NationStates

To: All Nations
From: ORBMICOM Department For International Cooperation & Development
Encryption: None

Ten years ago, the Unified Western States Department Of Defense instituted the SkyGuard Defense Network, a constellation of sixty-six satellites that are designed to detect and track nuclear missiles along with other ground-based threats. The last of these satellites was put into orbit five years ago, coinciding with the launch of the first SHIELD satellite. SHIELD is the sister program to SkyGuard, and acted as the weapons-half of the pair (SHIELD standing for Super High-Altitude Ifrared Energy Laser Defense). Each SHIELD satellite is equipped with heavy-duty dual-wave infrared laser cannon capable of disabling any guidance system and most electrical systems, but is not capable of doing actual physical harm to other targets.

Originally, SkyGuard and SHIELD were administered under two separate sections of the UWSDOD; SkyGuard under the National Intelligence Office, and SHIELD under the Space Defense Command Agency. For its original purposes, this set-up was more than adequate. However, the world changes rapidly, and so must the nature of this nation's defense policy must change just as quickly. To do this, President Owen Ward today signed into law a bill named the "Total Orbital Defense Consolidation Bill", which merges SkyGuard, SHIELD and several other space-related projects and agencies into a brand new branch of the UWSDOD. This new branch is the Orbital Military Command (Or ORBMICOM for short), and is under the direct command of the Secretary Of Defense. In addition to SkyGuard and SHIELD, ORBMICOM also administers the following agencies:

- National Atmospheric Regulation And Monitoring Agency (NARMA)
- Strategic Deep Space Tracking Initiative
- Near Earth Orbit Tracking And Interception Grid

Combined, SkyGuard and SHIELD have become a single agency, the Strategic Orbital Interception Network (SOIN), which now administers both satellite constellations. And like both SHIELD and SkyGuard, SOIN is being designed with the international community in mind. Therefore, just as with SkyGuard, an alliance of sorts is to be formed around SOIN. This alliance will be the same structure as the SkyGuard Alliance, with the same rules and regulations applying. Becoming part of the SOIN gives member nations access to the full capabilities of the system, including missile detection and interception. Also, as a member of SOIN, a nation will be able to get in on the various extensions to the project and influence how the system is developed. Below is the application form, along with a list of entry parameters.

Regulations
-Nation must not have a history of human rights abuses, instigating unjust wars, ect.
-Nation must be willing to undergo a thorough background check.
-Nation must allow SOIN access to their defense networks. (This simply means that SOIN will be able to interface with your system. It will not access any secure files or anything of that sort. It just needs a clear channel in your networks.)
-Nation must be politically stable (I.E, no recent or ongoing coups, revolutions, rebellions, terrorist problems, ect.)
-All nations will be required to send a representative to the SOIN Council meetings that will occur. These meetings are to discuss upgrades, suggest ideas and/or voice complaints.

Code: Select all

 Full Nation Name:
    Government Type:
    WA Classification:
    Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N):
    Name of representative to be sent to meetings:
    Name of head of defense department or equivalent:
Questions About The Alliance:

Every application will be reviewed by the Director Of ORBMICOM, Spencer Halland, and a letter of acceptance or denial will be sent as soon as a decision has reached.

Member Nations
- The United Socialist States of the Sovietyeto
- The Armed People's Republic of North Eugenia
- The United Socialist States of Marcheria
- The Republic Of Francee
- Vuhifellian Federation
- The Supreme Democratic Empire Of Alexlantis
- The Democratic Republic of Creselia
- The Sultanate of Bukharabia

To: Sovietyeto
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

Thank you for submitting your application. It is currently undergoing review by Director Halland and the rest of the Executive Board, and a decision should be made within a week. At that time, you will receive a letter from this office with the results of the review.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

To: North Eugenia
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

Thank you for submitting your application. It is currently undergoing review by Director Halland and the rest of the Executive Board, and a decision should be made within a week. At that time, you will receive a letter from this office with the results of the review.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

Full Nation Name:The United Socialist States of Marcheria
Government Type: Marcherian Socialism
WA Classification: Father Knows Best State
Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N): Last terrorist problem all but eradicated in spring 2011 in joint operation with Drackonsian, Karlsland, and several other nations.
Name of representative to be sent to meetings: USSM Air Defense Forces General Mark Wahlengren
Name of head of defense department or equivalent: General of the Armies Maxim Romanov
Questions About The Alliance: None

To: The United Socialist States of Marcheria
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

Thank you for submitting your application. It is currently undergoing review by Director Halland and the rest of the Executive Board, and a decision should be made within a week. At that time, you will receive a letter from this office with the results of the review.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

To: North Eugenia
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

On a vote of 9 "Yes" and 2 "No", your application to join SOIN has been accepted, and you are now a full fledged member. Integration of SOIN into your defense network will commence as soon as you are ready. Once integrated you will be able to access SOIN at any time, and the protections offered by the system will also come into effect for your nation. Thank you for helping to make a safer future for our world.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

Full Nation Name: The Republic of Francee
Government Type: Represenative Democracy
WA Classification: New Yourk Times Democracy
Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N):N
Name of representative to be sent to meetings: Johnathan Giligham
Name of head of defense department or equivalent: Kaleb Wesson
Questions About The Alliance: Is their an exact cost at the upkeep of the Network?

To: The Republic of Francee
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

Thank you for submitting your application. It is currently undergoing review by Director Halland and the rest of the Executive Board, and a decision should be made within a week. At that time, you will receive a letter from this office with the results of the review.

In regards to your inquiry, there is no specific cost attributed at this time to upkeep of SOIN. Until a firm base for the Alliance has been established and a funding program has been designed, all upkeep costs are being paid for by the UWSDOD and the UWS federal government.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

To: Marcheria
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

On a vote of 10 "Yes" and 1 "No", your application to join SOIN has been accepted, and you are now a full fledged member. Integration of SOIN into your defense network will commence as soon as you are ready. Once integrated you will be able to access SOIN at any time, and the protections offered by the system will also come into effect for your nation. Thank you for helping to make a safer future for our world.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

Full Nation Name: The Sultanate of Bukharabia.
Government Type: Democratic Islamic Republic.
WA Classification: New York Times Democracy.
Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N): No.
Name of representative to be sent to meetings: Arthur Regulus.
Name of head of defense department or equivalent: Himekawa Tatsuyo.
Questions About The Alliance: None.

Full Nation Name: The Democratic Republic of Creselia
Government Type: Unitary Democratic Republic
WA Classification: Inoffensive Centrist Democracy
Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N): None
Name of representative to be sent to meetings: Anthony Veniry
Name of head of defense department or equivalent: Anthony Veniry
Questions About The Alliance:
Does the Alliance have complete control over Skyguard and Shield, meaning that your government can activate/deactivate the systems to intervene in foreign affairs without the authorization of said nation?
What is to stop the Alliance from doing so?

What becomes a nation if they undergo instability while in control of said system?

What if an Alliance nation unjustly heads to war and uses said systems against another foreign nation(I'm sure there will be backlash from the international community)?

What if an Alliance nation heads to war and uses said systems against another alliance nation?

Full Nation Name: The Supreme Democratic Empire of Alexlantis
Government Type: Representative Democracy
WA Classification: Inoffensive Centrist Democracy
Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N):Occupation by UWS Peacekeeping forces after nuclear and related tensions with Greethah
Name of representative to be sent to meetings: James Dylan
Name of head of defense department or equivalent: General Klaus Zvinski
Questions About The Alliance: Other than those that have already been asked...

Will the Alexlantian government have full control of the satelites over Alexlantis?

How much is participation going to cost us?

Is it alright if we use our own satellites? Is it alright if we use UWS satellites over Noyarca?

Full Nation Name: Vuhifellian Federation
Government Type: Federal republic
WA Classification: Liberal democratic socialists
Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N): Civil War (1964-1968); ongoing ethno-religious tension and conflict in certain provinces; recent military intervention in the Kingdom of Tuskenjaar.
Name of representative to be sent to meetings: Olivia Meier
Name of head of defense department or equivalent: Avery Malone, Chairman of the Military Council
Questions About The Alliance:

Does the SOIN include any mutual defense responsibilities other than ballistic missile defense?
Will research data in the SOIN be shared?
How will the SOIN network interface with existing SOSUS and PAVE PAWS arrays, which provide necessary ballistic defense detection but also provide classified data to the Military Council.
Which nation(s) are responsible for the launch, maintenance, and operation of the SOIN constellation?

To: The Sultanate of Bukharabia, The Democratic Republic of Creselia, The Supreme Democratic Empire of Alexlantis, Vuhifellian Federation
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

Thank you all for submitting your applications. They currently undergoing review by Director Halland and the rest of the Executive Board, and a decision should be made within a week. At that time, you will all receive letters from this office with the results of the review.

The responses to all your asked questions have been compiled below. We hope the answers are satisfactory; if they are not, feel free to let us know.

Creselia:
Does the Alliance have complete control over Skyguard and Shield, meaning that your government can activate/deactivate the systems to intervene in foreign affairs without the authorization of said nation? What is to stop the Alliance from doing so?
- SOIN is directly administered by ORBMICOM from the command center here in the UWS. Therefore, the UWS government is capable of activating and deactivating the network as we see fit. A distinction should be made between SkyGuard (which is surveillance ONLY), and SHIELD (which does have high-energy infrared lasers). The surveillance capabilities afforded by SkyGuard are not under any nations "control" , since the system is automated and programmed merely to alert member nations to missile launches and other threats. SHIELD, because of its potentially offensive nature, is for the time being to remain under UWSDOD control. Regional control of SHIELD will be a topic that will be brought up at the first SOIN Council meeting.

What becomes a nation if they undergo instability while in control of said system?
- As stated before, member nations will not initially have any direct control over the weapon-systems incorporated into SOIN.

What if an Alliance nation unjustly heads to war and uses said systems against another foreign nation(I'm sure there will be backlash from the international community)?
- SkyGuard is not capable of any offensive actions, as the satellites are merely surveillance satellites. Assuming regional control of SHIELD is instituted, the UWSDOD and ORBMICOM will maintain a certain degree of control over the system, and will be able to block control by other nations, should the need to do so arrise.

What if an Alliance nation heads to war and uses said systems against another alliance nation?
- This is a diplomatic issue, and will be dealt with at the SOIN Council meetings.

Alexlantis:
Will the Alexlantian government have full control of the satellites over Alexlantis?
- At this time, no. All satellites that currently make up SOIN are property of the UWSDOD. However, addition of member-national satellites and control over said satellites will be discussed at the SOIN Council meeting.

How much is participation going to cost us?
- At this time, all costs associated with the project are currently being covered by the UWSDOD. Payments from member nations will be an issue dealt with at the SOIN Council meeting.

Is it alright if we use our own satellites? Is it alright if we use UWS satellites over Noyarca?
- Integration of member-national satellites into the overall SOIN grid will be decided at the SOIN Council meeting.
- At the moment, the UWSDOD will retain control of its satellites over all territories. However, your nation (as will all others) will have control over SkyGuard surveillance satellites over your region/nation.

Vuhifellian Federation:
Does the SOIN include any mutual defense responsibilities other than ballistic missile defense?
- In general terms, no. SOIN membership does not obligate a member nation to come to the aid of any other member nation. As it is structured now, there are no mutual defense obligations beyond global monitoring for ballistic missiles. However, in a very technical sense, SOIN may be used for mutual defense cooperation, since SOIN is also capable of tracking ground targets (ie, invasion fleet, aircraft, ect).

Will research data in the SOIN be shared?
- Of course. Any research data that emerges from the SOIN project will be immediately shared with all members nations.

How will the SOIN network interface with existing SOSUS and PAVE PAWS arrays, which provide necessary ballistic defense detection but also provide classified data to the Military Council.
- SOIN interfaces with national security networks (SOSUS or PAVE PAWS, for example) only when the nation wishes it to do so. When SOIN is interfacing with existing defense networks, it is programmed to only access non-classified data-streams, files and systems. Upon integration of SOIN into a nation's current network, said nation may give ORBMICOM a list of servers, data-streams and anything else that they do not wish for SOIN to access under any circumstances. However, even if no such list is received, SOIN will NOT attempt to access any classified data of any kind.

Which nation(s) are responsible for the launch, maintenance, and operation of the SOIN constellation?
- The SOIN is a merger of two already existing constellations, SkyGuard and SHIELD. Therefore, there is currently no need for further deployment of satellites (although expansion and use of member-national satellites will be discussed later). Maintenance and operation are both being handled by ORBMICOM from the StarLifter Orbital Counter-Weight Station. However, operation of SkyGuard is open to all member nations. SHIELD, being a weapons system, will remain under UWSDOD control for the time being.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

Full Nation Name: The United Socialist States of America (do not include the Post War bit)
Government Type: Soviet Confederated Representitive Democracy with a Socialist Internal Economy, Taking on a more Mixed-Market External Economy
WA Classification: Civil Rights Love Fest
Recent Revolution, Coup, Terrorist problem, ect? If yes, please specify.(Y/N): Yes, two years ago, a former War Minister by the name of Thomas Howell tried to stage a coup, to form a more militaristic nation. This coup was initially successful but was soon killed by public backlash at the media control, and assassination of Parliament, the War Ministry has since been greatly reduced in control since this time.
Name of representative to be sent to meetings: Eugen P Chesterfield
Name of head of defense department or equivalent: Grey Therrian
Questions About The Alliance: None

To: The United Socialist States of America
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

Thank you for submitting your application. It is currently undergoing review by Director Halland and the rest of the Executive Board, and a decision should be made within a week. At that time, you will receive a letter from this office with the results of the review.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

To: Sovietyeto
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

On a vote of 8 "Yes" and 3 "No", your application to join SOIN has been accepted, and you are now a full fledged member. Integration of SOIN into your defense network will commence as soon as you are ready. Once integrated you will be able to access SOIN at any time, and the protections offered by the system will also come into effect for your nation. Thank you for helping to make a safer future for our world.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

To: The Republic Of Francee
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

On a vote of 10 "Yes" and 1 "No", your application to join SOIN has been accepted, and you are now a full fledged member. Integration of SOIN into your defense network will commence as soon as you are ready. Once integrated you will be able to access SOIN at any time, and the protections offered by the system will also come into effect for your nation. Thank you for helping to make a safer future for our world.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

To: Vuhifellian Federation
From: ORBMICOM Public Relations Office
RE: Application For SOIN

On a vote of 11 "Yes" and 0 "No", your application to join SOIN has been accepted, and you are now a full fledged member. Integration of SOIN into your defense network will commence as soon as you are ready. Once integrated you will be able to access SOIN at any time, and the protections offered by the system will also come into effect for your nation. Thank you for helping to make a safer future for our world.

-Sincerely,
Public Relations Secretary,
Maya Gavett

To: ORBICOM Central Command of the Unified Western States
From: General of the Armies Maxim Romanov
We thank you for accepting us into your program, and we promise we'll do all we can to keep it going. As we speak, the USSM's first reusable spacecraft, the space shuttles Maxwell Alben, Yuri Gagarin, Alan Shepard, Gerhman Titov and John Glenn, are being prepared for their first joint launch. The Gagarin and the Shepard are dedicated military shuttles, armed with THELs and anti-laser systems. If you would like to add these as part of your network, just say the word. The shuttles were all built for the express purpose of building the USSM's first space station, Dvoĭnaya Zvezda. The station will also have exquisite ASAT and ABM capability, if you would like to utilize that. Construction begins next (IC) month, and should be finished early next (IC) year. May this be the start of a bountiful alliance between our two nations.
-General M.M. Romanov

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