Fallout:South The Mason MK-IV IC Thread.

by **Waztaskio** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 5:49 pm

Warwick - Camp Bluewater

"Doctor Vane!" A voice shouted through the hangar of the airfield. It was a voice she rarely heard, but a phrase heard all too much. You see, ever since being assigned to this project all she ever heard was her name being called. Doctor Vane, can you check over these schematics? Doctor Vane, can you pick which method is better? Doctor Vane can you allow me to leave a little early today? And it went on and on. No need for children, when you have a load of scientists to do the whining for you I guess. But no, this shout didn't come from the usual bunch. There was only one person on this entire base who sounds like that, and that just made this job even more stressful.

"General Lockheed, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to our fine facilities." I said, looking at the gruff old general who seemed to have my humor lost in his expression.

"Doctor Vane, I've received word that you will be beginning tests on this new aircraft design that the team has been working on for quite a while. I'm concerned for the safety of my personnel. Who the hell is supposed to be flying this thing?" The general said, standing a few feet from me with his arms crossed and not a hint of a smile having crept on his face at any point.

Looking up from the table I was working on top of, I turned to my colleague and dismissed him to another section of the project, before turning my full attention to the general with a clipboard in hand. Our first interaction was brief, and I easily determined that this is not someone who is easily swayed or would care much for my humor.

"General, I assure you that the tests are perfectly safe. We've been running through flight simulations in the hangar with some prospects, and they seem quite ready for the assignment." I said.

"And that's just my problem, doctor. They seem that they are ready, like this test is being made out to seem perfectly safe. These are all assumptions, and we won't know the true answer until we start testing, and I'm afraid of the consequences if things go side ways. I'm hereby ordering you to not use a human pilot for the project, until flight has been achieved and is deemed stable with a non-human pilot." Lockheed said.

"But sir, that would-..." I got cut off.

"That would be your orders, is what it is Doctor. And you will carry them out, or you can pack your bags. So get it done." General Lockheed said, storming out from the hanger after giving his orders.

"Well...I guess it's time to invest in the auto-pilot features." I said to myself, giving a sigh before proceeding further into the hangar to relay the instructions to the team. And to think, we were so close to having our testing be done today.

Providence - Providence State General Assembly

Ever since his meeting with the Governor, Senate President Scott Piles has been working his political "magic," to whip up enough votes for the governors bold new initiative into the future. Turns out, it actually wasn't hard to convince others of the proposition as long as it functioned as a semi-independent entity. We're not communist here now are we? He had also coordinated with the Speaker of the House to ensure he would have the consensus on the idea built up on both sides of the legislature, and now today was the vote.

"Senator from Newport, shall be voting aye on the bill presented." A senator said, becoming music to Piles ear.

The Senate was not that crowded, unlike the House. As the Senators were actually appointed by individual county commissioners of the five counties, there was only a total of ten senators, two from each county. This allowed Piles to connect a lot with his colleagues in order to get them to support his legislative agendas, and provide favors in return. As the last of the votes came in, it was an overwhelming majority with not a single senator voting in the negative. After the bill had passed the House recently as well, this meant that the governors corporation was now becoming established law. The only question on Piles mind now, was who was going to be appointed "Director," which was now a Governor nominated position.

by **Xcom Federation** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 6:06 pm

All was quiet in the western checkpoint, behind them the shining city of new york shone brightly in the evening sky. The western checkpoint was the point of contact for traders and travelers. It served as a border between the wasteland and the city of opportunity. The soldiers are bored, checkpoint duty was one of the most boring jobs you could receive, that's until a group of armed travelers walked up to the booth claiming to be diplomats from a nation calling itself The Provincial States of Rhode Island. The men were skeptical of this but radioed into command. The delegate and stayed in the small guardhouse, chatting with the soldiers while they waited for command to send someone. It took less than 10 minutes for a convoy of 3 black Chevy Tahoes and 2 Cadillac Escalades its red and blue lights flashing. A bunch of armed men disembarked, flanking a suited man. They flashed their badges to the wary soldiers.

"Agent Ricker, Homeland security." I presume these are the delegates?"

"I am ambassador Croft. Sent by Governor Brett Maxwell himself. We hope to establish friendly relationships with the American Republic."

"Of course ambassador Croft. If you could follow me, please."

The convoy quickly took off for the republic's seat of power the capitol building.
"Mr croft. The american republic is honoured by your arrival. Unfortunately the president is not available currently but our Secretary of state will handle your concerns." Agent riker explained as the convoy rushed through afternoon traffic.

The president and his staff were in a disclosed location meeting with The Executive Committee of the National Security Council or EXCOM. The CIA had brought news. It was about the Cerberus base found in newburg a few days ago. New sections of the base had been found revealing several laboratories and advanced workshops as well as a geothermal reactor. Years of neglect have prevented anyone from making them work as well as a special encryption built in their systems that proved hard to crack. What was even more surprising was finding an entire room filled with cryo pods that was much more advanced than the ones used by the republic. Enginneers are trying their best to crack the release codes but it would take time.

The CIA director also brought troubling news as intel from both the DHS and the CIA has indicated the presence of SUC spies in the city. Most of the intel are still in the middle of analysis but a list of names have been compiled of suspected SUC sympathisers. It is up to the president to decide what to do.

5 of them flagged by DHS were the first to be brought in for questioning. One of them however was shot dead by police when be shot at DHS agents attempting to bring her in for questioning. A quick search found large amounts of chems and weapons. She was either a big chem and weapons dealer or this was something bigger in the works. They found d nothing that would link her to the SUC for now she was simply classified as an illegal chem dealer. The rest brought to the DHS headquarters in Roosevelt island.

by **Dragos Bee** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 6:28 pm

Grey Family

Deborah Grey

The standoff was continuing, with the remaining members of the Board of Merchants unwilling to surrender yet also unwilling to fight. Deborah Grey mused as to how long this state of affairs would continue, although it was almost inevitable that the Pro-Slavery forces would break; that or do something drastic. This train of thought would be interrupted by her husband coming into the quarters she had comandeered in the Speedway and saying, "Honey, we've got a situation - people claiming to be Children of Atom are asking for an audience with us; I had the guards escort them to a 'safe place' until we can all talk with them. Oh, and they're disarmed, too; they carry no proof that they're actually blessed by Atom."

Deborah smiled, and kissed her husband on the cheek. "I knew I can always count on you." Her expression relaxed, allowed herself some vulnerability. "I always knew." As Enrique smiled as well, Deborah would continue, "Now, let's go see out visitors, shall we?"

Enrique de Santander Grey

After taking a few seconds to gather Étienne and Ryan on the way, Enrique de Satander Grey moved with his wife, the woman who had agreed to a bond of mutual ownership with him even before her legal ownership of him had ended, towards where the alleged 'Children of Atom' were. They had been peacefully detained in one of the Indianapolis Speedway's cafeterias, being served good food and drink while being closely watched by Eerie Empire guards - the Viscount's veterans, not the newly-joined militias and mercenaries. As Deborah caught sight of one of the men's face, she sped her pace, and Enrique knew enough to know that she was agitated, perhaps even angry. And the reason why was revealed when she faced one of the fake 'Children of Atom' and said, "Atem Sudi of New Egypt, it is my first time meeting you."

Étienne Beauchamp Grey

Étienne, upon hearing the name, would say, "I know of him! Why is he here, Mom?!" But the young man's self-control showed itself as always; his hands did not move towards his guns. Instead, he glared at Atem and said, "My name is Étienne Beauchamp Grey, Deborah Grey's former slave and adoptive son; one is more important than the other. What is your business here?"

A pause to allow him to answer. If Atem accurately explained his reasons for coming, Étienne would say, "What?! Atem Sudi, first you come here, then you reveal that you wanted to enslave my adoptive father's kin - Family?!"

Ryan then remarked, "Mom, Dad, Étienne? Speaking of family, didn't Atem free and marry one of his own slaves like Mom eventually did? So I think we should give him a chance to explain himself further. I don't think he comes on New Egypt Business either, considering the fact that he is in mufti, not in a Power Chariot or Power Armor."

Étienne said as he glared at Atem, "All right, chance given. What happened to get you thrown out of New Egypt?"

Ryan Brooks Grey

Another pause or series of long pauses to give Atem another chance to explain himself once more, before Ryan would offer a hand to the guy, saying, "You know, I never thought you were a truly bad person, not at heart. I mean, you no doubt had done some unsavory things, but so has Mom." A faint smile. "So I have an offer to make: Join our family."

Deborah, Enrique, and Étienne gaped at the scientist-kid in shock, but Ryan continued, "You and Mother, you're not too different. You love or loved people who should have been your property. And as I said, I don't think you're truly bad. So, join us; we can help you with what you want to do, whether it is revenge or just finding a place to belong."

An earnest look at Atem.

by **Cavendian States** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 6:41 pm

Republic of Pamlico

Tryon District
New Bern
Republic of Pamlico

Alexander Vann stared out of the window of his guest house into the heartland of Pamlico. The Tryon District was Pamlico's political nucleus -- the most powerful people of the Republic, many of them military veterans and war heroes, meeting in one location. Their decisions would come to have far-reaching impacts, not just in Pamlico but in the entire Outer Banks region. Vann was amused by his thoughts -- he supposed that the Marshal's power was no different from his. Like the Marshal, he too made tough decisions that impacted the livelihoods of thousands of people...

Mr. Vann couldn't help but notice the lifelessness of New Bern, especially when compared to Atlantic City's thriving business district. The streets were empty, aside from the occasional government official or soldier making their way from building to building. In contrast, Atlantic City invited a diverse cast -- merchants, mercenaries, businessmen, soldiers, farmers, job seekers. Alexander Vann enjoyed the quiet and the luxury of the Tryon District, of course. Yet he couldn't help but miss the familiar hum of activity and the hustle-and-bustle of Atlantic City.

He turned, as if on instinct; seconds later, he heard a series of knocks on the door. "Come in," Mr. Vann said loudly, expecting it to be one of his attendants or aides. Instead, it was an official-looking, well-dressed man with an apologetic expression on his face. "Mr. Vann, I presume?" The man said, smiling. "The Marshal wants to meet with you in his office."

The Center
Tryon District
New Bern
Republic of Pamlico

Keaton nodded, "Currently, our ambitions lie towards the port city of Wilmington. During the Great War, it was nuked -- of course, we assumed it to be destroyed. However, some of our marine scouts report that some sections of the city remain. The inhabitants are believed to be a close-knit community of ghouls, although they largely keep to themselves and avoid any outside contact. Securing Wilmington would theoretically bypass any need for Charleston."

by **Routcher** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 7:09 pm

Vault Nuka

"Well," Chuck Barnes said to Mr. Bradberton, "I'd certainly be honored to send word of a Nuka Cola bottling plant opening in River City. Consider it a deal!" He took an Ice Cold Cola that was offered to him. "Delicious, and thanks to you, coming to my home town. I think you and I will get along quite well, Mr. Bradberton."

Not wanting to waste any time, he talked of the details of this bottling plant some time longer before returning to his wife and also getting the word to River City via radio.

River City Republic Special Session of the General Assembly

The election results are in, and this meeting has been called to discuss results, hear from the winner, and to carry on normal General Assembly operation. The speaker of the General Assembly opened the meeting, addressing a large crowd that had gathered in the chamber. "Fellow citizens of this fine republic, it is my honor and privilege to announce to you the winner of our election for Grand Mayor. No matter who's name is inside this envelope I hold, I know each of these men well enough to know that River City and the surrounding communities are in good hands. This election not only allows us to ensure the people's voice is heard in government, but also is an achievement imagined so long ago by the Five Founding Families who built this city and laid out its first laws. Our continued commitment to popular elections has shown to our contacts in the wastes that the peaceful transition of power is in fact possible, and should be strived for at all times. And now, without any further ado, ladies and gentlemen, your Grand Mayor is..." he opens the envelope, "Grand Mayor Jackson Murphy! With 865 votes, it looks like we'll see four more years of the same expansion-focused drive that has come to define our city. Congratulations, Jackson, and I know that while Brian and Admiral Fischer will not be happy with the results, I also know that they will support the will of the people and work faithfully for the Grand Mayor and the General Assembly as they have always done."

Most of the people in attendance applauded as the Grand Mayor stepped up to the podium to speak. "Citizens of River City, I am once more humbled by your support for me and my vision to become the place to be in on the river. I pledge to you that I shall never stop working for you. When I order elections in nearby towns, I am hoping to make us stronger, to give us more workers, and more resources. The more settlements that join our growing Republic, the better off we all are! To the people who voted for my brother, I will tell you that I understand your concerns about growing too fast. As long as we grow along the river, and not too far away from the water, we will have quick transport and a navy to protect us. And speaking of the navy, to those who voted for the admiral, I say to you that I will not allow the navy to be ill equipped or ill funded. The more we grow, the more resources we have to send to our boys on the riverboats. I thank all of you for your work that you do for your city, no matter who your chose to vote for. Thank you, and long live River City!"

The people applauded once more as Mayor Murphy sat down and the normal operations of the General Assembly began. As talk about policy and taxes went on, more and more people began to leave, disinterested since the election was over.

Domestic Matters
-A new license for Radcat fishing in the Mississippi River was introduced. If passed, anybody wishing to fish for Radcats on the Mississippi River would need to pay 25 caps every six months in order to do so legally. This does not include Obion Creek, various ponds, or other rivers. It passed, 12-6, and will have a 6 month grace period.
-The land caravan tax, which taxes those using land-based delivery system, has been changed from 3% to 5%, with a special condition that the tax drops to 1% for the month of September alone. The vote passed 10-8.
-Following new legislation, it is required for anyone wishing to own more than one pet for a period of time greater than two months to pay a one-time fee of 30 caps per pet (aside from the two free pets).
-Following the success of the ongoing Buy-Your-Bot campaign, a new measure called "Bucks For Your Bangs" was passed (13-5) allowing people to sell their weapons to the government.

This concludes the General Assembly meeting notes. What follows are general updates:
-Expansion will resume as normal, targets include: Clinton, Hayti, Obion, and Marston.
-The mechanic is having trouble figuring out what to do about Hornbeak's water treatment equipment.
-Another assault on Cayce happened recently. There is no doubt that these assailants are from Fulton, as one of them was captured and interrogated, before being shipped away with a shady boatsman who offered the government 100 caps to "deal with this raider so the city won't have to". One marine was injured, but is expected to survive. The Marines have been ordered to apprehend anyone trying to enter or exit Fulton, in an attempt to starve the city of resources before an attack of our own can begin.
-Buy-Your-Bot week 4 went spendid. An assaultron was purchased from a mercenary company fleeing from Louisiana. The robot was sent to the frontline on Fulton, to assist the Marines there.
-Wolf Island Naval Base is now 43% complete.
-A new Riverboat has been built and given to the River Navy. The "Murphy Family Pride" will be assigned to the Home Guard.
-The next boat for the UR is being built. A boat for River City will be built after that.
-The heavy weapons workshop in River City is 31% complete.
-The advanced weapons workshop, being built in Columbus with help from the Sons of the South, is now 48% complete.
-Bucks-For-Your-Bang week 1 went ok. A handful of hunting rifles was bought from a traveling gun salesman.

The Saga of Atem Sudi
Chapter Five: Found Out

After taking a few seconds to gather Étienne and Ryan on the way, Enrique de Satander Grey moved with his wife, the woman who had agreed to a bond of mutual ownership with him even before her legal ownership of him had ended, towards where the alleged 'Children of Atom' were. They had been peacefully detained in one of the Indianapolis Speedway's cafeterias, being served good food and drink while being closely watched by Eerie Empire guards - the Viscount's veterans, not the newly-joined militias and mercenaries. As Deborah caught sight of one of the men's face, she sped her pace, and Enrique knew enough to know that she was agitated, perhaps even angry. And the reason why was revealed when she faced one of the fake 'Children of Atom' and said, "Atem Sudi of New Egypt, it is my first time meeting you."

"I...think you may be mistaken," Mr. Garvey said, "This is uh...James...er, Sine-" he was cut off by the conversation moving on before he could finish, but Garvey was bewildered that these people knew who Atem was.

Étienne, upon hearing the name, would say, "I know of him! Why is he here, Mom?!" But the young man's self-control showed itself as always; his hands did not move towards his guns. Instead, he glared at Atem and said, "My name is Étienne Beauchamp Grey, Deborah Grey's former slave and adoptive son; one is more important than the other. What is your business here?"

When asked why he is here, Atem said, "I am here looking to find workers for a business project my colleagues and I have going on. Heard you folks were having an auction."

"What?! Atem Sudi, first you come here, then you reveal that you wanted to enslave my adoptive father's kin - Family?!"

Ryan then remarked, "Mom, Dad, Étienne? Speaking of family, didn't Atem free and marry one of his own slaves like Mom eventually did? So I think we should give him a chance to explain himself further. I don't think he comes on New Egypt Business either, considering the fact that he is in mufti, not in a Power Chariot or Power Armor."

Étienne said as he glared at Atem, "All right, chance given. What happened to get you thrown out of New Egypt?"

When asked why he is no longer in Egypt, he said, "My father's temple slayed my wife and burned my belongings. I killed them and left. Found a new gig. Gonna build a settlement in Cairo, and I need workers to do it. Wasn't planning on enslaving or selling these people. just want to move them to work for me....for free, because Cairo is radiated and they'll love the chance to work in a holy place."

"You know, I never thought you were a truly bad person, not at heart. I mean, you no doubt had done some unsavory things, but so has Mom." A faint smile. "So I have an offer to make: Join our family."

Deborah, Enrique, and Étienne gaped at the scientist-kid in shock, but Ryan continued, "You and Mother, you're not too different. You love or loved people who should have been your property. And as I said, I don't think you're truly bad. So, join us; we can help you with what you want to do, whether it is revenge or just finding a place to belong."

"Well, it's no secret I'd love to see New Memphis burn. Or at least the temples. If you can help me build my legacy in Cairo, I might take you up on that offer."

The other two, Dent and Garvey, looked on nervously, hoping they were not just executed for helping a slaver.

by **Al-Ghaihr** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 7:40 pm

[u]Office Building Lobby, High Point, Islamic Commonwealth of America[u]

A man in a suit stood as the Diplomats came forward and he begun speaking "Today, the Islamic Commonwealth of America announces the formation of the American Union. A United Nations-esque organization that we all can share resources with each other and defend each other and more. This Office Building will be the future headquarters of the American Union" and the Diplomats begun clapping.

The Islamic Commonwealth of America would begin renovating the building for it's new purpose and installing security at the area. Furthermore, the President chose the new Anthem of the American Union which was "Ode to Joy" an classic song of taste to hopefully show peace in the time afterward the Great War.

A new flag was designed by the local flag designer for the American Union which was to be installed outside on a flag-pole along with member nation flags. Furthermore, the briefing room of the Office Building was renovated into a United Nations-esque room where member nations could speak/bring up issues. A security council room and trading council room was also established.

It was a sign of great things to come as it would mean that the American Union would unify small and big nations alike and share resources along with protect each memberstate from foreign intervention.

American Union Building, High Point, Islamic Commonwealth of America

The President of the ICA Luke Mallicoat walked into the building with his security team as he saw each individual room and took a look at the particular room where he would hold speeches and much more. He not only saw this as a great moment for the ICA but also for America too.

Luke left as soon as he entered returning to the rebuilt White House on Main Street where he begun sending invitations to numerous factions that he had contact with or who he knew through the United Republic in an offer for them to join the American Union.

He also mentioned that High Point was a great location for it because the airport where Diplomats would land was a tightly-guarded military base as well and is a very short commute to downtown High Point or to the other two cities in the ICA for luxury, food or whatever.

by **Penn Hills** » Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:20 pm

Brethren of the Seas

"Half-hand" Patterson, Badger's Island, Kittery, Maine

Patterson never went into something without knowing full well what it actually was. He was cautious like that, and he hoped that it would lead to a rich and long life. Not many in the Brethren lived to see a full head of grey hair, which was why he was so relived when Aldric Dubois rallied with him. If the Québecoise thought the plan would work, perhaps it wasn't such a ludicrous idea after all. The lands of the south were rich, but foreign to the pirates that hailed from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, more often called the 'wrence by the locals. That was why he brought along John Hill, a seemingly average looking man who was a legend for many mariners in the south. He was a fisherman, then a smuggler, than a pirate, mercenary, and many other things. But more importantly he knew much of these southern lands. Bart, more often called "Half-hand", hoped that it would get the Brethren far.

He resettled himself in his chair and returned to the map that Hill had scribbled upon. In particular, the three nation-states that were closest to the pirates. There was the Commonwealth, dominated by the Provisional Government in the Boston-area. There were tales about that place that spread even as far north as the Brethren. Robots that looked like men, a college that could exterminate entire towns, all tall tales to be sure. Yet, there was always kernels of truth to be found in there tales. Once, when he was a merely a boy, some fishermen gave his father an arm they had caught in there nets. It was no arm, but merely in the shape of it. It was metal, with wires and tubes and seaweed all meshed together inside it. That gave him a shudder. But even though the tales were false, it was unlikely he would ever sail on them. There militia could be dealt with easily enough, but the mercenaries, the Gunners who would do anything just for their next pay check. Hell, no. Half-hand didn't want to be caught by a vertibird crew anytime soon.

He brought his finger farther south to the jumble of words that was so long that it spilled out into the sea. Patterson could read a map well enough, but never learned to read. Even if he could, he doubt he could pronounce it. Even Hill struggled with it, saying it slowly once and then referring to it as "Cablock" any time it was mentioned again. They had real ships, ones that could move without sails or oarsmen. That could be a threat, though it wasn't the ships he was seeking out. His fingers traced the outline of their two larger islands in the south: the Vineyard and Nantucket. Communication with their main forces on the mainland would be certainly troublesome, if they were to be attacked in the dead of night. As Hill told it, the tribe or tribes that lived here were a poor folk, rich in nothing but salvage and fish. But they had people. People that could be sold as slaves, sold as hostages, made into oarmen...

His stomach grumbled, and Bart realized how much he really had to eat. Folding up the map and tucking it into the pockets of his wool coat, he buckled his belt that held his gun and his hatchet and stumbled out of his quarters. In his weeks at Portsmouth, pain bubbled from his old leg injury and came and went as it pleased. He made a mental note to give himself a little cocktail of psycho and med-x as he opened the door to the compound outside. They had found the small settlement abandoned, vines growing wherever the could and gates left ajar. It was a better place than most to set up the headquarters for his conquest. It had docks for their ships and the only way to enter was on the bridge that crossed the island to unite Maine and New Hampshire. Still, he posted guards on the walls around the island. Last thing he needed was something to scale the walls and start wasting his men. So far it was nothing major, a dozen or so mirelurks, some bugs, and a crazy fucker who was covered in blue paint and stabbed a guard before they could put him down. It scared the hell out of his guards though, some blue man running up in the dead of night like a demon. It was an inspiration though, for him. Patterson knew of some captains who used war paint and other means to scare their enemy into submission, so perhaps he should adopt these very same tactics.

by **Dragos Bee** » Mon Aug 20, 2018 7:36 pm

United Republic

Tallahasee, Florida

N/A

Chattanooga

Chattanooga's inhabitants have entered an agreement with the United Republic; sell the latter's manufactured goods to the rest of Tennessee (after rebranding them as locally-made, of course) in exchange for 50% of the profit.

River City

Congratulations, and a gift of Cuban Coffee, were to be sent to the new Grand Mayor, and fulsome thanks were to be expressed for the new Riverboat. The invitation to the newly-made 'American Union' would be forwarded as well.

Fallen Star

N/A, waiting for Orm.

Nuka-Cola Corporation

The female ambassador said, "Your suggestion is a fitting compromise, but individual towns and cities will have the right to impose duties on radioactive or sugary goods, or in the case of the former, ban them entirely. Either way, we love your dedication to the needs of the consumer, and we will definitely promote Nuka-Blast and Diet Nuka-Cola in our nation."

United Syndicates of the Future

N/A

Pamilco Republic

"Then we request that the Ghouls, as they present no danger, be negotiated with," the male ambassador said. "Ghouls are valued citizens in the United Republic, after all. Either way, we are ready to aid in the resettlement of Wilmington, and even to provide our own Ghoul ambassadors in order to make negotiations with the local community easier. All that we ask in return is what you are willing to provide already."

ICA, North Carolina

Raiza-al-Sulayhi and Abdullah ibn Umar would just thank President Luke Mallicoat for his words, even as they hoped that this 'Gechtarman' would get caught. It might take some time for them to begin discussing religion with the Grand Imam once more, though, due to, well, being shocked by the attempted muder of one of their staff.

Disposition of Forces

N/A

Casualties

by **Elerian** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 2:00 pm

Violent Delights Have Violent Ends Part Three

The air was alive with bullets, smoke, and shouting as the men and women of the 5th Brigade began their assault on the last major raider stronghold in Dover. They’d stumbled upon the raider’s base of operations almost a week prior, a massive pre-war military complex. Since then the Third People’s Army Corps had been amassing its soldiers for a final confrontation. In the meantime, surrounding and besieging the raiders in their stronghold whilst the rest of the 3rd Corps campaigned further South, tracking down pockets of raiders and ensuring there would be no surprises. Soon, they would end the fiasco that had begun months prior.

Lieutenant Erik Satie had been on campaign for the better part of a year, as had the rest of his platoon and their company, and they'd seen little in the way of rest or recuperation. He and his men had fought bitter battles and skirmishes with everything from Mutants to raiders just like the ones that they fought now. Beyond glamorous Philadelphia, and on the fringes of Union territory, enemies of the Revolution still lurked. The Wasteland was not a safe place beyond the confines of the Union, and often that chaos would spill over into the Union’s front door.

Now Satie and his unit lay pinned down in a crater inside the ruined remains of what might have been a barracks or cafeteria a, long, long ago, as raider gunfire made sure that their heads stayed out of their line of sight. Satie himself was carrying a standard issue Type-93 pre-war assault rifle, that had reliably kept him safe since he’d enlisted almost a decade ago. Others in his platoon had a mix of shotguns, assault rifles, and machine guns. They weren’t flashy, but the Union provided them with sturdy and reliable weapons to do what had to be done. Satie ordered the platoon marksman to move around the side of the building and try to take out the raiders pinning them down. He did so, quickly and efficiently moving through the rubble, crouching behind the outer side of the structure, took aim with his DMR, closed one eye, and pulled the trigger, slamming a raider in the chest. A few shots later, and the raiders were silenced, but they could still hear gunshots and war cries all around them. Satie started issuing orders, and they quickly advanced further into the compound, moving building by building as Union forces began their push into the interior of the stronghold.

When the gunfire finally stopped, the soldiers set about tending to the wounded, burying the dead, and surveying the interior of the Dover Air Force Base. To their genuine surprise a great deal of pre-war hardware was uncovered. Unfortunately, during their occupation of the Air Force Base, the raiders had managed to destroy or otherwise break some of the hardware. The raiders also hadn’t been able to explore the whole installation, and the Army Corps was quick to discover why. During their search, some Red Army soldiers triggered the remnants of the pre-war security system. An armada of angry Mister Gutsies appeared seemingly from nowhere, killing or wounding two dozen soldiers. Obviously, the army’s work here wasn’t yet done.

It was as if they’d kicked a hornet’s nest. But, after the initial surprise they’d been able to destroy the Mister Gutsies without any more deaths. The pre-war military had been adamant that the secrets of this facility were to remain just that, secret. But, that only made the newly arrived Abaroa all the more insistent that they find the goodies deeper inside. Her wish was their command.

It wasn’t surprising though, after what they had found in there. It took three more days, but finally the Dover AFB was pacified and fully surveyed. Engineers quickly got to work, sifting through computer documents to see what secrets the pre-war military had left behind. Despite her minimal involvement, Abaroa would surely receive a commendation when news of their discoveries spread.

Pro Patria Mori

White smoke slowly drifted upwards, as Joshua Redding looked coolly at those gathered around him. A few were bureaucrats, dressed in sharp suits when a decade before they had been simple low level jockeys, hunting for their next meal. The rest were far more important, members of the War Committee and upper ranks of the expansive Colombian military. They were attempting to solve a crises facing the nation, namely what to do about their northern neighbor.

Redding pressed his cigarette into the ashtray, discarding it. "Let's begin with the talkers, what have you been quacking about today?" he asked the various men in suits, who ostensibly represented the interests of the people. In reality they were just hungry for more power, which Redding would have to tolerate for the time being, until the current situation stabilized.

"The people are getting frisky, what with their expansion into Edison and military buildup so close to us and all. Most seem to be pushing for a pre-emptive strike, to try and quickly take the Burghers by force. Others want to hang back, maybe improve relations with them" replied one of the suits.

"And what does the Assembly think?" Redding inquired.

Another of the suits spoke up, "The Assembly is inclined to go with the latter option." he replied.

Redding rolled his eyes, "Of course." he said. The cowards in the Union Assembly preferred peace to war, since they didn't really have any balls, Redding wasn’t even sure if anything existed underneath the suits that they covered themselves with. "And what does our military command think of the situation?"

General Rayes answered, "We believe that our superior numbers would overwhelm the enemy given enough time, giving us a costly victory, but one excellent in the long term. However, given their recent expansionism, they would gain an unprecedented amount of materials, and with their new capabilities might perhaps even their chances."

Redding nodded, "Then I want our reservists put on notice, they may very well be needed in the near future. I want the 4th and 5th Army Corps rotated northward to reinforce the 1st, and let the Interior Ministry know that I want daily reports of the situation on the ground. I want to know what the Burghers are up to, lest I let the yuppies overrun our lines."

The men soon scattered out of the room, with orders to dispatch and speeches to be made in the Union Capital. Redding looked out the window behind him and for a moment dreamed of the end of of it all. One day this rat race would be over, though likely not in his lifetime.

Upper Jersey

General Carmona, of the First People’s Army Corps, sat in the passenger seat of his loudly humming command truck looking at the passing scenery. His wish had been granted, he was no longer stuck in Trenton. Back there the most exciting part of his job was breaking up smuggling rings and investigating the occasional raider band. Before, when they were nearer to the Union’s borders, when they passed the corn fields and apple orchards children would crowd the side of the road to cheer them on their way. But that happened less and less now as they strayed farther beyond Colombian territory. Folks out this far were suspicious of armed men, and rightfully so.

There were a number of post-war settlements between them and New York that were in neither the Union, nor New York’s sphere of influence. They were forced to rely chiefly on themselves, and sometimes one another. That would soon change, or so the upper echelons of the Union believed. The reason why the old world trucks were necessary was not just to speed the Army Corps on its way, but also to transport quality gifts for the communities that they went through. This, they hoped would ease the difficulties of integrating themselves into the Union. That and the show of force that their convoy presented.

Shortly they would arrive in East Brunswick and set up a command post to operate from. Along the way, the Army Corps assisted the shifty Interior Ministry agents with their duties. Carmona encountered more resistance the farther North they ventured. The last settlement had openly defied the Ministry agents and strung them up in the town square. Carmona had been forced to make an example of them. The town’s local government had been apprehended, their properties confiscated, and hostages had been taken. Carmona would be glad to see all the ringleaders hang.

The next settlements that they’d travelled through had been less eager to defy the will of the Union.

by **NewLakotah** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 3:20 pm

Louisiana-Texas Border

War was coming. It was coming soon, and the Louisianans knew that is was coming. The relations between Texas and Louisiana was as you would say, been cordial. Texans, to the Louisianans, were expansionist savages. A war-mongering nation that was hell-bent on colonizing and destroying their culture and way of life. It was a war of survival, a matter of serious importance to the nation. Day in and day out, the propaganda machine had been ramped even more over the past few weeks and months, they knew that war would be coming swiftly.

The military of the Louisiana was also well aware. They had spent the last few months preparing and planning for the inevitable invasion from Texas. Soldiers were activated and trained, staff officers and military leadership poured over maps and different strategies for what would come next. The issues facing them were immense, but not necessarily insurmountable, at least that’s why they hoped.

They did however face a serious manpower issue. The Louisiana military could field an army of 28,000 soldiers. Decently equipped and trained, they were not the Texan military. The Texan military could field army well over 3 times their size. In a pitched singular field battle, the odds were further stacked against them, since the Texans also had a large air force, something they also lacked.

With their numbers small, the planners knew they could simply form a long singular line to block the attackers. With so much land to cover, as well as protecting the coastlines, the Louisianan military instead decided to focus their defenses on key routes into Louisiana and the heart and soul of the nation; the Mississippi.

Given the rough and overly wet terrain of Louisiana, Louisiana was given a rather large plus. For the Texan military to be able to advance at all, they would have to control the roadways. The many rivers, swamps, and creeks meant that bridges would be an all important part of the Texan advances. Thus, the military staff decided to focus their defenses on key roadways towards the interior, this to slow down the first major push of the Texan offensive. In the rear, the larger number of Louisiana reserves. Also, bridges were also to be prepared for demolition, dykes prepared for controlled detonation to increase the water flow and flood certain areas to deny them to the enemy.

In all, the Louisianan military had scattered their army across the Texan border. Around 21,000 men focused in several different key areas, where engineers and soldiers worked to make something of a defensive point. 6,000 men were stationed along the coastline in case the Texans tried anything that way. The rest were deployed back along the Mississippi river, there to prepare final defenses and protect the vital river way and northern border.

Along the actual border, the general staff had picked out several key positions to defend. First, from the North was Shreveport, along the Mississippi. 2,000 men would be stationed along a line at Longview, with 4,000 in reserve. There, they cut off the two major highways running east-west. The front line was a mixture of block houses, pillboxes, trenches and sandbag machine gun nests. They were spread out in a perimeter around the city, with their reserve some distance back. This reserve line made a far longer line south covering any attempt at outflanking them. This was the Northern Command.

The other key locations to the south were the cities Nacogdoches and Lufkin where 9,000 men covered the Central Command. The zone extended as far south as Woodville, however that section was smaller compared to the larger and more important cities to the north. The area held 2 massive reservoirs that cut into the landscape 2 natural defenses that they could easily use to their advantage. The nearest one, the Sam Rayburn Reservoir made for a natural secure flank outside of Lufkin, ensuring they could outflank without pushing all the way south towards Woodville. Between that and the next Resevoir was a small gap, where troops dug deep, trench lines between the two, with heavy sandbagged and strong fortifications there to ensure that they could pierce through their without taking heavy losses. Out of the Toledo Bend Reservoir, a decently sized river cut through the terrain, where the rest of the reserves, 4,000 out of the 9,000 men, were dug in along.

The final position was the Southern Command, this one at Beaumont. Here 6,000 soldiers protected the city and the southern route, their lines dug in from Sabine Lake up north through to Woodville. Here, there were much less reserves, since the coast defenders own 6,000 men could act as a reserve force if necessary. These soldiers were dug in in a series of in-depth lines of trenches and other fortifications, including blockhouses, pillboxes and other larger scale defenses.

Along the coast, the Louisianan troops had one major advantage. While severely outnumbered, the terrain of the southern coast of Louisiana was mostly swamp, creeks, and bayou. Areas that could be flooded when necessary, but also practically inhospitable and totally in capable of landing any real number of troops there. Thus, the defenders were able to coalesce defenses at key areas where there was hard solid ground where landing vessels could approach. Machine gun posts and other small fortified areas marked the defenses of these beaches, and mines were spread around, both in the water and on the actual beach area. Most troops were centered closer to the key Gulf port of New Orleans with 3,500 men centred all around there. The rest were spread along the rest of the area, with around 1,200 actually in the New Iberia area, and one Battalion, around 600 men, actually positioned along the beaches able to take landing vessels, the rest stationed further back, protected other smaller landing zones or potential raiding strikes inland from the swamps.

The lines across the entire front were designed to be multi-layered and pliable in most places. It was designed for them to fall back onto each one, where reserves could coalesce and form a stronger singular front at one point where the enemy was at their extended strength. As the Texans would advance, theoretically, they would grow weaker, extending their supply lines on fragile roads and bridges, and their front line units would be extended out, getting weaker, while the Louisianans would only be withdrawing on their supply lines, and into their reserves gaining strength. The “scorched earth” policy was also planned. Crops, bridges, rail lines, dykes and anything that could be of aid to the enemy would be destroyed with the approaching of the Texans. It was a strategy that would certainly hurt them in the long run economically, however, they hoped that the United Republic would be able to lend a helping hand financially, or hopefully even militarily.

Grayburg, Louisiana
D-Company, 1st Louisiana Infantry Regiment

Grayburg was a small border town just to the west and slightly north of Beaumont. As such, it was a key scouting and advanced infantry position in order to keep an eye on the enemy developments as they came about. D-Company had been given the rotation this week of keeping an eye on the Texans. The defenses here were lighter than further south at Beaumont itself, since this target was considered to be that major of a position to hold. As such, the main defenses were several independent rows of trenches and sandbagged machine guns and mortars, foxholes and slit trenches, as well as buildings inside the town itself, which had been fortified with concrete and other materials to make makeshift blockhouses. One of these was the Company HQ, the other was along the left flank, where a machine gun poked out facing west through one of the narrow windows. Inside, there were about a squad of troops in each. A machine gunner, the squad light machine guns, and the riflemen.

There were 3 such fortified houses. One central, and the other two along the flanks. In front of them were the trenches, and a long winding row of barbed wire entanglements, which beyond that ran a scattered maze of mines and IEDs. In front of each houses, was the trenches and in between the houses ran a long line of sandbags, with positions marked out for machine gunners, and behind them were the few mortars that have been assigned to the company.

Captain Logan Martinez was the company commander and the one in charge of the small area of control. Texas was a tough and hot wasteland, and the people from there just as tough, rugged and evil as any other type of bandit or creature that inhabited the desert. Him and his men had drilled for the inevitable and often patrolled and observed the enemy positions.

What they saw was a gathering of a large number of troops, huge swarms of war supplies, wagons and other vehicles bearing all sorts of military equipment swarmed the towns all around the frontline and behind it. Something was happening. Martinez had let Battalion HQ know of course, and the reserves had been readied and all lines prepped for anything over the next week.
Today, action seemed heavier than usual, then it was surprisingly calm. Martinez was on the roof of the central blockhouse. A machine gun was set up there along the raised wall. Sandbags and camouflage netting covered overtop, mostly to protect against the hot sun rather than aerial observation. Martinez stared through binoculars towards the enemy positions. There seemed to be a disturbance, large dust clouds were moving, marking the movement of men and equipment. But he wasn’t sure what was really happening. He turned to his S-i-C, 1st Lieutenant Andre Gatineau.

“There is more movement over there, definitely larger stuff way back there, in the rear. Outta range.”

“More reinforcements?”

“Probably. Definitely.” Martinez responded. He peered back through his binoculars. “There is a helluva lotta Texan bastards over there by last count. At least several brigades spreads out around this road.”

There was a sudden distant thump-thump; then the shriek of shells.

“Incoming!” One man yelled out.

The shells exploded, hitting just outside the perimeter, before shifting inward, moving in and around the town. There was more movement, the enemy moving in their own mortars. Firing their heavy 81mm shells, arcing them in and exploding in around the town and defenses. The soldiers were all scrambling for their trenches and cover. The attack had come at last.

The shelling came at a constant rate going on for some time. Peering out from behind his shelter, Martinez noted as the advance enemy shock troops began making their way across the open ground towards their positions. Martinez leaned out from his cover and yelled out as loud as he could to get his mortars firing and machine guns ready. He hurriedly also sent word to Battalion, informing them the attack was on, not that he figured they wouldn’t already know by now. His reserves, C-Company, was at a fortified checkpoint a few kilometres to the rear, where they would help facilitate the withdraw of the company when attacked, however, at the moment there was no opportunity for that and he was prepared to hold on against the advanced assault troops as long as possible.

There was a sudden thunk of mortars, and the chattering of machine gun fire followed by the pops of rifle fire from the defenders. The battle was in full swing.

Jupiter Line

The front line along the Texan-Louisianan border had been coded named Jupiter Line, the advanced and most forward line there was. It was more of a thinly held holding area for the enemy to be envolped in and force to spread out to mop up each small fortified checkpoint and town with their infantry, diluted their advanced attack. However, all along the front the battle was engaging into full swing as the full onslaught of Texan firepower was unleased upon the entire front.

by **Cavendian States** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:45 pm

Republic of Pamlico

The Center
Tryon District
New Bern
Republic of Pamlico

"Very well, then. The ghouls in Wilmington would certainly be more receptive to one of their own, given that they seem to shy away from our scouts," Keaton said, "You're welcome to send your ghoul ambassadors -- what we require from them is what I believe to be very reasonable. Our engineers need access to restore the port of Wilmington into working order. In addition to that, we need the ghouls to allow us to construct a military outpost, in order to fend off raiders, pirates, bandits, and other such riff-raff. In return, we're willing to make these ghouls citizens of the Pamlico Republic. They will, of course, receive all the benefits that citizenship entails."

Camp Sanctuary
US-70 Route
Croatan Territory
Republic of Pamlico

Camp Sanctuary was one of four military checkpoints along the crucial US-70 route. The route, which connected New Bern and the Atlantic City, was the lifeblood of the Pamlico Republic. It was the artery, the vein which, if cut, would practically destroy the nation. Every day, dozens of caravan convoys and their brahmin carried tons of trade goods, food, water, and other important supplies. While most of caravan security was entrusted to hired mercenaries and caravan guards, the Pamlico Republic managed four checkpoints, all positioned in key points along the route. The camp itself was tasked with taming the wilderness of Croatan Territory -- the two Army platoons garrisoned there were forced to patrol over a particularly dangerous stretch of US-70. The nearby woods made it a prime hunting ground for raiders and bandits. In addition, Camp Sanctuary wasn't located near any other military base, heightening the vulnerability of the checkpoint...

Major Corey Lance frowned, closely inspecting the schedule given to him by HQ. The numbers didn't lie -- an important shipment of weapons, ammo, and munitions was nearly a month behind schedule. Useless bastards. Don't know what we're even paying them for. The Crystal Caravans had been tasked with the transport of supplies to the front-lines, through government contract -- yet they were frequently behind schedule. Lance supposed that part of it wasn't their fault; delays were common, thanks to raider attacks, threats from wildlife, the nation's crumbling infrastructure, et cetera. A delay, for whatever reason, could back up convoys for miles on end. The Major had seen enough of them to last a lifetime -- they were hell to sort out when it happened.

Yet being a month behind schedule was uncharacteristically late, even for a company like the Crystal Caravans. Initially, Lance entertained the ideas of raiders, only to quickly dismiss it. Raiders rarely attacked the Crystal Caravan convoys, which were heavily guarded with mercenaries and tamed yao guai. Rather, they chose to target lone merchants, unaffiliated caravans, and travellers. Any group of raiders that were tough enough to succeed in an attack against a caravan convoy had been annihilated, back during the years of Marshal Bradley.

Still, Lance had no reason to suspect anything other than raiders. According to his intel, the roads were clear, and the caravans were going through without any qualms. And even if the convoy was destroyed, there would surely be survivors that could flee to Sanctuary to report the unfortunate news.

Lance's job, other than processing incoming caravans, was to keep the roads safe and clear. The latter task was particularly important, given the ongoing operation in Jacksonville. No doubt his superiors would be poking around, wondering why their supplies weren't coming in. The Major would have no other choice but to send a squad out to investigate...

by **Solisian Union** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:47 pm

Somewhere at the border of the USF to the north

A USF DG trooper dressed in her uniform plus a tan trench coat, a sand colored face mask and sable goggles kept watching the lands beyond the reach of her arms, towards the dirt and the scattered dead trees. She kept her hands on the Browning .50 Caliber Machine Gun while to her right, a fellow trooper was manning a M18 recoilless rifle. Protecting them was a wall of at least 200-400 sandbags combined with a dozen large stones to their front as well as barbed wire and steel panels. The USF DG also did not neglect placing bricks to reinforce the walls and paper and cloth to serve as shelter.

It was a hot day for them. But the troopers remained as they were, waiting for 30 more minutes until they would be relieved. Then came the raiding parties.

At least two platoons would be going out now. They came by truck and car. The troopers greeted them and after asking and receiving the cards that they needed in order to verify their missions, the woman and the man looking over this part of the border let them out. It however made the woman feel ill when she saw the symbols painted on the backs of their trucks: A cobra swallowing five men dressed in raiders garb whole.

More and more trade centers and small workshops were being built in the USF. At the same time, the USF reached out to the ICA and to their neighbors by radio with requests for trade and weapons and ammunition. The USF too was busy making more fortification materials and more weapons and ammunition of their own. The biggest thing in the minds of the USF government construction working parties though was the construction of a vehicles factory.

Another that filled their heads was the construction of an international trading center. This would also serve as the headquarters of the USF Credit Union and the USF Financial Team. With the way that things were going, the USF must improve and grow. This too meant expansion.

Besides the resumption of attacks on raiders and slavers, the USF decided to look northward for expansion. Manpower and all the other things were being marshalled by the government. The high command thought it would take a few weeks or a month to get everything ready. Meanwhile, the northern borders were reinforced by more fortifications and men.

Things were starting to become greater for the USF.

by **Dragos Bee** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:49 pm

Grey Family

Deborah Grey

Deborah extended her hand to Atem, "Then we are in agreement." A look at Jon Garvey and the man called Dent, as she continued, "I am feeling a bit generous today; as I now have access to the New Indianapolis Government's treasury, I can pay off the both of you to come serve us instead - 10,000 caps up front." Turning back to Atem, she would ask, "Now, tell me about this 'Town of Cairo'..."

Once the former New Egyptian had finished, Deborah would say, "Hmm, I have a plan. Basically, we've received news that the Slave Market - Formerly the Lucas Oil Stadium of Indianapolis, has fallen with only the slightest of resistance, with the slavers and guards having fled north towards the remaining knots of resistance. But the large number of freed slaves, many of them unskilled, might strain our still-limited resources."

Gesturing an aide to come to her side, Deborah would ask said aide, "Give me a temporary officer's badge; I am deputizing this man," she referred to Atem, "As a member of the staff of the Secretary of State of the New Indianapolis Government." Once said badge had been given to her, she would pin it on Atem's shirt or elsewhere in his clothing, and say to him, "Go to the Lucas Oil Stadium and bring my offer to the freed slaves; free land in Cairo, Illinois, as well as weapons, decent clothing, food, water and caps in exchange for helping you with resettling the area. My husband, Enrique de Satander Grey, will accompany you on this trip; same for my son, Étienne Beauchamp Grey. Do not disappoint me or Ryan or otherwise betray our family; you're part of it now.

"Once you're finished, come back with my husband and son to discuss further operations against the remaining rejectionists among the Board of Merchants; we can't allow them to do something drastic before the Army of Eerie arrives."

by **Penn Hills** » Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:41 pm

Brethren of the Seas

John Hill, off the coast of Rockport, Massachusetts

There were perhaps fifty men aboard the Mack's Knife, yet there was barely a sound to be heard. Men walked slowly across the deck of the galley, strapping armor, loading guns, sharpening their knives and axes. Yet few talked, and those that did so in hushed whispers, fearing of carrying their voices across the water to the shore of the village. The last thing they needed when they were pulling their rowboats ashore was marksmen picking them off in the shallows.

John already had his armor on by the time they got into position. Most wore leather, or scrap for protection. A few, more accomplished brethren wore metal, bought, stolen, or forged by slaves in the pirate hideouts in the far north. None on the ship could compare to their captain, though. Hill wore a full set of pre-war combat armor, painted completely in black, except in the center of the chest plate, which had a crescent moon painted over. It was the same crescent moon on the flag of his galleys. Half-hand had explained to him that it was important for the Brethren captains to fly their own banners so that they could take credit for their feats. He decided on the crescent moon from the old flag of the Southeast Commonwealth. It was his homeland, a little hardscrabble village on the waters of the Atlantic. The people there felt little connection to those who ruled the United Republic two hundred miles away, nor the cityfolk of Savannah sixty miles the other way. Everyone there were fishermen, and he was in his father's boat before he was old enough to start school. When his father's boat became his, he started getting into smuggling. And now he was here, a thousand miles away, practically on a different planet.

He snapped back into attention when his first mate tapped him on the exposed part of his shoulder. "We're ready to go." the man whispered, pointing his axe out to the rest of the crew. John used the mate's shoulder to pull himself up and gesture to the rowboats that they already set into the waters, tied to the galley. Silently, the ethnically diverse crew climbed off the galley. The ship was Brethren-made, but the same could not be said for the crew. There were fishermen from Maine, pirates from the 'wrence, farmer's boys from Dover, a trio of french-speaking ghouls, and a giant named Alfie, who John once watched pick one man up to use as a club against a second man. If it went bad, he could always hide behind Alfie. He would probably swat a bullet out of the air like swatting a fly.

The boat ride to the beach would have been even more silent than on the galley, if it weren't for the crashing of the waves. Hill breathed a sigh of relief as his boots touched the rocky beach. If the villagers knew that the pirates were here, they were missing their best chance to strike. Sprinting across the beach to the group of metal shacks was considerably less pleasant, under the weight of the combat armor. He began to wonder if the Brethren were right in their choice of protection. The United Republican was considering taking some of the combat armor off when he saw a door to the nearest shack open with a crash. A man in overalls raised his shotgun at the group and fired. He heard one of the farmer's boys make a rather effeminate scream, then a wave of war cries as some of the pirates returned fire with their pipe guns as the rest charged. John raised his rifle, but the time it took for him to unsling and shoulder it, the settler was already belly-up, holding his chest as one of the Brethren proper led the charge into the shack, giving the old man a merciful slash with a machete as he ran pass. There were more screams in the hut, the sounds of metal striking metal, and by that time John became acutely aware that the other townsfolk heard all of this and were arming themselves. Gathering up his men, he led up the street, sending some in small groups to breach the dozen other shacks that made up near the entire town.

His main concern was the large wooden structure that stood on the end of the street, a popular bar, store, brothel, and a half-dozen other things. There would be many there, even at this ungodly hour. Sure enough, he saw a pair of rifles appear from the window of the establishment, all he could do was leap behind the shell of a pre-war car as the bullets descended on the first-wave of brethren. He saw a few go down, some screaming as they held their wounds, others simply dropping dead as they fell. Running in between a pair of shacks, he regrouped a dozen of his fighters and led them behind the houses, out of view from the riflemen at the bar. He did his best to ignore the sounds of fighting inside the residences, but couldn't ignore it when Alfie came crashing through the wall of one, holding a bloodied man who was messing one of his ears, torn clean off.

He left one of the Brethren to guard the one-eared man and his family and took Alfie with him, reaching the last shack before the bar. The shooters were still exchanging fire with the Brethren on the main street, and were entirely preoccupied to notice him and the others. Shouldering the combat rifle, he peered down the iron-sights and picked the woman on the right, though it was hard to tell their features through all the smoke and chaos of battle. John let off a few rounds, and she went down. Someone in the bar screamed out something, but he couldn't really tell what. He aimed over to the rifleman on the left, but the gunman was already out of sight. Leaving his rifle propped up against the wall, he drew his knife. "Charge!" he cried out, running across the muddy street, his own voice soon drowned out by dozens of others. From out of nowhere, he felt like he had been hit on the head by a hammer and crumbled to the ground, darkness taking him.

When John Hill woke, the battle was won. Alfie was dragging him lazily with one leg across the sand, with no reaction to his own wounds. He was flanked by his first mate and one of the ghouls who made a joke about how many men it took to take a bar over. When the first mate asked, the ugly ghoul curled his lips back into a smile of black teeth and said, "None if you set it on fire and smoke the fuckers out". No one laughed.

In the end, they took twenty-nine as slaves and lost only five men, a successful venture considering that four of them were men who never raided before. The loot they did find would be divvied up once they returned to Portsmouth. The first mate told John he would have to find someone to fix his helmet.

by **Routcher** » Wed Aug 22, 2018 12:06 am

River City

An invitation to the American Union, a league of wasteland factions, was sent to River City from the United Republic. The Grand Mayor announced that he planned on admitting River City into this new organization. The plan was to take advantage of membership of this new Union to work out economic deals and maybe get foreign investors to help improve Republic land. A diplomat, former General Assembly member Tracy Hicks, was dispatched via plane to an airport in the United Republic, to meet up with fellow diplomats and be flown to High Point, the home of the American Union.

Dyingburg

The day of the election of Dyingburg had finally arrived. The residents of the city had long feared future attacks from New Egypt, and did no hesitate to join forces with the growing Republic, with the idea being safety in numbers. The final result was For 568-232 Against. The city of Dyingburg is now part of the Republic, and with it it has become a sort of "second capitol", a city off the river that travelers from the Dixie wasteland could flock to without needing a boat.

As 834 citizens joined the Republic, the population is now 2,567. Fifty people joined the River Navy, with 12 sailors joining each fleet, and 14 recruits becoming Marines. All 50 were sent to Tiptonville for training.

Other updates
-Due to the complicated logistics involved in annexing a city like Dyingburg, further expansion is once more delayed.
-The mechanic in Hornbeak is finally able to get the water treatment equipment operational. The residents of Hornbeak are grateful to be drinking clean water.
-The Marines have stopped a few caravans from entering Fulton. We expect the residents of Fulton to make a move soon.
-Buy-Your-Bot Week 5 went ok. A Mr. Handy was purchased from a civilian who was trying to pay off his debts. It was sent to Dyingburg to help the construction of new projects.
-A heavy weapons workshop is being built in Dyingburg.
-Wold Island Naval Base is now 54% complete.
-Another riverboat for the United Republic has finished construction and is on its way to Florence.
-The next riverboat will be made for the River Navy
-The heavy weapons workshop in River City is now 49% complete
-The advanced weapons facility, being made with help from the Sons of the South, is now 53% complete.
-Bucks For Your Bangs Week 2 went very well. A couple of sniper rifles were purchased and given to the Marines.

by **Al-Ghaihr** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 3:28 am

Islamic Commonwealth of America Roleplay

Hannibal Gectarmahn's supposed house, Greensboro

"Ready up on the door." said a member of the tactical team. There was quite a few men dressed head to toe in combat armor that said POLICE and two detectives (one from the United Republic) and a Forensic Mr. Handy. They slammed the door-rammer into the door near the lock as the door flung open. They rushed in guns drawn quickly clearing each room one by one for Hannibal.

They arrived at the Kitchen where they discovered there was cuts of human meat in the fridge and a portion of human meat in a frying pan on the oven still going. Someone had obviously tipped Hannibal off as he left in a hurry. The Tactical Team leader walked to Detective Mark Williamson and begun speaking "Well, he's not here. He had to left in a hurry." to which the Detective slammed his fist on the wall and reached for his radio speaking "I want increased security on Mass Transit, double the police presence at the two airports. It's important we catch this fuck."

The dispatcher acknowledged from the dispatch room and begun dispatching certain units to make sure that Hannibal Gectarmahn would not be allowed to escape the ICA.

American Union Meeting Room, High Point, ICA

President Luke Mallicoat walked onto the stage where the eager diplomats from the United Republic and River City along with the USF sat awaiting for him to make an announcement. He begun speaking into the microphone. "My fellow diplomats, I know that the American Union has been lacking style as of recent and that it may be new but it still needs a distinct way to show itself off. We had held a flag design competition and offered a thousand Dinar to the winning participant. Allow me to present the winning design."

A soldier in formal dress uniform walked over with the flag folded professionally. He proceeded to unfold the flag to present it to the diplomats. He did it relatively swiftly where upon now the flag was on display for all to see in the room. The President resumed speaking "The flag we have designed represents numerous things. The waves at the bottom represent River City and the diverse trade it offers. The American eagle represents who we all are, American citizens from long ago. The stars represent the former statehood of the USA. The sun, well it represents a new beginning to a bright future."

The president smiled as he stopped speaking to take a drink from the nearby glass of water as he resumed speaking again "This flag will be up at all American Union installations and the main Headquarters itself. So, I want you all to tell me do you like this flag or not. Also, this is the first joint-meeting of the American Union before we elect the president. So now would be a great time to bring up any issues, trade, or whatever you wish to speak."

by **Dragos Bee** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 3:57 pm

United Republic

ICA

Abdullah ibn Umar, who was present along with Raiza Al-Sulayhi, could not help but think incredulously, The flag design was left up to a competition? It was a good flag, and to be honest, the United Republic's individual towns and cities would have done the same thing. But even so, it was a bit unexpected of the ICA to do such. Nevertheless, he said, "Of course I like the Flag; it's appropriately symbolic!"

Raiza, meanwhile, asked, "What about the formation of an 'International Credit Union' and a 'Talent Union'? The first will be a pooling of our funds to better serve all of us, while the latter will be a combination of University, Technical School, and Worker Co-operative that can train and provide specialists of all kinds, ranging from doctors and scientists to engineers and roboticists. All members of the American Union will be allowed access to these, while the United Republic will provide start-up... Seed funds."

A shudder; she had been about to say the word 'Capital'. "Also, we noticed that High Point Museum has an old Kaytusha; may we send some of our own R&D Division to analyze it so that we can reverse-engineer and produce rocket artillery for all members?"

by **Arengin Union** » Thu Aug 23, 2018 11:17 pm

Eastland trading point, Texian Wasteland.
Republic of Texas protectorate.

Lieutenant Braddock stood sure and collected right in a watchtower in the middle of interstate 20 gates and makeshift walls defending a solid perimeter, his assault carbine on his back, G19 holstered on the right side of his leg and UP77 laser pistol on his belt. His Texas Republic uniform cleaner and better maintained than most other soldiers at the trading point. The bearded lieutenant stood watch, using his binoculars to scout the west, preparing himself for the incoming "merchants" of New Mexico. The trading post had been established a few months ago, when the men calling themselves "Caesar the Second's Legion" arrived in droves, carrying red banners with a golden ox at the center and charging at the first settlements they saw. At first they ran rampant, killing several farmers and merchants before the people of the Texian Wasteland and the Texas Republic itself assembled militia, and army to combat these invaders. The war was short, as soon as the Legionaries saw resistance coming in masses, heavily armed and organized, an emissary of sorts if you could even call him that, arrived unarmed and asked for a word with the leaders of the land.

Vulpes Inculta was his name, he spoke in a grandiose tone, righteous and ready, with a sense of cunningness and slyness with him. After a while, peace was made between the Texan people and the Legion, the Legion holding off to the info that they were fighting a war with a great power and could not face a second front, instead Vulpes exaggerating the abilities of the Texan people into such a show of fight and will that it impressed Lucius's Legion, boding then the respect of him and the Legion. All were lies to divert the Texan's wish for blood since this would be a fight they would never win unless the might of the Bear was first choked, or at the very least hold off.

"They're here..." Braddock yelled, not at anyone in particular, just making the announcement so that the soldiers, merchants, and vendors and people who lived in this particularly rustic settlement would prepare themselves. There was at least 30 or so Texan Republican Soldiers at the post, with some 100 people living within the settlement, all armed with varied weapons but who would not hesitate to take up arms at the first sign of trouble.

Merchants began to ready their shotguns down on the counter, while putting some of the best stuff for sale, these Legion boys payed in either gold coins called "Denarus" or something or in other more exotic things like healing powder, yuca ales, rare bear furs, etc.

Braddock pulled out his carbine, leaving the watchtower for another soldier to take over, this one much dirtier and with a uniform that showed he had been here for much more time that he didn't even care about etiquette anymore. It was hot, but not unbearably, at least this was better than other parts of the wasteland, trees and vegetation still present in most areas.

The incoming legion merchants closed in to the trading post, the red banners still with them as always and brahmin pulled carriages as far as the eye could see, slaves carrying loads of merchandise as well, some in shackles and others with collars.

At the very front was Vulpes himself, ridding in a black horse and with his usual smug as always. Braddock already was acquainted to the man, he didn't like him one bit but he tolerated him as best as he could. The lieutenant made his way to the front fence gate, guarded by two other soldiers, a female soldier without helmet, hair pulled back and armed with an M16 and the other male gruffy looking soldier armed with City Killer automatic shotgun. Both of them nodded at the lieutenant and let him get closer to the gate.

After some minutes Vulpes's caravan arrived at the front.

"Listen to me, and behold. The blessings that Caesar the Second grants to you! All by his generosity and in hopes for a better amicitia and pactums between us all!" Vulpes's speech made Braddock cringe, it was always the same fucking show. Pull up with a fancy parade, showing off how they treat slaves, trade whatever garbage they brought, then leave. God he just wanted to put one between his eyes, right into his stupid sunglasses.

"Well how be you Braddock my good Texan friend." Vulpes said as he got off his horse, a legionnaire taking the horse by its straps, he walked in an noncaring form, as if the two knew each other deeply and were friends for a long while, they really were not.

Braddock simply kept a still face. "I'm good. How's the west?"

Vulpes smiled. "It's going well, soon California will be on our Caesar's hold and we will look further North. But that is of no importance, I bring goods for us to share, im sure we can find good things from your people as well."

"Yeah, well before all that. You already know the drill. No slaves, or weapons allowed within Texan territory." Braddock said coldly.

"Yes, yes. As per our accord." Vulpes made a hand gesture, and a female slave bound to feet shackles appeared. She was bare footed, her feet were burnt to the flesh and her ankles bleeding and darkened by the dirt.

Vulpes got his Ripper, his sword, and his silenced 10mm out, setting them on the open hands of the submissive and scarred female slave. The female Texan soldier at the other side of the gate simply watched as Vulpes then smacked the female slave right on the cheek, then giving a hand gesture and her leaving. Braddock was not impressed by such a petty show, soon all who wanted to come into the trading post did the same as Vulpes and soon the gates were opened. With Vulpes coming in first the Female soldier he passed by looked at him with little care. She eyed him head to toe, noticing the skirt he had on and how his armor was made up of mostly footbal gear.

"Hey faggot. Ladies restroom is at the left side of the town. Just letting you know." She said, giving a smile. The other gruffy soldier chuckled.

"If you were in Legion land you're pathetic life would've been extinguished by now." Was the only answer Vulpes gave.

"Yeah well how bout you try and take us on again. I'm sure you wont get your ass handed to ya." The other soldier added.

Vulpes then turned to Braddock, he simply stood by, smiling. As the other legion soldiers and merchants went into the town, Vulpes faced off Braddock.

"Is this the discipline you teach your subordinates? With a whore carrying a gun and an oaf showing care for what she has to say. You Tex's are such uncivilized, undisciplined people." Vulpes turned back, out of the settlement back into the wastes, he would wait outside for the trading to end.

"Well, what can I say Vulpes. Here we all have a mind of our own." Braddock answered late, as he then walked into the settlement giving his back at the Legion crier.

by **Routcher** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 5:38 pm

High Point, ICA

Jeff Drager, the River City representative to the American Union, spoke up, "if River City were to invest so much of its money into a credit union other factions had access to, what is the guarantee that our money would not be squandered on things that do not benefit us, such as infrastructure in run-down Florida towns? I don't see a future for the Credit Union that involves much contribution from River City. As for the Talent Union, I think the Grand Mayor and General Assembly would find that mutually beneficial...we have many colleges and schools of the pre-war days in our own territory, but few teachers to re-open them."

He went on, "of great importance to the River City Republic is our commitment to neutrality and equal opportunity among trade partners. There is a trade partner of our, the Texan Republic, that we have invited recently to the American Union, although it does not appear that they are responding. I assume we have the ability to invite as many people as we want? Furthermore, will the people of River City be asked to fight wars that do not involve us? It is no secret that the United Republic has been gearing up for some kind of military activity. I won't ask too many questions, but do not expect the people of River City to back you up here."

"I have no further concerns at this time," Drager said.

Clinton, KY
The settlement of Clinton, of 166 people, was the latest expansion target. The people there were generally favorable of the Republic, due mostly to the increased security on the roads after recent expansions, and the fact that the settlement of Fulton had been harassing Clinton for a long time now. However, many among them still liked the idea of remaining independent, so the election could go either way. Sixteen of the citizens were too young to vote, and for that reason, only 150 people voted. The final result was For 50-100 Against, and Clinton did not join the Republic. However, trade relations with the town remained friendly, and the General Assembly gave the people of Clinton their word that they would not take hostile actions against them for the result.

Obion, TN
The town of Obion, of 134 people, was another expansion target. Sought after for its location on the Obion River, and proximity to a wildlife park (and therefore hunting ground for trophy hunters), an election was held recently to determine if they would join the Republic. Nine people were too young to vote, so only 125 partook in the election. In an unbelievable turn of events, all 125 voters agreed to become part of the Republic. The unprecedented move has caused many in the General Assembly to leap for joy, and many politicians from River City are making the trip to Obion to express their gratitude. Of the population there, 8 men joined the River Navy, 4 joining the Marines, and 4 joining the River Navy South Division (2 rivercraft from Obion were also sent to the fleet).
Notable buildings:
-Water treatment building, could potentially be fixed up and provide clean water to the settlement.
-Farm supplies store that has plenty of things needed for farming.
-Tractor store, many might be fixed up, but it is up to locals to do it if they feel inclined, as the government currently has no interest in putting funds that direction at this time.
-Obion Community Center functions as a town hall and place of recreation for passersby.
-Obion City Hall is in disrepair, but it might be worth while to fix it up and give the town a true city hall.
-Baptist Church for local Christians.
-Methodist Church is a warehouse.
-US Post Office is now a River Express Office.
-Local bank is now a River City Savings & Loan location.

Caruthersville, MO
Despite not being an expansion target, the people of Caruthersville asked to join the Republic, citing fear of a growing power in other parts of Missouri. Without hesitation, the General Assembly accepted the settlement of 696 into the Republic. 41 of them would go on to join the River Navy. 10 would each join the North, South, and Home Guard Fleets, and 11 would join the Marines. The new recruits were sent to Tiptonville for training. 3 rivercraft were sent to the Navy, one for each fleet.
Notable buildings:
-Lady Luck Casino & Riverboat. The Riverboat was made functional by locals some time ago, and will occasionally make trips up and down river.
-A bank to become River City Savings & Loan location.
-A bank to become a Credit Union office.
-A US Post Office to become a River Express Office location.
-A drug store, should prove profitable for our locksmiths and salvagers.
-A local population of traditional Catholics, who have begun to spread the gospel in Republic territory. Time will tell if they clash with liberal Catholics from the United Republic.
-Sheriff's Office, home to the local police force, now also operating as a police academy for all police officers in Republic territory to learn more about their jobs. Classes will be offered to civilians for a small fee of 20 caps, to go to government funds.
-Salvage yard, for our scrappers.
-A munitions workshop.
-A fishing goods store, reopened long ago by locals.
-An airport, not in use for a long time, but home to 2 semi-intact civilian Cessna planes, and a non-weaponized Vertibird. Once repaired, the Vertibird will serve the Marines as a transport, and the 2 civilian planes will be kept by AirRiver air tours, a newer company that was started in Dyingburg recently. They may be loaned to the Navy upon request, however.
-Areas looted for books: Public Library, Middle School, High School, Dyersburg Avionics office at the airport.

General Updates
-The General Assembly will meet soon to discuss admitting additional representatives from Dyersburg and Caruthersville, as they each have a considerable population. They will also discuss naval equipment, Bangs-For-Your-Bucks, and meet with the Sons of the South for help with dealing with Fulton.
-A mechanic sent to Obion believes he will be able to get the Water Treatment equipment functioning.
-One Marine was seriously wounded (but expected to survive) when the residents of Fulton began to open fire on a patrol. Fortunately, the others with him were able to kill or chase off the attackers and bring the wounded one to safety. If he fully recovers, he will not return to Fulton, but will instead become a training adviser in Tiptonville.
-Buy-Your-Bot week 6 went outstanding! A mercenary group from New Egypt was passing through and decided they no longer needed one of their Sentry Bots, and sold it to the government for a good price. The Sentry Bot will be sent to Fulton to deal with the menace there.
-The Texan Republic and the River City Republic have entered a trade deal. River City will build riverboats like the ones being made for the United Republic, in exchange for shipments of Texan-made small arms. Many of the small arms are expected to be given to River City forces, and the surplus are expected to sell quite nicely to wastelanders looking to get a good price on quality weapons.
-The heavy weapons workshop in Dyingburg is now 4% complete.
-Wolf Island Naval Base is now 64% complete.
-The Riverboat for the River Navy has finished construction. The "Obion" will join River Navy South.
-The next riverboat will be made for the Texan Republic.
-An additional riverboat assembly line is being constructed. It is 1/3 complete.
-The heavy weapons workshop in River City is now 67% complete.
-The advanced weapons workshop in Columbus, with help from the Sons of the South, is now 66% complete.
-As per the Constitution, a representative from Caruthersville, Dyingburg, and Obion each was added to the General Assembly.

by **Solisian Union** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 9:09 pm

ICA

In response to the invitation to speak up, the USF diplomat Isidoro Guillén said

"I thank you, Mr. President. And I am happy to see your new designs. Now if I may, I must bring up the concerns of the United Syndicates of the Future. We really need, Mr. President, more weapons and ammunition and trade from and with you. We are eager to establish a great relationship between the two of our nations as much as we have both a relationship with the United Republic."

At the same time, USF DG troopers started to march on the towns of Grenada, Oakland and Batesville, attempting to capture Highway 55 and the nearby settlements and grounds. USF DG troopers started to increase their numbers, bringing in additional battalions to capture more territory. Raiders and slavers and other hostiles were quickly eliminated with the combined might of the infantry and artillery. Machine guns were used to great effect against several enemies or against larger threats as mortars and grenade launchers and some pre-war artillery got the job done. Infantry used high speed trucks and cars to get into position, to move their wounded and dead and to finally take the highways. It was accomplished in less than 4 hours as much as the USF also started to send troops to Greenville in order to secure a line of defensive positions behind a part of the Mississippi river.

by **Dragos Bee** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 11:05 pm

United Republic

Tallahasee, Florida

A simple message to the Kingdom of Louisiana: Hold out for 180 days. Then we come.

Are you sure about this? Sedna can already hear Osecola asking her; she knew her Co-President's more cautious nature by heart by now. As she paced her study, she said one word, "Yes."

Nothing but our full standing strength will suffice, should we commit ourselves to such an action. Even then, this rests on the belief that once we've trained and gathered our defensive troops, we'll have enough to defend ourselves with if things go south. Sedna realized that it wasn't a sure belief. Nevertheless, she prepared to send the letter via courier, stamped with her own personal seal.

At least she can content herself that if the Louisianans failed to hold out for 180 days, the agreement will be null and void and there won't be an immediate war. Part of her was surprised to keep hoping for that.

Chattanooga

N/A

River City

N/A

Fallen Star

N/A, waiting for Orm.

Nuka-Cola Corporation

N/A

United Syndicates of the Future

N/A

Pamilco Republic

The male ambassador smiled and said, "Thank you; we will send word to our Capital denoting this development. Our ambassadors will arrive via helicopter in a few weeks. Until then, we will need all available information on the Ghoul community in Wilmington, if it can be provided."

ICA, North Carolina

"We listen to your concerns about the Credit Union," Raiza-al-Sulayhi spoke, "And as for the neutrality of nations, we would propose that individual members of the American Union, if backed by another member, would be allowed to opt-out of wars involving the compact. Not merely that, but a distinction will be made between wars by individual states, and defensive wars where the entire alliance is called upon. And indeed, we will contribute teachers for the pre-war schools and colleges in River City territory."

Did the people of River City just give us the ultimate key to peaceful conversion? she thought. If so, I must take it with both hands, while at the same time not revealing how eager I am for this opportunity.

Disposition of Forces

N/A

Casualties

by **Solisian Union** » Fri Aug 24, 2018 11:45 pm

Highway 55

The battle with the hostile scum of the wastelands was going well. With the loss of only 89 troopers compared to the enemies losing 130, the USF pushed up Highway 55. Trucks and cars wasted no time travelling towards the towns, overrunning them with artillery and infantry support. Raiders and slavers all fled or chose to surrender as the USF placed flags on their first towns and started establishing checkpoints along the Highway.

State of the Syndicates

Meanwhile, an emergency mass meeting was called for all syndicates of the USF. At the meeting, it was agreed upon by all syndicates that they shall now contribute each a lot of money to A) The establishment and upgrading of arms and ammunition factories B) The conversion of workshops into factories and C) The recruitment of 9608 more men from the population and most of all D) The order by the government to the USF DG to create defensive plans.

by **Ormata** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 6:50 am

Raleigh, Fallen Star
Elder Fallmoor

"We wish for the continuation of trade between the United Republic and Fallen Star, as well as carry a request."

Helene would then take up the discussion. "Our request would be that as you do business in South Carolina, that you serve as a conduit for a 'buy-and-free' operation among the slavers and slaves there. Namely, we give you Caps to buy, then free, members of the slave population there and then transport them to United Republic territory to live lives as free people."

The Elder swallowed, sitting down at his desk before the two ambassadors. The room they were in was patiently simple, a metal prefab with a slightly curved roof and a fan buzzing-away in an upper corner. His clothing itself was simple as well, a plain coat and blue jeans with a pair of black, shined boots, black beard spilling-out onto himself. Cragged eyes, skin aged from the sun, peered-out from under thick eyebrows, his hair short. A pair of worn hands rested gently on the table, though despite all that the man wasn’t a lax individual. The Elder was in such a position because of a military background, a capable mind, and he extended that sort of background into his more civil life. A straight back, boots flat on the ground, and a face that showed little emotion.

They wanted to free slaves; as far as that went, he agreed. It was a noble goal, if only seen in that light, if one only saw that they intended to free such slaves. But the method and request, that irked the older man; they wanted to buy the slaves and then free them, allowing slavers to continue operations unhindered. It allowed for a perpetual cycle of slavers taking slaves, others buying and freeing them, and the end result was a wheel that fed into the United Republic. That’s where the request for transportation irked Fallmoor; it meant only that the Republic would be seen as a glorious place without actually halting slavery, without actually stopping a continuum of harm and hell.

“Trade between our nations has been and shall be steady; we don’t intend for that to change.

However, the fact that you want to...buy and free slaves, using our people as middlemen, that is not agreeable. If we find slavers, normally they don’t live for long. That’s how we operate. If there are slaves, we bring them home, give them food and water, and they decide if they wish to stay with us. If we…’transported’ them to you, is there a difference between that and slavery? I don’t think so.”

Tapping against his desk, the Elder nodded to himself just a little, just a little bit of the rocking of his head with lips pursed. It was light, light as a feather and as discordant as the rain against sheet metal, a chaotic little tune that had all of the consistency of a schizophrenic. Paused, the fingers raised just an iota above the desk, the Elder finally rested his hands there, calm again, paused again, still as a statute. A click of his teeth, and Fallmoor gave a little more in the way of conversation, his voice terse and clipped.

“Why should we let slavers continue the flesh trade, buy slaves to set them free? Why should we participate in that industry on your behalf?”

American Union Meeting Room, High Point, Islamic Commonwealth of America
Ambassador Hadassah Curtis

The ambassador who had stayed silent spoke, then. She wore simple garb, a cloak made from rougher material that could clearly be seen to have been made for utility and purpose, not the easy life of a politician, an ambassador, and her hair was cut short. She was still, rock-still, her head not moving during the discussion, her hands not tapping, her feet still. Curtis had lived for a good bit of her life in the armored suits of the Fallen Star, the designs that forced an individual to keep calm, keep able, to move only when needing to and never elsewise. She eyes blinked, she nodded once, and then she opened her mouth. It didn’t faze her that the small nation that was Fallen Star had not been featured on the flag, had gone unnoticed and unrepresented, it was noted and simply ignored; flags were symbols, nothing more than that, and actions spoke and meant far more than any piece of cloth.

“Fallen Star disagrees with the concept of a Credit Union. No answer was made on securities to guard against money being used elsewhere and, if such securities are to exist, we need to know about them. If there are none, we do not agree to such a concept. In regards to the ‘opting-out’ of conflicts, Fallen Star agrees. In regards to the ideal of a ‘Talent Union’, we agree.”

by **NewLakotah** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 11:34 am

Chapter Three- Politics and War - Third and Final Part
"Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed."
-Mao-Tse Tung

Morgantown, United Erie Empire
II Corps, Imperial Army

The situation in Morgantown was improving, but things were still moving slowly. The military had helped work the streets, clearing rubble alongside the civilian and government workers who helped the Morgantown civilians begin rebuilding their city once again. Aid stations, food distribution centres, and sleep tents had been erected and the city was beginning to return back to a state of semi-normalcy as they still had to find out how to return back to work again.

Meanwhile, the 2 divisions of II Corps had spent the few days slowly spreading out over the surrounding settlements and towns, engaging with the population, pushing ever further south, and securing roads and bridges and establishing checkpoints and fortified centres for their military to base out of. They had created a new pocket, ranging from just south of Pittsburgh, down south past Morgantown and just east along the highway running down from Waynesburg and Mt. Morris. Units would begin moving west out of Morgantown, and south from the Ohio to clear out the northern part of West Virginia and the mountains there, as well as pushing further south in their attempt to totally isolate the city of Charleston, the last remaining major holdout of the former independent state.

The military units had spread out in a tight semi-circle defense that was ever widening as the troops would advance to the next time and meet with the villagers. Government representatives of the Empire would talk with whatever leadership had remained in order to bring to the table to sign the treaty of agreement with the Empire. Meanwhile, in the city itself, Imperial representatives began meeting with the remaining region leaders who had remained in the city rather than trying to make for Charleston, on officially signing the peace treaty and annexation treaty. The same rights afforded to other member states would apply, of course, this would be somewhat different.

West Virginia would be eventually be added in as the newest member of the Erie Empire, forming its own individual government and being part of the Empire in full. However, the part that was complex was twofold. First, there was no a single unified government in West Virginia to build off up, rather a series of smaller city-state complexes that would have to be organized to work together in full. Second, the entire area had yet to be conquered and as such, trying to form any form of government was going to be difficult. Nonetheless, the preliminary meetings could be arranged, diplomats from Cleveland arrived and began meeting with members of the Morgantown public, those, for whatever reasons they might have, who began working with the Erie Empire’s leaders and troops.

They also met with the old government leaders, signing the peace document, which was an assurance that they would be allowed to maintain a certain autonomy, once able, and that they would be equal political power in the new “state”. How and what type of political leadership this would be was still to be determined. That would have to be worked out between the new leaders of West Virginia and the representatives of the Empire, once Charleston was taken.

For the soldiers of the Imperial Army, none of this political gamesmanship interested them in the least. They had won a major victory for the Empire, they had taken Morgantown, the top half of West Virginia was all but theirs and their move south was progressing well, even it if it was painstakingly slow. For II Corps, the act of being the main fighting force was over, their duties now mostly would be occupying the northern part of West Virginia, as well as the southern parts of Pennsylvania and western edge of Maryland that had fallen during their sweep south. They would also act as the far flank of the main assault from I Corps, who would assault straight down into Huntington and Charleston. II Corps would keep the far right flank occupied, tying up hundreds, if not more, enemy troops.

By this point, II Corps had really only moved a few kilometres south towards their objective, and their distance was quite a ways away. So, the actual offensive was still a few days off from actually happening. It would happen once the reserves and reinforcements for II Corps arrived, the troops received their full load of ammunition, and the area and the supply lines and roads were secure enough to allow for a large portion of the Corps to start heading south. Then, and only then, with the mass of infantry and cavalry bearing down on Charleston, would I Corps deliver the knockout blow.

Cleveland, Ohio
National Parliament, Imperial Quartier

If conquering West Virginia and Morgantown was plodding along slowly, how the conquered would be governed was stuck in quicksand. While the Emperor was technically the one who would rule the region, and thus in charge of what form of government would be established, the laws of the Letter of Intent established a process that ensured that all other added territories must first pass inspect from the National Parliament, and since the Imperial Parliament was in large part seconded to the two smaller national parliaments, this made the issue churn on as the different sides began presenting their opposing views.

The first major viewpoint was to simply take each of the separate small city-states and small factions into the nation as they were; separate. This did not gain much traction with anybody outside of appointed representatives for Morgantown. Even before the invasion, the Morgantown government had sent envoys and had a diplomatic presence in the nation. Now that the Morgantown government had signed the peace treaty, officially submitting themselves to the Empire, as well as signing the Letter of Intent, the constitutional document that officially made them members of the empire, the Morgantown representative followed suit with the government, at least the government that had remained in Morgantown, to become the new representative for the accords that would decide the future of his city and his new state. He swore allegiance to the new government and to the Emperor, in a rather public and pompous ceremony. He was adamant that Morgantown be made at least a parity state in any future government that would be established in West Virginia, and a potential place for a capitol.

The next major proposal was to form the State of West Virginia into a nation apart of the Empire, similar in rules and treatment with say the Ohio or the Commonwealth. This gained traction, however the of the West Virginians forming an equal Kingdom to the other two drew outrage, particularly form the Pennsylvanians, who wanted to ensure their Dual power status with the Ohio. Their “special bond and place” as the Hon. Derrick McMahan put in his speech to the Imperial Parliament, was built on “mutual trust, admiration and an equal footing. The nation of the Commonwealth had not been conquered and this formation was on a footing that shouldn’t be spread to a smaller conquered faction.” Most Pennsylvanians agreed. Thus the idea of Kingdom, at least at equal footing with the “special partnership”, was dropped, and other proposals were recommended and debated, however, for the moment this was all conjecture about a future that was still technically not fact, as the rest of the state still needed to fall.

Indianapolis, United Erie Empire
4th Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, I Corps
Royal Carbineers Regiment

The advance regiment of cavalry had arrived at the city. The Royal Carbineers had arrived first, with Brigadier McCarthy out front, while the Infantry regiments were trailing behind, as well as scattering around securing the roads and settlements along the way, while the artillery plodded along behind them, mostly to act as a reserve infantry unit rather than a standard artillery battery, however, they would also be ready to use their regular artillery in any pitched fight, should the old government forces decide to continue fighting.
However, her mission wasn’t only to deal with old loyalist forces, but to work with and secure the city and the rebel, now imperial rebel, faction that was currently in command in Indianapolis. There seemed to be three major figures involved at the moment: Deborah Grey, Jennifer McCall and Matthias Kennethson. The two latter figures were in command of their own private militia forces, that seemed to be doing most of the fighting for the new rebel faction that was forming. Deborah Grey seemed more of a political leader, a leading figure and a civilian member of the still-forming government and administration. The Viscount Erickson was still working with the new administration and coordinating from a mostly civilian aspect, while helping with small military component as much as he could. Now, the Duchess of Kent would handle the military cooperation aspect, as well as helping with the administration aspect that would go into developing this new State of the Empire.

McCarthy had arrived with the vanguard of the RCR, entering the city from the east. They were on guard, in case of any attack from the loyalist forces, however, they were fortunate, at least for the moment. Some of the infantry marching in along the flanks did engage in a few short firefights, however, the loyalists were badly disorganized and their morale was low, ever more so now that the cavalry had arrived.

She soon broke down the regiment into their squadrons and they scattered around, adding to the small militia forces their, providing security and offensive strength around the imperial-held parts of the city. The infantry regiments, still plodding along behind, were to take up positions along the flanks and roadways leading to the city, setting up chechpoints and border security stations, as well as pushing into the city, while the artillery regiment, for the most part, would set up their heavy guns outside of the city, and the rest of the artillerymen and their lighter mortars and equipment, would join the rest of the brigade in the city itself.

When Brigadier McCarthy arrived, the Viscount Erickson had been there to greet her. They held a private meeting, in which the Viscount described in detail the military, political, social situation in and around the city, as well as who the major political figures were, and who were going to be. With this, she set about to arrange a meeting with three main heads of the rebellion, the anti-slaver faction that had kickstarted it all. While the Emperor had made an official statement offering support to the rebels, the rest of actual official steps still had to be taken. Here, McCarthy had brought with her the authorized treaties and accords that the new government would have to sign officially in order to be fully accepted into the Empire. There was, of course, the Letters of Intent, the constitutional document that established the rules and understandings between each state. After the Letter of Intent, was the official and individual treaty that would establish the nation under the auspices of the Imperial Authority, ie: the Emperor, the Imperial Council, the Imperial Parliament and the local government that would be approved for the new faction of Indianapolis.

McCarthy rode at the head of a small convoy of Carbineer guards, with the Viscount Erikson riding alongside, towards the building that the Indianapolis rebels had made their makeshift government centred at. Outside, the area had been protected by the two private militia forces and other rebel forces that had taken up arms in their cause. Now, the military had arrived. Dressed in their standard sharp horizon blue uniforms, the troopers were a sharp display of military professionalism. Their long black riding boots, fully equipped with spurs, were freshly polished. They had white sashes around their waists. As cavalrymen, they wore black berets with their regimental crest on the front. McCarthy, as a cavalry officer, was mostly similarly dressed, but in a rather more ornate officer’s uniform, with a smaller more fit officer jacket, with gold-coloured epaulets that bore her rank. She also carried her long sabre, as a cavalry officer a standard piece of equipment, even certain cavalry regiments carried sabres or other melee weapons into combat, however the RCR was a Carbineer regiment and as such did not. As a Duchess, she also bore a separate sash across from her shoulder, bearing her family crest in the middle. In all it was a fine attempt at military professionalism on display, something that McCarthy was keen on showing to the private militias and their leaders.

For the two delegates for the Erie, they certainly had a lot of work ahead of them. Not only dealing with the remainder of the loyalist governments that hung on to pockets of resistance in the city and in the surrounding area, not only dealing with gaining the acceptance and support of the people of the city and the area for their side, but also in the eventuality of dealing with the militia forces and their leaders. How exactly they would ensure that violence wouldn’t break out between them, and working them into the regular military force, if that was possible.
They group dismounted in front of the building, and the two leaders stepped forward to meet with the government leaders inside. She saluted the group formally, before entering inside and preparing to begin the formal start of relations between them. There she presented the documents that they needed to sign, with the official Treaty between the nations being the first and most important one.

The Emperor-King of the Dual Monarchy of the Kingdom of the Ohio and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Defender of the Faith, and First Lord of Cincinnati, hereby authorizes the people and these appointed representatives to form a government under the auspices of the Imperial Authority. This accord hereby creates the Principality of the Republic of Indianapolis. This government will operate as a territory of the Imperial Authority, separate from the Dual kingdoms. The nation will form their parliament and appoint their Prime Minister at their discretion, however, will operate under the authority and serve at the pleasure of the Emperor, who will be represented by the Imperial Viceroy in his absence. This Accord also states that the people will recognize the Emperor as Head of State, and official head of Government of Indianapolis, while his positions, in his absence and in his trust will be appointed to the Imperial Viceroy for the Head of State and the Prime Minister as Head of Government.
This authority will enable the Principality to maintain authority over their domestic affairs such as: Legal and Judicial authority, domestic policy, internal economic policy, and laws respecting personal interactions except those that counter Imperial or Royal Laws or Decrees that are presented by the Emperor and confirmed by the Imperial Parliament. This accord also grants the rights of the people of Indianapolis to send representatives to the Imperial Parliament based on their discretionary measures. All foreign affairs, matter of state, interstate trade, interstate economic policy, military policy, and interstate judiciary and laws, will be vested with the Imperial Parliament and the Emperor and his sucessors.
The nation, in accord with the Imperial Laws, will be required to accomplished these:
1. The formation and creation of a military land force to operate within the Imperial Army and military command structure. This formation will happen under the auspices of the appointed Imperial Army represented Brigadier General Lady Angela McCarthy, Duchess of Kent, until the military leadership in Indianapolis is capable of conducting its own affairs in recruitment, training and equipping their forces as member-states within the Imperial Army.
2. The creation of the Diocese of Indianapolis as the state church of Indianapolis, which will operate under the authority of the Archbishop of the Diocese of Cleveland. In accordance with Imperial Law of 2078, there shall be no law that infringes upon the State Church, nor any law prohibiting the practice or teaching of any religion within the Empire. Outside of that, every and all laws regarding religion are designated to be handled by the representative government of Indianapolis, except laws that run against Imperial Law, or laws impacting the State, or the Catholic, Church, which is protected under Royal Decree.
3. The Imperial Authority hereby authorizes the leaders of the New Indianapolis Government to form their nation-state within the Empire. These Indianapolis representatives are Dame Deborah Grey, Esq., OM, Secretary of State for Indianapolis, Militia Commander Jennifer McCall, and Militia Commander Matthias Kennethson. They are allowed to from any sort of representative, or other, form of democratic government, and may request support or aid from the viceroy if wanted or needed, however, the Imperial Authority will not dictate what or who will form the government, as long as the government recognizes this document, as well as the Royal and Imperial Decrees, and the Letter of Intent.
This treaty, in cooperation with the government of Indianapolis, hereby appoints Lady Angela McCarthy, Dutchess of Kent, as the military commander, and hereby appoints her as interim Governor-General. This is not necessarily to be a permanent position, however, until the nation can hold or create a position similar in status to ensure that the military of Indianapolis is of quality par with the rest of the Empire, this position will act as military governor-general of all armed forces within the region. This also creates the position of Grand Prince, to operate as the Imperial Viceroy of the Emperor, to serve as and in the position of Grand Prince in the absence of the Emperor of Indianapolis, and his successors. As such we declare that Randolph Erickson, the 6th Viscount Erickson, will be appointed as Viceroy under the title of: Grand Prince Randolph Erickson, Viceroy of Indianapolis, the 6th Viscount Erickson.

This document is to be signed by the New Government representatives, binding their word to the nation, under oath to God and to man.
And with the Blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Mother, Queen of the World, we make this treaty in perpetuity with the blessing of Our Lady,
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

SIGNED,
His Majesty the King and Emperor by the Grace of God and Will of the Nations, Lawrence Williamson, the Emperor-King of the Dual Monarchy of the Kingdom of the Ohio and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Defender of the Faith King of the Ohio, King of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Emperor of the United Erie Empire, Emperor-Prince of the Principality of Indianapolis, First Lord of Cincinnati.
Lady Angela McCarty, Dutchess of Kent, 1st Governor-General of Indianapolis
Grand Prince Randolph Erickson, Imperial Viceroy of Indianapolis, the 6th Viscount Erickson

by **Al-Ghaihr** » Sat Aug 25, 2018 12:49 pm

The Winston Strip, Winston-Salem, ICA

Following weeks of industralization, a portion of downtown Winston Salem had been closed off and metal-walls had been erected around it. A gate was made on both sides of the road that went through it. The gate said "NON-HALAL AREA - LOCAL AND FOREIGN MUSLIMS NOT ALLOWED BY ORDER OF RELIGIOUS POLICE. AMERICAN UNION DIPLOMATS, POLICE AND VISITING FOREIGN NON-MUSLIM CITIZENS ONLY" and had Winston Salem Police along with the Islamic Commonwealth of America National Religious Police checking identities and ensuring no Muslims were entering the Winston Strip.

The Winston Strip was a large portion of Winston Salem's downtown but not it entirely. Inside were old Hotels that had been converted to Casinos that had comedy shows, big band live performances, full bar and grills, along with American Union Police in armor and equipped with M16's on the street to make sure no assassination attempts were to take place and to enforce rules. Also inside the strip was a small Brothel that was operated but the women inside were granted free-will and allowed to quit/rejoin whenever they pleased. But the shining attraction that would hopefully bring Diplomats and citizens from American Union cities to the area was a building that resembled the Lucky 38 back in New Vegas. It once served Pre-War as a rotating restaurant, the first of it's kind in the area.

Since then, it had been changed to a mixture of a rotating restaurant and a rotating casino. The Building was deemed "Winston Majestic Tower" and had neon lights outside much like the Empire State Buildings which lit up in various colors. Previously, it had been lit for Ramadan and it would continue to light up green for Islamic holidays. But for right now it was lit up in red white and blue for the American Union. At the Conference in High Point. Pres Mallicoat invited all non-Muslims to check out the Winston Strip.

All of the Casinos were adjusted to accept all American Union currencies and even bottlecaps. To help with this, an American Union currency exchange office was set up which held all of the currencies. This would be the area where the Casinos would collect the currencies from and hold them for the Diplomats/citizens. Furthermore, a American Union Police Station was established with holding cells and evidence storage and more. Along with the Police Station, a small American Union General Affairs office was established to tend to the needs of the citizens/diplomats on the Strip but this didn't exclude the other offices in Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point that had been set up. This one was just for the Strip only.

The Strip was finally opened and all were welcome as it's bright neon-lights made the Winston Salem Skyline even more beautiful (which was already beautiful to begin with.)

Fallout:South The Mason MK-IV IC Thread.

Who is online