Moneylania Internal Affairs (MT, IC, Closed)

[Scuro]

Bastion Arms Office:

President Raul Trentino is taking several phone calls simultaneously, negotiating various business dealings, as a diplomat enters.

Diplomat: Mr. President, we have received an envoy from the Carbon Dogs, they wish to operate prisons in Scuro.

Raul Trentino: No! For the last time! The price is unacceptable!

Diplomat: Sir, I understand that it may harm our image, but should we not at least hear them out?

Raul Trentino: *He hangs up one phone, and picks up another* I'm sorry about that, I had some other business to attend to. Now, we were discussing quality control...

Diplomat: Yes, sir. They will inform you of the state of their prisons upon the commencement of negotiations.

Raul Trentino: Okay, well if it's not that important I'll get the Vice-President on it.

Diplomat: Very good, sir. I shall inform him immediately.

The diplomat begins walking out of the room, before stopping next to the President's bodyguard.

Diplomat: He didn't even notice I was there, did he?

Bodyguard: Nope.


Conference room in the Scuroian Senate:

The Vice President welcomes the Carbon Dogs' representative into the meeting room.

Vice-President Oliviero Accorsi: Welcome, I am Oliviero Accorsi, Vice-President of the Republic of Scuro. May I inquire as to the nature of your visit?

[Carbon Dogs]

Conference room in the Scuroian Senate

The Carbon Dogs envoy lays out some documents detailing the proposed deal between Scuro and the Carbon Dogs

Envoy: As you can see we would like to pay Scuro for your most deplorable convicts, take them off your hands and train them to be good soldiers. Your people will never have to worry about these prisoners escaping, or otherwise being released into the community again.

The Envoy shuffles through some documents

Envoy: Here you can see the platform we will be keeping and training them is inescapable, and when they are cleared for active duty we will ensure they are never deployed near or against Scuro.

[Scuro]

Conference Room:

Accorsi: I'm sorry, are you saying they would effectively be slave soldiers? Under the Scuroian constitution, not to mention that of the NMF and the regulations set down by the Council, that is clearly illegal. Accepting such a proposal would-

As the Vice-President is speaking, the door to the room flies open as Raul Trentino enters, looking disheveled and with a half-empty bottle of whiskey in hand.

Raul Trentino: My friend, my friend, those laws are merely pieces of paper! I'm sure we can come to some kind of agreement!

Accorsi attempts to subdue Trentino as he approaches the table, but the President pushes him to the ground, and begins signing several of the documents with a broken stick of chalk.

[Carbon Dogs]

Conference room

The envoy grabs another document and begins to explain to the Vice-President

Envoy: Slave soldiers? No no no they'll be paid and turned into functioning members of society, when they finish their training and are deemed mentally stable for duty we will give them an 8 year minimum service period. Of course after that they are free to choose whether to leave our employ or continue as a soldier.

The envoy reaches into his briefcase for a clean copy of the agreement

[Scuro]

Conference Room:

Accorsi: Very well. *He gets up from the floor.* If the president thinks it's such a good idea... *He looks down at Trentino, who is now passed out on the floor.* Then I suppose we can come to an agreement. However, I would like to make it clear that this will have to be determined on a case by case basis, and each prisoner will need to stand before a court before being passed on to your... Protection.

[Carbon Dogs]

Conference room

Envoy: Of course, we only want to rehabilitate those who are believed beyond the help of your own justice system.

The Envoy makes a copy of the signed agreement and bids good day to the Vice-President

Soon after on a Carbon Dogs black hawk

The envoy opens up a link to the Command Platform and prepares to forward a copy of the agreement to 'Kaz'

Envoy: Sir, the Scuroian Government is willing to hand off prisoners to us.

Kaz: Good, I'll tell the boss we're about to get some new recruits.

[Sibaria]

In Vladivastak

Kozlov: Sir?

Stojanovic: Yes?

Kozlov: We have great news.

Stojanovic: Brief.

Kozlov: We have pinpointed the so called "capital" of the LJPA.

Stojanovic: Where?

Kozlov: It is the large city called Telavina, in the nation of Dordale. Southern Dordale, to be exact. They lied to us when they stated there were no terrorists in the nation.

Stojanovic: Damn, Dordalians. They won't let us in?

Kozlov: No. We have every reason to believe that they are cooperating with the terrorists.

Stojanovic: If we can gain access to their nation, then we can finally bring an end to an organised and dangerous LJPA.

Kozlov: The problem is getting in. We can't without declaring war.

Stojanovic: We need to discuss this with Youthsville Pact members and other Task Force Omega leaders. Get Mihajlovic back here. We need a complete debrief on the situation.

Kozlov: Yes sir.

Stojanovic turns to a small datapad in his table.

Stojanovic: Execute Plan 7. Get the machine over there. We need to cause some chaos.

???: Yes sir. Notifying Youthsville Military Complex to get the machine ready.

Stojanovic: *To himself* Last time this was used, it was against the Platacians. It's been a long time, but it is the perfect opportunity. The bear has awoken, time to get our revenge....

[Sibaria]

Telavina, Dordale

The time is 10:30 at night. The curfew enforced by the LJPA as forced people into their houses. A lone truck is driving out in the desert 10 minutes from the town. It stops, as a man steps out of the truck.

Man: Command? I am here.

Command: Good. We are communicating over a secret line, no one can hear us. Now. Hack into the announcement system, show us your Dordalian, soldier.

The man hacks into the system and proceeds to announce that everyone must evacuate the area. People begin to evacuate the city, in whatever they can. After 30 minutes, the man decides it is time.

Man: It is time.

Command: Alright then. Do it.

The man walks around the side of the truck and opens a console hidden under a big cloth covering the back. he presses a few buttons, and a machine kicks into life. After a few minutes, the machine begins to lower two pole-like devices into the ground. A few seconds later, the console turns red and a warning sound is sounded. The ground begins to shake. The man gets inside the truck and waits.

The shaking escalates as the man sits in the truck, drinking some vodka. He turns on the small t.v in the truck to local news. The "shaking" is being reported on news across the country. Reports of destruction in poorer parts in Telavina are widespread, with no reports of death, yet.

Command communicates with the man.

Command: Good job. Once the earthquake is done, drive away like nothing happened. Like a fleeing civilian. Cross the border to Proagovania, and meet us back at base. You know what to do, we shall see you soon.

Man: Yes sir, Colonel Mihajlovic.

[Ironcastle]

Ironcastle Announces New Military Program

In a press conference earlier today, Secretary of Defense Gordon Johnson announced the beginning of the Advanced Army Improvement Project, or AAIP. The Secretary went on to say while specific details were classified, systems such as fighter aircraft, armoured vehicles and special forces were under consideration for improvement. According to an Army spokesperson, the public will likely see changes by the end of next year.

[Ironcastle]

Excerpt from the Ironian Inquirer online magazine:

Today marks the tenth anniversary of one of Ironcastle's strangest missing persons cases. On the 27th of November, 2018, Prof. Richard Fairchild was driving down a deserted road in the farmlands, about thirty kilometers from the town of Granton. The professor was last heard from at approximately two in the morning, returning from a visit to a friend. His wife reported that they were talking as he drove, until he passed into an area that at the time lacked mobile phone coverage. Mrs. Fairchild said that she expected the disruption to last, at most, ten minutes. Half an hour later, and his phone was still rejecting calls. When Prof. Fairchild failed to return home by morning, his wife filed a missing persons report. The local sheriff and two deputies found the professor's car inside the dead zone, battery flat, with the driver's side door open.

Upon interviewing a family that lived nearby, they reported seeing strange lights in the sky about the same time as the professor disappeared. The region is known for UFO sightings and crop circles, and is a hub for paranormal enthusiasts. The government has stated that UFOs are likely military aircraft operating from the nearby Granton AFB, which is a small air force base about twenty kilometers from where the professor disappeared. According to the Sheriff's report, the Professor likely had a faulty battery, which caused the car to cease functioning. Prof. Fairchild was then stated to have wandered off into the cornfields, but his current whereabouts remains unknown.

Professor Fairchild was a leading expert in the field of artificial intelligence, and was scheduled to reveal a groundbreaking concept AI a week after he vanished. In addition, he was also known to have been conducting research for the Garret administration. As such, when the Inquirer attempted to gain access to his home ten years ago, we were turned away by several government agents who were at his house. One claimed they were removing 'classified information'. This specific event led to conspiracy theorists positing that the government had abducted the Professor, while other claim he is responsible for the exponential growth in Federation robotics over the past few years. In any event, this case remains a mystery to all of us.

UPDATE: We have been contacted by Mrs. Fairchild, who asks anyone with information to forward it to the Inquirer. In addition, a reward of ten thousand dollars has been posted for information leading to the finding of Professor Fairchild.

[Carbon Dogs]

"Room 101" Mother Base Command Platform Deck 1

"Kaz" Miller begins to brief Clothed Snake Man and Glock Cat.

Kaz: Boss, we got word from one of our 'Maxi Buns' operating in southern Ironcastle. There was talk of giant mech spotted in a nuclear exclusion zone off the coast, we checked out with our Intel team in Ironcastle's 'Department of the Interior.' They reported theres a quarantine in effect due to radioactive waste in the area.

CSM: Whats the point of this Kaz?

Kaz: Well Boss, we sent in a recon team and they couldnt find any trace of radiation. Intel thinks there might be a Steel Cog in there.

CSM: Steel Cog? Whats that supposed to mean?

Glock: Boss, it means we didnt wipe out the last of these things in zanzibar

Kaz: This could also be a great opportunity for us, just think if we salvage that thing, or at least get the designs for it we could become a real power in the region.

Glock: Are you crazy Miller, we lost nine years trying to get rid of these things, now you want to use one?

CSM: No, its a good idea. the way Ironcastle is poised we need something like a Steel Cog to leave our mark, to remind the world we were here, and it would be the perfect deterrant.

"Kaz" hands Snake the intel file as Glock Cat leaves the room.

Kaz: Alright Boss, this will be a one man infiltration mission, due to the politically sensitive nature of this mission you can expect no backup.

CSM: Fine I Like some alone time now and again.

Kaz: You'll approach the disposal facility by sub, and then we'll launch a one man SDV.

Snake and Kaz leave room 101 and prepare for a sneaking mission and some tactical espionage action

[Ironcastle]

Aelcrest Police Department, Downtown Station

It's a quiet day at the station. Crime has been dropping steadily over the past few months, leaving most detectives investigating cold cases. Two such detectives are searching through files in the archives.

Det. Baker: You know, I never understood why they didn't just scan all these files into a computer.

Det. Nowell: Probably cost too much.

Det. Baker: Well in any case, I found the file. JD-H-01-4629

Det. Nowell: A John Doe from thirty years ago. Let's see the file.

One detective opens up the box.

Det. Baker: That isn't helpful.

Det. Nowell: No witnesses, and now no evidence. Is the report there?

Det. Baker: Yeah, I'll read the summary. 'Police responded to an emergency call at 43 Stalwart Avenue at 22:31. Upon arrival, Officers Jameson and Kovac discovered a deceased male in a nearby alley with multiple gunshot wounds. Multiple witnesses claimed to have heard nothing at the time of death, which was stated to be approximately one minute before police arrived. No prints were collected from the scene, and the man posessed no identification. The coroner reported that the man had died due to two gunshots to the chest, and one to the head, all three from .45 hollow point rounds. No casings were retrieved at the scene, and bullet marks did not match any firearm on record.'"

Det. Nowell: That it?

Det. Baker: There's an addendum. 'Upon entry of the John Doe's photograph into the national police database, the case was transferred to the FCA at the request of...'. Huh.

Det. Nowell: What is it?

Det. Baker: It's blacked out, like with those old markers they used to censor classified information.

Det. Nowell: This just keeps getting weirder.

[Carbon Dogs]

25 nautical miles off the coast of Dark Prophet island

Kaz gives a final briefing to Snake

Kaz: Remember Boss this mission is OSP only that means any weapons and equipment you'll have to find on site. Boss the recon team we sent in has reported the safest route to the island, they also marked out various weapons caches on the island for you.

Kaz marks out the weapons caches on Snakes map

Kaz: We also got word from the Intel team, a "clean up crew" is being dispatched in 48 hours. Boss this is our one shot at getting our own Steel Cog, we can't let the Ironians catch us, or else the whole world will be out to shut us down. Snake, take everything from them.

Snake put on a breathing apparatus and gets into a SDV

[Ironcastle]

Destroyer ICS Griffin (DDG-128), off the coast of Dark Prophet Island

A thick fog envelops the Archer-class destroyer. The crew is relying on instruments for navigation.

Cpt. Kovic: Helm, bring us about to bearing 180.

Helmsman: Aye sir.

The captain's earpiece beeps, indicating an incoming message. He taps it to activate the inter-ship communications system.

Cpt. Kovic: Bridge.

Sonar Operator: Bridge, this is AEGIS. We've detected a small vessel approaching the quarantine zone, bearing 048, range two nautical miles.

Cpt. Kovic: Affirmative. Bridge out.

The captain walks to the radio operator.

Cpt. Kovic: We've got an unidetified vessel approaching the quarantine zone. Prepare to send on all frequencies.

The radio operator presses a few buttons on his panel, then gives the captain a thumbs up.

Cpt. Kovic (into radio): Attention unidentified vessel. This is Captain Kovic of the ICS Griffin. You are approaching a designated quarantine zone. Please turn around or we will board your vessel, over.

[Carbon Dogs]

Bridge of the CDS SV Pliskin

Captain Iroquois of the Pliskin turns to Kaz awaiting orders

Kaz: Announce ourselves on a freedom of navigation activity on our way to an exercise in the southern waters of Moneylania

Captain Iroquois (over radio): This is Captain Iroquois of the CDS SV Pliskin, we are on freedom of navigation maneuvers bound for an exercise in the southern waters of Moneylania, our current course does not breach your waters and we will maintain it.

[Ironcastle]

Bridge, ICS Griffin

Cpt. Kovic: Can't say I know the prefix, but we've no right to stop you so long as you stay away from the quarantine zone. We'll continue monitoring you, over.

The captain switches off the radio, then faces the operator again.

Cpt. Kovic: Log it, and make a note to check up on excercises in south Moneylania.

The ship continues to patrol the waters, but it does not pick ip the tiny Swimmer Delivery Vehicle deep below the waves.

[Ironcastle]

Somewhere in Scuro

Three Ironian commandos are inspecting a small shack. Those inside are dead, taken out by a sniper on a nearby hill.

Shadow 1-1: Command, Shadow Lead. ACE was here a few weeks ago, but it was moved. I've got 1-3 checking the computer now, over.

Command (over radio): Good work, Shadow. Is there any indication of who these terrorists work for, over?

Shadow 1-1: Negative. There aren't any identifying marks. I'm sending biometric scans to you now, over.

Shadow Lead wipes rain from his wrist-mounted screen, then taps it a few times to upload some data to an orbiting satellite.

Command (over radio): Received. We'll analyse it now, over.

Shadow 1-3: Command, this is 1-3. I'm in the computer, and it looks like ACE was flown somewhere off the coast. Command, they've got a map of our entire defense grid here.

Command (over radio): Get that hard drive back in one piece. We'll analyse it, over and out.

A blinking light appears on Shadow Lead's heads-up display.

Shadow 1-1: Four, what do you have?

Shadow 1-4: Greyhawk reports multiple heat signatures converging on your position. I'd advise a swift exit.

Shadow 1-1: Roger that, we're already leaving.

[Platacia]

Sichenburg, Platacian occupied Eastern Alliance Pact:

After weeks of intense urban fighting and high-level strategic bombing, the last resistance cell has surrendered to Platacian forces, who now surround the entrance to the fortified Pact headquarters. General Bergesen walks through lines of saluting soldiers, stopping ten meters from the doorway.

General Bergesen: (Over megaphone) It's finished. Your forces have crumbled before the might of the Empire. Surrender now and your lives may yet be spared.

A shot rings out from the roof of the headquarters, and Bergesen clutches his left shoulder, waiting several moments before speaking.

Bergesen: Very well.

He motions for his men to open fire, and the building is torn apart by machinegun fire and artillery shells.

[The Eastern Alliance Pact]

Bunker underneath EAP Headquarters:

Supreme Commander Jason Bateman: They can't do this... The bake sale...

Advisor: Sir, we need to move you to a secure location.

Supreme Commander Jason Bateman: Happy Day is ruined...

A man in a decorated military uniform enters the room.

Officer: Leave him, it's more important that we evacuate the actual, sane, leadership. As long as they make it out we can continue the war from the north.

Advisor: Very well.

The two start to leave the padded cell, when they hear a clicking sound.

"Supreme Commander" Jason Bateman: *Points a handgun at them* You're not going anywhere.

[Sibaria]

Tamrah, deep in LJPA occupied territory

Two men and a woman emerge from the shadows of a bar, a poor attempt at a bar in fact. The scum of thew town come here to mingle about their killings, robberies and lessons of trickery explaning how their next plans will go down in history. One of the men walks over to a group of ruffnecks and starts speaking Lothinese. He signals to the other two to follow him as the group takes them to a car out in the middle of the street. They begin to drive outside of the city and out into the mountainside, known for the vast underground tunnels of the LJPA.

Man 2: *in a Lothinese accent* So, are we going to Black Dream?

Ruffneck 1: Yes. Since you have the clearence papers from Emir.

Ruffneck 2: *Laughs* Those heathen dogs. Ironians, Sibarians, Bananish, they will not expect this. They think we only have one nuke. They are wrong.

The man and the woman look at each other, only their eyes showing, but that is enough to tell that they are worried and supprised.

The car turns into a tunnel in the mountainside and takes them into a massive holding silo. There are men walking around doing their jobs, as the ruffnecks escort the three out into an office bulilding. Sitting down is a man in a long black robe. He turns around.

???: Greetings, and welcome to the United Islamic Caliphate. I am General Liokai, former aide to the Emir of Lothi, Emir Lakiz. I was forced to flee once the Op40 had issued the Emir Lakiz a warning to evacuate the country. They were on to me, but I got out just in time. What we have here, is one of the nuclear devices the Sibarians lost at the end of the USSR. There are more in hiding, and only those with strict clearence can find out.

Man 2: *in a Lothinese accent* Well, it is an honour. Say, do you have a bathroom here?

Liokai: Sure? Follow him. He will take you.

The man walks into the bathroom. He grabs a small device from his bag.

Man: Command, this is Hawk. I am in a compound of the LJPA. I have extremely bad news. Listen carefully.

[The Eastern Alliance Pact]

Remnants of the EAP headquarters, Platacian Occupied EAP:

After a pause in Platacian shelling, several figures can be seen emerging from what remains of the entrance to the HQ. They all appear to be bureaucrats or military officers. Behind them stands Jason Bateman, wielding an assault rifle in each hand. One of the bureaucrats slowly walks up to a Platacian officer, and hands him some sort of document.

Officer: Is this... *Reading the document* It's a signed unconditional surrender!

Jason Bateman: Merry Christmas.

[Ironcastle]

Recording of the Ironcastle News Network program INN National News

An Ironian flag waves as the announcer states the viewers are watching INN, Ironcastle's "most trusted news source". Following a story on the latest developments the current events, the economy, politics and foreign affairs, the anchors begin the 'national interest' segment.

Anchor 1: In other news tonight, Aelcrest is celebrating its twelfth month in a row with a lowering crime rate.

Anchor 2: According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, the capital has seen crime drop a remarkable eighteen percent in the past year, with the rate descending each month.

Anchor 1: Police say increased funding and additional CCTV cameras have deterred criminals, and lead to a safe public environment.

Anchor 2: Others, however, point to an improving economy and lowering unemployment rate as the cause of the large decrease in crime.

[Ironcastle]

Bridge, ICS Griffin

Comms. Officer: Captain, sonar has been tripped near the island.

Cpt. Kovic: Could it be dolphins again?

Comms. Officer: I don't think so sir.

Cpt. Kovic: Contact the island. Let them know we're sending a Ghosthawk their way one this storm has passed to check up on them.

Comms. Officer: Yessir.

Cpt. Kovic: And keep this quiet.

[Ironcastle]

An airfield, somewhere in Scuro...

Merc 1: Sir, we lost contact with Outpost Theta

???: Scuroians?

Merc 1: No, cops arrived a few minutes later. Looks to be Ironian SF.

???: This is troubling news. In any case, the plan is nearing completion. You'll find the next installment of your pay in your accounts immediately.

Merc 1: Glad to help. What's the next job?

???: I will inform you when the time comes.

The mercenary leaves the building.

??? (into radio): It appears we may have been compromised. Prepare to move ACE again.

Radio: We still haven't fixed the stealth plating yet!

???: We must risk it then. Send the plane to Beta site.

A few hours later, Scuroian ATC detects an unidentified object taking off from somewhere in Southern Scuro, heading north at high speed.

[Carbon Dogs]

Dark Prophet Island

Clothed Snake Man expertly hides his sdv and sets up a self destruct.
After a few hours Clothed Snake Man reaches the perimetre of a facility that intel has suspects the steel cog to be housed, Snake's comms come to life

Kaz (disguised voice): Snake this is a sneaking mission all equipment is OSP only, and if you get compromised remember your survival suit has been modified and has no markings linking to us.

CSM: At least I was able to smuggle my cigar out.

Snake begins to inflitrate the facility