions, turning them to his own gain.

The Grand Premier, Generalissimo Cheng Zhaoyun, look his reports and messages from his military-governors. Much of them were eager for military campaigns to reunite the nation, just wanting a reason to step past their boundaries. Cheng's rhetoric of reunification was a strong and powerful, with his voice being heard as far as Shanghai, creating fears and excitement amongst his enemies and supporters. The Grand Marshal himself was also readying for the impending campaigns, having radio broadcasts play national hymns and military tunes to boost the already high morale of the armed forces.

At the main hall of the Cheng family home, Premier Cheng and his entourage drew out a map of China, outlining the boarders of Nanning, points of interest, and strategic locations for the reunification of the nation in the long run. Much of the generals and the Grand Marshal was there to plan out their first strike.

"Grand Premier, I do believe that we must converge on the Yangtze quickly." reported the Grand Marshal Sun Guanyu. Guanyu, nicknamed the Southern Tiger for his military prowess, stood towering above the rest of the men and women present, his presence somewhat intimidating, his drab green uniform providing a backdrop for the amount of decorations that pinned his chest.

"To capture the Three Gorges Dam I presume? And who's to say that it isn't a pile of rubble?" retorted Cheng, taking a sip of matcha as his generals moved around pieces and circled areas on the map. Cheng, the Generalissimo, often called a warlord by his opponents, stood smaller in stature than Guanyu, but there was an aura to him that emitted the essence of superiority.

"No, Grand Premier. If the records are correct, it would be protected by rules of war. If that is true, there is a very real chance that we may obtain it for ourselves." answered Guanyu. "If we were to secure the Yangtze delta, then we will have free reign towards the dam and up the river. Taiwan would be an excellent staging point as well."

Cheng gazed at the map, seeing the distance between Taiwan, Nanning, and the Yangtze Delta. "No." he said. "The distance is too large. A land campaign will suit us just fine."

[Plzen]

City Hall, Viipuri (Viborg/Vyborg), Helsingin kunta, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics,
29th September 2348 Common Era (Socialist Year 92)

The evening's weekly meeting of the Commune and district representatives was extremely rudely interrupted by a runner.

"Cossacks sighted. Kotkatjärvi. At least a brigade. Report by our agent."

After a couple minutes of rest and a few glasses of water in him, the runner began to speak in more coherent and complete sentences. The gist of his report was pretty simple.

One of the agents that the Commune sent into Russian Karelia to incite revolutionary sentiments in the region spotted a Cossack army approaching from the south in Kotkatjärvi. There were about a thousand troops, but the agent suspected that it was just the lead element of a larger army. The agent also suspected that this army was the Cossacks' second try at a northwards push into Karelia and Finland, now that the original northern Cossack push through the Karelian isthmus was frustrated by Nordic border posts across said isthmus. He radioed in to Viipuri's post office and, since the city's telephone network hasn't been repaired yet, the runner had to sprint all the way from the post office to the conference hall to deliver the news that they were now hearing.

"So," concluded the senior representative of the Commune. "What do we intend to do about it?"

A map was quickly brought into the room, and some key locations were marked. All the representatives, even the ones unfamiliar with Karelian geography, now completely understood the situation. Without quick action, it was quite possible that the Cossack armies would come pouring across into pre-war Finland.

"A quick strike across to Pet.. Petrozav... that city over there would effectively cut off the advancing Cossack forces from any further northwards expansion," commented one district representative, stumbling over the unfamiliar Russian name.

"It would also be impossible. If these reports are to be believed, then there is no way that we can reach Petrozavodsk before the Cossacks do. That is even if we airdrop paratroopers, which we don't have. Although I have to say, trying to cut off the Cossacks would be a good idea in general. There are very few viable roads on this map. Controlling the key junctions could effectively give us control over the entire area, Cossack army or not," responded representative Tatyana Chaykovsky. She was the first Russian representative of the Commune of Helsinki, and was therefore often considered more knowledgeable about the area concerned than the other representatives present - although, truth be told, she didn't actually know about very much beyond the borders of her town.

"The obvious thing to do, then," she continued, pointing to the map, "is making a spearheaded and concentrated push towards Suoyarvi, here. It's quite easily reachable by following the A-121 to our new border checkpoint here, then 86K-13 to there. Since the Cossacks will need to take an even longer route following the E-105 - or ditch their motorised vehicles and cross the forest on foot, which will take even longer - we should be able to reach and secure it well before the Cossack armies can get there."

One representative instantly saw the logic underlying this all.

"...that will let us cut off the Cossacks from the 86K-14 motorway and the railroads to Yushkozero, which will block them off Finland for quite some time to come. It will also mean that we will be in a good position to push along the railroads between Suoyarvi and Yushkozero, which will make northwards expansion considerably easy for us in that region. I like this plan. It has my approval."

"The Cossacks can still access the 86K-14, though. Once they push a bit further north they can enter that road from the other direction and get into Finland that way," reminded another representative. "Or even just push their divisions across the forest. Even on the road, we can't be everywhere at once, and our troops are too slow to intercept their motorised units."

"Those are problem for later, and we can deal with the problems of later, later," commented another one of the syndicate representatives. "I think for now, we should go ahead with this plan."

"Don't we have to put this past a meeting of the syndicate representatives?"

"Time is of the essence here," responded representative Chaykovsky. "Yes, yes. Decisions should be made by those whom the decision concerns, and all that. I know. But this time, we're the people on the spot that's in a position to do something about this, and the syndicate representatives are the scattered faraway leaders. We'll contact them unilaterally and just not use the troops of the syndicates that don't agree - although I can't see why anybody won't agree."

"In fact," she continued, "if we're all agreed, then I'll start sending the runners out now."

It took about five more minutes of convincing, but soon, they all were.

---

City Hall, Nyköping, Stockholms kommun, Union of Nordic Socialist Republics,
30th September 2348 Common Era (Socialist Year 92)

"So you're of the opinion that we should not agree to immediate commitment in the Karelian crisis?"

"It could be fairly difficult for us to do. Most of our regulars are tied up liberating Hudiksväll and Falun at the moment, and pulling the syndicates' military forces for this purpose would require their approval. I don't think most of them would be particularly pleased about the prospects of being involved in such an unstable situation."

"The Finns might be quite upset if we don't help them in securing our future expansion against the Cossacks."

A representative shrugged.

"What we would like to do often shares very little with what we can do. Stockholm isn't in a position to send our regulars over. But I suppose we could maybe collect some volunteers?"

"We could also call on the militias. Some of them might be inclined to help. Perhaps. We'll agree to arrange for the transport of any volunteers to Kotka. We can do that, at least."

"Isn't our merchant marine also supporting the operation in the north?"

"They'll just have to rely on the railroads more. It's not like northbound supply absolutely depends on the Baltic. But speaking of the merchant marine, perhaps it needs to be expanded? With the Cossacks floating more and more ships out of St. Petersburg and them advancing into Estonia, the Communes' supremacy in the Baltic could be seriously challenged."

"That's really a discussion for another day. For now, I think we're agreed? The Commune will not immediately commit the regular brigade, but keep that option open in the future. We'll call on the militias and the general populace for volunteers, and divert the merchant navy to transport them to Kotka. The Finns can handle things from there."

"Any dissenters?"

There were none.

---

Outskirts of Suoyarvi, southern Karelia,
01st October 2348 Common Era (Socialist Year 92)

"...then you'll take your company and set up a checkpoint here, here, and here," ordered the senior officer, gesturing to a crudely-drawn map of the city and its environs. "That should be enough to seal our claim to the city."

The operation was... somewhat successful. It was a highly unconventional operation. Instead of a general liberation of an area, as was usual, the Guards were put in a straightforward infiltration operation to set up checkpoints and fortified positions deep in what would otherwise be hostile territory. The Guards - as well as the syndicate companies and any volunteers they managed to recruit - was now almost surrounded by warlord territories. Only a few hundred riflemen guarded their rear, securing the narrow strip of land along the road that they hastily cleared on their way here.

"Secure a secondary headquarters somewhere in the northern edge, there," continued the senior officer, now speaking to the leaders of a different company. "That will allow us to more or less surround the city, which we can then liberate at our own leisure. It will also give us access to the north-bound roads, which may prove necessary if the Cossacks decide to keep pushing north on the highway to the east."

"Such as it is. Now let's get to work."