FEDERATION 2020 - FCN Roleplay (IC, FCN ONLY)

by **West Phoenicia** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 4:25 am

"Director Leonid is a cocky son of a bitch,"Foreign Affairs Minister Jack Portland commented to Assistant Minister of Trade Senator Guru El-Shamwood in the privacy of their hotel room.
A servant entered the room carrying a tea tray, placing the contents before both men before bowing and exiting the room when the Foreign Affairs ministers waved him away.

"What gave it away the over the top military pomp or the possible tolls we will face if we don't invest in the infrastructure for their canal?." Senator Guru El-Shamwood asked. He leaned forward to add milk to his tea.

"Armoured cars just to drive to the hotel? I guess someone isn't adored by his citizens. A tad overkill. We should have had the summit in West Phoenicia.

"I guess not everyone is beloved like our Emperor Glenton Gryphon-Bush II. I didn't realise Tesyky was so restricted. Why else would we need an armed escort."Senator Guru El-Shamwood questioned.

"We have our own Imperial Guards to protect us. I wouldn't mind checking out some of the area. Get a feel of how the citizens feel about their leader."

"I doubt they will open up if we are being escorted by a Tesykain security detail. But from a trade perspective, the canal will open up a larger sea lane for us to trade and get our exports to other nations quicker."

"It would save us money, and in return produce additional income from increased sea trade. And the Director has guaranteed 100 years of paying no tolls. That should outweigh the initial investment to build it."

"But?"escort."Senator Guru El-Shamwood questioned. He knew the Foreign Affairs Minister always thought a few moves ahead.

"It all sounds good on paper, too good." Jack Portland said. "There must be some catch he isn't divulging to us."

"Maybe they just don't have the available funds to fund such a huge project. It sounded costly. West Phoenicia is rich, we wouldn't even know the money is missing. It's probably why they want other nations to help fund it, it's not the most expensive looking nation."

"Tis true. If they waive the toll. I'm just concerned they will find some way to tax us on trade goods going through the canal. They hope this canal is going to make them very wealthy. So there must be something they are hiding."

"Don't we have any, you know in the nation that could let us know."

"Any agent's we have planted in the world probably have no idea about this canal. And I wouldn't waste their time. We just need to take it on face value. It sounds like a good proposal, we would let the Director know we have an expression of interest. But our Congress and Emperor are going to have to sign off on it."

"True. I look forward to tomorrow with the non aggression pact talks. Hopefully they go by without any hiccups."

by **New Inglaterra** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 2:15 pm

I Hate Meetings, December 8th, 2019
As was tradition, the outgoing Consul met with the leaders of the major parties at the close of the election. Consul William Jennings remembered his meeting with the outgoing Consul Alton Hartford, back after the 2009 elections. Hartford these days was a quiet lawyer in his old hometown, refusing the officer of a seat in the Senate. The elder statesman had been one of the most popular Consuls in decades, and was a veteran to boot, but the 73 year old had the appearance of a simple old man in his hometown. Jennings didn’t think he would go that route, he wanted to serve a career in the Senate and retire on his pension, but he was also twenty years younger than Hartford had been at the end of his term.

His first meeting was with the National Democratic leader Emmanuel Gudreau and Federalist leader Achille Caron. Such a coalition would have been unheard of just twenty years earlier. Back then, as with every election in the last ninety years, the National Democrats reigned supreme with around 6 Censors and two thirds of both houses of the Convention. The Federalists and whatever the third party of the decade was (third parties tended to burn bright but fast in Confederate politics, in the last twenty years two of them had come and gone despite winning more than 15% of the vote in more than one election, their main influence was forcing the major parties to adopt new platforms to keep up) would make up the remaining 3 Censors and third of the Convention not currently National Democratic.

Of course the recent victories of the Centralists had placed the National Democrats in the minority for the first time. The 48th Convention of the States had a “low” 61% Democratic majority. Now the National Democrats had 25% of the seats in the 49th Convention.

The Jennings’ meeting with Hartford was excited and friendly. This meeting was not. It was anxious and worrisome. The Centralists had begun contesting election results and allegations of Gagiumish tampering in the election was throwing it into contention. Several state militias, all in Centralist-controlled states, had mobilized. The CS was slowly spiraling.

The next meeting with with Censor Rivers of the Centralists. When he walked in a cold draft blew in from the hallway. They sat there, political rivals, in silence until Jennings blurted out;

“You’ll never govern this country.”

“You think so?” said the Centralist, in his typical raspy voice. He was an intimidating speaker.

“I know so. You want to bomb the Northern Territories into submission, basically kill them all? The people won’t stand for it.”
“They won’t? The people are tired of seeing their teenage boys blown up by some madman with a roadside bomb. They’d love to see a final answer to that problem.”

“Then what about half of your programs? They violate the Terms of Confederation! Registering political parties, requiring votes in the Senate just to get your party registered? That’s madness!”

“The people don’t care Jennings. They want a full belly, a strong CSNI, and to walk around without worrying if the guy next to them has a bomb underneath his jacket. The Terms of Confederation? Political parties? Mass bombings? That doesn’t matter to them.”

“It’s Consul Jennings. I’ve had the title for ten years now, and I don’t think you’ll ever earn it. But even if one day, God forbid, you were to govern this country, I think you’d find it is easier to criticize than it is to govern.”

“Well Consul Jennings,” said Rivers with a sneer, “You know what I think? I think some folks will believe anything.”

The chill that went down Jennings’ back as Censor Rivers left had nothing to do with the draft.

There were a few main issues with foreign affairs that the Confederated States would have to deal with.

First was the Furbish Islands. The government of the Furbish Islands had issued a statement of support for the incoming and fairly elected government of Emmanuel Gudreau and condemned Centralist contention of the election and accused Gagiumish interference. About half of their statement especially praised the public transportation policy that Consul-elect Gudreau had proposed.

Secondly, the Holy Rhinish Islands. A Confederate ally, the HRI had been blockaded by Greater Bastion. Consul Jennings ordered the carrier strike group centered around the CNV Franklin Underwood to the site of the blockade, to stand against the Greater Bastion naval forces and in support of the HRI.

Thirdly, the Autocrats in Greater Bastion had begun a guerilla war against the Republic. While Jennings despised helping an autocratic ideology, the Confederated States came first, and an Autocratic Greater Bastion came first. The Confederate Agency of Security and Intelligence (CASI or aka Casi [OOC: like how NASA can be NASA or Nasa]) and the Department of Defense had been ordered to provide arms and funds to the Autocrats.

Fourth, the Confederacy of Snow Hill had expressed interest in a possible alliance and trade deal. Consul Jennings formally invited President Olek Jon to a meeting on December 10th, with a trade deal and military alliance to be signed on December 11th. He hoped to push this meeting through before the isolationist Centralists would be able to block any possible treaties.

And finally, the CS also had discovered allegations of an “Operation Red Dawn” in Tesyky. Along with communist material, Tesykyian operatives were killed in a raid by a special forces team in Nuevo Madrid. There was no doubt that Tesyky was supporting the rebels in the Northern Territories at this point.

It was going to be a long few days.

by **Gagium** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 2:20 pm

December 8, 2019
Gagium

Government officials and President Vincent Barbet paid close attention to the so-called 'Galia Summit', which apparently served as a conference to unify the continent and its economy. What was especially important to Gagium was the idea of a canal cutting Galia and Frigo's landmasses, which would benefit global trade and indirectly Gagium's economy - Thus, it would support the construction of a canal, even if it wouldn't affect shipping from and to Gagium in a massive way. Gagiumish observers did note the incredibly militaristic nature of Tesyky's summit and its abundance of armed guards, though, and many questioned their need. Regardless, the nation had other matters to attend to, such as the apparent chaos that's broken out in Greater Bastion. It wasn't often that you saw the world's strongest and most powerful economy be broken apart - Indeed, it has yet to be seen if they will stand the trial of time and survive this time of turbulence. Regardless, international observers from Gagium would call on the Federation of Conservative Nations to closely monitor the situation. However, stability did seem to return to New Inglaterra, which was mighty fine for the populace of Gagium..the inner government and the President, however, weren't pleased with this. The situation with the Prussian-Polish Commonwealth was also uncertain, and many who lived near the border or worked for Prussian-Polish companies were worried.

Once King Arsène Rodier's plane touched down in Gagium, he made an appeal to the National Assembly to officially condemn the backwards, autocratic rebels and to support the Stratocratic Republic. The House of Lords passed the bill by the 6th of December, with the bill being debated on in the Senate, the lower house of the National Assembly. By noon of the 8th of December, the bill passed with a roughly 2/3 margin in the Senate and was sent to King Arsène Rodier for his ceremonial approval, which didn't last long at all. By 3:00 PM, the official condemnation of the autocratic terrorists in Greater Bastion was issued, and an embargo was placed on those who cooperated with & assisted them within Greater Bastion. The watchful eye of the Gagiumish government and intelligence community noted the New Inglaterran navy's move to contest the Greater Bastion blockade of the HRI, and more worrisome, their move to provide funds and arms to the Autocratic terrorists in Greater Bastion.

With this in mind, the Office of the Special Forces was placed on high alert for imminent deployment, and the rest of the Armed Forces were officially sent a memo detailing the seemingly increasing tensions of the war and a need to make sure units are combat-ready.

New Inglaterra

In the cover of early morning on the 8th, two small civilian boats approached the coast of New Inglaterra - The ships bore the appearance of large fishing vessels, bearing generic Inglaterran names and symbols. The ships, however, bore 15 soldiers each of the 2nd Special Recon Platoon, with the goal of linking up with Centralist forces near the more chaotic northern section of New Inglaterra (Yet still on the Inglaterra landmass). They approached a quieter section of the coastline at 3:00 AM, with no major settlements marking the coastline for miles and miles. However, the ships were still many a mile out from the shoreline, and the veteran soldiers were quiet as their ships approached the Inglaterran coast.

FCN Antarctic Territory

Gagiumish scientific research stations in the FCN Antarctic Territory, with Spearfire Research Base's location in yellow

The FCN Antarctic Territory was formed to prevent nations from laying claim and occupying the vast antarctic expanse of the world, being home to millions of penguins and a minute number of other specifies who occupied what is now the tundra and icy expanse of the FCN Antarctic Territory. Several nations have still founded and occupied research stations flying their national flags, however, and Gagium was no exception, with three manned stations located on Frigo.

Spearfire Research Base was one of Gagium's bases on the continent, housing a summer population of 192 researchers and staff and being home to a convenience store, a movie theater, and a small clinic, with eight buildings for residents' quarters and a comms/weather station. An airstrip for landing cargo planes was flattened next to Spearfire, and a dockyard jutted out from the bases' area for cargo ships. All Research bases on Gagium were ran and managed by the United Commonwealth Government, though the Commonwealths of Westmoreland and Chapais have infamously explored founding corporate/commonwealth-ran research bases of their own with some serfs as staff (No serfs were used in any of Gagium's current Arctic or Antarctic research stations).

Today, a group of twelve researchers and photographers set out from the research base to document and photograph a nearby colony of penguins, who had lived on and around the land/water that the research base now occupies for a number of decades - It seemed as if they were slowly migrating south to mainland Frigo due to the fishing industries and activity of the islands situated north of the base, however. After the photos were taken and documentation of some of the penguins complete, the researchers tagged 4 of the penguins and departed back for the station - They arrived as a routine cargo plane landed at the base, set to deliver necessary supplies and foodstuffs for the next three months.

by **Tesyky** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 2:58 pm

The Grand Assembly, Central Puzin, West Tesyky, Tesyky, 8th of November

As the second day of the Summit begin The Diplomates from the represent nations once again entered the Grand assembly, Director Leonid spoke of many important matters that risen snice they had last meet.

“Hello, my friends, it has come to my attention that you were unhappy with the security given to, not due to it being lacking, but you found it in a sense overkill. I believe that it would be scandalous if harm was to come to whilst you were visiting Tesyky, so I took the needed steps to make sure you are all safe, especially given recent events around the global.”

“But now onto the main reason you are here in the first place, the non-aggression pacts, that are now being handed to you, in summary they are pacts of both official friendships and non-aggression, I hope as well as other that you will find this a necessary move to insure peace on the continent, even more so given the outbreak of guerrilla warfare in Greater Bastion, a global power is currently at war with its self, we must ensure the same tragedies unfolding there do not repeat themselves here”

“Now I open the room to the rest of the Summit, is there anything your grand nations would like to put forward, after the Tesyky canal proposal, it seems only fair that Tesyky is not placed above the other nations at this summit and you too are allowed to proposal your ideas.”

by **Eldrado** » Sun Dec 08, 2019 8:44 pm

December 5, 2019

King Mihael and Prime Minister Ion Arges contemplate the invitation to the Galia Conference sent by Director Leonid of Tesyky.

Eldrado’s society contrasts with Tesyky’s society in a few key differences. Although Eldrado is not completely democratic as the King is allowed certain powers, there are enough limitations to make it a country run by elected representatives (even the king is elected) and not a totalitarian leader. Eldrado pursues values centred on personal freedom and liberty while Tesyky is less idealistic. However, the countries haven’t warred with each other for a long time. Eldrado does not share any animosity against Tesyky, yet they have their suspicions.

“What do you make of it?” Mihael asks

“Well, the nation of Tesyky has never historically quarrelled with Eldrado, at least not recently anyways... I don’t see why they would want to hurt us now,” Ion says.

“I suppose you are right, even though they may not share the same ideology as us they have been relatively peaceful neighbours. Their regime, although very authoritarian, has seen stability in their country and region and I want to believe that they genuinely want to improve relations between our two countries,” Mihael states.

“I will call up a vote to decide if Eldrado will attend or not,” Ion concludes.

“Perfect my good friend,” Mihael responds as he turns his attention to other matters lying wait on his new desk. He still looks at this room incredulously, never dreaming that he would once call it his own.

“What is the matter?” Ion asks noticing the young King’s blank stare.

Mihael blinks, “I guess it hasn’t really sunk in that I am now King of this country, a position of great power and responsibility, I hope I am indeed worthy...”

Ion chuckles, “Well it is too late to turn back now. Don’t doubt yourself and the trust we all placed in you. You didn’t inherit this you earned it.”

“I suppose... I won’t let you all down,” Mihael tells his friend and mentor.

The royal palace is a magnificent set of buildings lying near the city centre with hundreds of rooms and functions performed in the building daily. Mihael was distantly related to the previous monarch, King Aleksander, yet this did not necessarily mean he would be the heir to the Eldradonian Throne. His own sons and daughters either did not wish to bid for the monarchy or were not as good candidates as Mihael. Mihael was surely not expecting the throne and was set on an entirely different course prior to the appointment. The requirements for being a monarch was to be Eldradonian born, serve in the military, attend university, and hold some influence in the country of Eldrado (either being part of a noble bloodline, being involved in politics, or becoming famous through their merits).

Brief Character Development of Mihael:
Mihael was in the military and saw a great deal of action overseas, being awarded two gold cross for bravery and heroism as well as other titles. He majored in medicine and worked as a field medic for a period as well, attaining a PhD and MD in medicine by age 36. He met his wife in university at age 20, married 2 years later, and they had their first child 3 years after. He knew his great-uncle quite well yet he was very surprised when his uncle offered him a chance at the crown. It was not that he didn't love his own children, he reasoned it was better to choose someone who didn't want power rather than someone who was hungry for it. At 38, this year, Mihael became king (after performing as an ambassador, advisor, and military strategist).

December 6, 2019

Both houses voted in favour of attending the Tesyky Conference. King Mihael (the King), Ion Arges (the Prime Minister, and Pyoter Minish (the Head Advisor and Speaker of the House of Lords), as well as a few other distinguished Eldradonian officials, are set to visit Puzin in Western Tesyky. Eldrado wishes to make a good impression on Tesyky and the rest of their neighbours (some gifts are brought to the conference) and they hope the inhabitants of Galia will all be satisfied at the end of the conference. The Eldradonian government and monarchy formally accept the invitation extended by Director Leonid and they express their gratitude for the security precautions put in place. Just to ensure the safety of these high-ranking officials, the Eldradonian Intelligence and Defence Agency (E.I.D.A) are sending secret service men tasked with only protecting the diplomats. In addition to this, some members from independent Eldradonian publishers are allowed to come as long as they strictly follow Tesykian rules. Their presence is made aware to Tesyky and they will be sent ahead to secure the accommodations. While Eldrado wishes for peace and prosperity, they do not necessarily trust all of the other nations of Galia yet.

December 7, 2019

The flight to Tesyky was not long. After ~2.5 hours, the delegation landed at the decently sized Puzin Airport. There was a group of Tesykian reporters (no doubt from a state-regulated publisher) and Tesykian officials that directly greeted the Eldradonian delegation. Crowds of common people also gathered along the roads, curious to catch a glimpse of the foreigners before hurrying back to their daily tasks. As the Eldradonians rode in the armoured cars to their accommodations, they chatted with the Tesykian officials who rode with them. They also analyzed the surrounding environment, noticing that although Puzin was not a very big city, there was a heavy state presence, no doubt to prepare for the conference. Very few Eldradonians had ever visited the isolationist country of Tesyky and they had only heard rumours from the few that did go. The people they saw did not seem to be very impoverished or suffering yet it can be hard to differentiate between truth and misdirection, especially when travelling along a route planned by Tesykian officials. Some signs of wealth and industry were shown in the form of massive state-owned complexes and factories, built with minimalism and durability in mind. When they reached their apartment complex, they noticed it was one of the more aesthetically designed buildings in the city, built and decorated with expensive materials. The people the Eldradonians met seemed friendly and polite enough and the Eldradonians were quite interested in learning more about Tesyky while they were here, at least within the given limits of their host Director Leonid.

The delegation made a few last-minute preparations for the day to come.

December 8, 2019

The Eldradonian delegation motions to speak first.

"We would like to thank the nation of Tesyky, the city of Puzin, and Director Leonid for their hospitality and their initiative for setting up this conference," Mihael begins, speaking with a slight Eldradonian accent, "I would like to make Eldrado's position clear so I will cut straight to the point, if I may. Eldrado wishes for Galia and its inhabitants to be at peace with one another. We do not wish to fight or harm any of you and we hope we can set up deals and trade relations that will be mutually beneficial for all of our people. I also want to personally assure President Sylvia Love that the sovereignty and independence of Annixe Christos will not be threatened by its close neighbour, Eldrado, in any way. Moving forward, the country of Eldrado finds the building of a canal compelling as long as the terms are fair and just. Eldrado also wishes to improve trading relations across the continent of Galia and proposes to create the Galia Trading Agreement (G.T.A) with all the nations present. We can continue to discuss the terms of this agreement as the conference goes on. In addition to this, I propose that we create a security council for Galia to ensure mutual protection from foreign or domestic usurpers, in light of recent world events (Galia Security Council, G.S.C). Finally, I wish to discuss with all of you the status of the territories of Galia that are uninhabited or unclaimed by any of us. I hope we can all find something to agree on by the end of this conference."

by **West Phoenicia** » Mon Dec 09, 2019 2:03 am

West Phoenician Foreign Affairs Minister Jack Portland stood up from his seat at the Galia summit.
Director Leonid had just delivered their speech of the reason for heightened security and aides to the Director had handed those nations in attendance the non aggression pacts and declarations of official friendship. It was a measure the Foreign Affairs Minister and the leaders of West Phoenicia supported.
Peace on the continent of Galia was a must it would ensure stability in the region.

The Eldradonian delegation also voiced a region of peace and prosperity, and appeared to support the Tesykyian idea of a canal to improve trade. They also suggested a Galia Trading Agreement. Such an agreement would be very lucrative for West Phoenicia, a nation that loved wealth. Increased trade would increase the prosperity of the nation and make all of Galia rich. Maybe even the envy continent of the world. Senator Guru El-Shamwood eyes sparkled at the thought of a Galia Trading Agreement. Senator Casey Chapps, the Minister of Trade would need to sign off on any details when they flew home.

A Galia Security Council also suggested by the Eldradonians was another good idea to ensure safety of the continent, especially from the rise in terrorism and other global conflicts.

Senator Jack Portland coughed, clearing his throat. "West Phoenicia thanks Director Leonid and the people of Tesyky for their hospitality and protection during our stay here. We must admit we would loved to have seen more of the nation, but felt our own Imperial Guards and Tesykyian Security would have been very intimidating to your population. But we thank you for thinking of our safety. And hope future visits will allow us more access to your nation and population.
As a sign of friendship and gratitude for hosting this summit West Phoenicia, our Emperor, Glenton Gryphon-Bush II has sent us a crate of West Phoenician peaches, a popular fruit throughout our nation to be handed out to your citizens and government officials.
The Emperor has also sent West Phoenician silk for the Directors household, West Phoenician tobacco, grown and picked from our tobacco plantations and a necklace made of Sapphires mined from our Sapphire mines for the Director's wife or mother. Please humbly accept our gifts.

The Foreign Affairs Minister stopped to take a sip of water. "We sign the non aggression pacts and friendship pacts with a joyful heart. Seeing this as a sign of greater cooperation in Galia between our nation's. We also encourage any new nations that emerge on Galia be strongly encouraged to sign also. Such pacts will bring us freedom and security. Perfect signs that nations on Galia will not tolerate terrorism and global conflicts thst are occurring in nations like Greater Bastion and New Inglaterra."

We also support the motion from the Eldradonian of the creation of a Galia Security Council which will bring us closer together and a Galia Trading Agreement that will indeed make us all very, very rich. This we believe can be assisted by the canal that Director Leonid would like to establish. We agree that it would be a very beneficial project that will help us all at the end of the day. West Phoenicia supports the move, but it will need final approval from our Emperor before we can assist in funding the project."

"As for the Galia Security Council, I believe it is something that is needed sooner rather than later, considering the instability of Greater Bastion which could spiral into our own continent."

by **Polish Prussian Commonwealth** » Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:22 pm

Warsaw
After a short walk, the soldier lead the man to Warsaw Castle-the home of the Kings of Prussia and Poland.
Something happened, then, that was most unusal.

By the gates, numerous soldiers in full dress, armed with bolt-action rifles, stood guard, pickelhaubes gleaming in the sun.

Upon seeing the NCO approaching, they all parted, and stiffened, and snapped off salutes, with the NCO returning it without a second glance.
This scene repeated itself numerous times as they walked past the lawn, through the great doors, the halls, and finally, they came to a small conference room, deep in the back. A small pot of tea was already heated, with two empty cups nearby, as well as some bread.

The 'NCO' pulled out a chair for the representative, and then took a seat himself. "I understand that your company wished to speak with me?"

FCN
The Prussian-Polish ambassador made a great show of seeming earnestly interested in the Gagiumish ambassador's rebuttal-almost as if he actually believed that forums for international cooperation were great and that this would only lead to the best outcome.
In reality, however, he loathed the man, like he loathed all career diplomats. Each and every one of them was the same- a goddamn paper pusher with their head stuck up their ass, good for nothing, fit for nothing, but talking. They were plastic mannequins, minds devoid of all thought except what their handlers shoved in there. He had served his time in the Reichswehr, and spent some time as a plumber before returning to college and then going into the Foreign Ministry. He had worked damned hard to get here, and he was here to represent his country, not listen to some self-important fart lecture him!

At last, with some effort, he cleared his mind, and began his counterargument.
"I am not doubting that Alenberg is in a sad state-" he started. "A sad state that, one must remember, was caused by Bayerland's meddling, and which was caused by Bayerland's bombs. Bayerland started this quagmire when they carried out their strategic bombing campaign and drove the King of Alenberg into exile. Bayerland then stoked the flames by creating a democratic government in a nation that was completely unprepared for one, igniting the dormant religious and ethnic tensions that sparked the Dessuare Seperatist Movement. Bayerland has brought this upon itself-let Bayerland, therefore, contribute the most to fixing the problem she started."

Bayerland- Saint-Holris
Before the war, Saint Holris had been the capital of the Free County of Dessau, a large autonomous area granted to the Dessuare by the last King of Alenberg-Tristan VII, in conjunction with sweeping(and unpopular) reforms that saw the Dessuare being granted numerous rights and civil liberties, in conjunction with their almost-de-facto independence from Alenberg.
That changed rapidly after the war. With the King gone, an emboldened legislature rolled back many of Tristan's reforms. The issue came to a head when, on one fateful day, a completely peaceful(albeit extremely loud and ear-splitting) demonstration in support of the reinstatement of the reforms was quelled by machine-gun fire from the Alenberger Army, as well as Alenberger Nationalist militias.

In response, all of Dessau rose up in a fury. Garrisons were attacked, and then had their weapons seized and redistributed. The entire countryside rose up in revolt, and Alenberg lost control over the entirety of the north, with the army being humiliated time and time again by the rugged mountain-folk of Dessau.
So what did they do?

Call Bayerland, of course.

A single infantry brigade descended on the countryside, starting a surprisingly effective counterinsurgency campaign, with the only flaw being the massive(and hushed-up) civil rights abuses-extensive use of torture, forced resettlement of civilians, and so forth. None of this had been proven-but that was about to change...at least, with regards to the torture.

Several figures crept silently through the dark woods surrounding Saint-Holris. They knew of a certain facility within the area-a "black site"-one that offically didn't exist.

A dozen men formed up at the front. Some distance behind, marksmen took up their rifles, and began sweeping for targets.

The crack of sniper rifles was swiftly followed by guards falling from their towers. The dull thump of mortars soon followed, as well as the chatter of automatic rifles and the woosh of anti-tank weapons.
The infantry company that had provided security was torn to bits by the falling mortar-shells, and then picked off by the marksmen even before they ran into the main body of the attackers-two platoons worth of men, armed to the teeth.

At the end, the site was in the control of the attackers. The prisioners were taken away, and would soon disappear, as would several bodies from the morgue, and massive amounts of paperwork.

Soon, news outlets worldwide would all receive something very, very juicy. And very graphic.

Documentation of systemic prisioner abuse and torture within Bayerland, the nation that prided itself as the foremost democracy in Galia? With the pictures of the corpses and survivors to prove it? It was a journalist's wet dream

by **New Inglaterra** » Mon Dec 09, 2019 7:38 pm

The DOE Pact, December 9th, 2019
“And in my final days in office, I am pleased to announce that I will be able to keep my promise of a trade deal with Greater Bastion, Huvakia, and Snow Hill! I’ll be happy to have a final schedule ready for you, and I now formally invite Premier Eckard, President Jon, and Emperor Huffmon to Saint James as part of a formal visit for the signing of the pact.” said Consul Jennings to the crowd of reporters in front of him. Would the people go for this? Maybe. But pushing a trade deal in the last days of his term? That would anger the Centralists.

“And on a side note, I would like to formally invite the President of the Holy Rhinish Islands and Premier Eckard to come to St. James for us to negotiate an end to the standoff, together.”

FORMAL SCHEDULE OF THE DOE PACT SIGNING
December 11th: Leaders arrive in St. James, capital of the CS, for the signing. Formal state dinner.

December 12th: Signing ceremony. Dignitaries, aside from Premier Eckard, leave. President of the HRI arrives.

December 13th: CS Popular Assembly will vote on the trade deal, passage is expected. Negotiations between the HRI and Bastion, mediated by the CS.

BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE DOE PACT
-The Depian Ocean Security Council, or DOSC, all nations have one vote with a majority vote to take action to defend the interests of the Depian Ocean region. The DOSC can deploy peacekeepers as needed, but if the peacekeepers are going to a member nation the member nation must consent.
-The Depian Ocean Economic Council, or DOEC, all nations have one vote to take unified economic action against nations with a majority vote.
-The Depian Ocean General Assembly, or DOGA, all nations have one vote to enact laws or regulations or encourage the DOSC or DOEC to act.

by **Furbish Islands** » Mon Dec 09, 2019 9:01 pm

Southwestern Furby Island
Morning, 9 December 2019

A sixteen car two deck high speed train sped along a railroad through the jungle. Inside that train, Prime Minister Thomas Norup sat in a first class seat, in the lower deck of the front car, and he was headed for a campaign rally at a southern Furbish city. Despite the government owning several planes, which can be by high ranking officials to travel to where they are needed, Norup preferred to take high speed rail whenever he could. It was more environmentally friendly, cheaper because a first class train ticket was significantly less expensive for the taxpayers than jet fuel, and many times it took less time for the train to arrive to its destination than the planes, since leaving a train meant it stopping and walking out of the station, while planes in airports have to taxi and leaving airfields was more difficult, and airports are usually further from the city than a train station. Taking a train was also a better way to connect to the people, which is more important because elections are less than two months away.

Norup was on his phone, reading the news and messages sent to him from various government officials. In Tesyky, an authoritarian communist regime, the second day of the Galia Summit was going on, where nations of that continent were talking about improving ties. But that was the only good news from the past few days. The elections took place in New Inglaterra, where the new far right party, the Centralists, gained one hundred twenty-four seats in the Popular Assembly, only a single seat away from being the majority. The Senate stayed largely the same, besides the amount of Centralists tripling. Two new Centralists were chosen as Censors, giving the party four. The new Consul is a National Democrat, just like the previous, but the rise in power of the Centralists was a cause for concern. They could influence policy greatly from their one seat away from a majority in the Popular Assembly and Censoral Tribune. A week earlier the current Consul asked for support from Furby Island, and Norup voiced his support for the previous and current democratically elected government, and condemned the Centralists.

In Greater Bastion, an eighteen year old man hopped on a rural tram line and shouted some anti-government messages and threats. He was arrested by police, which began a quick skirmish. It ended with the man being shot dead. Just after he event, several parts of the country at once began an open rebellion against the government. They wanted the democratically elected government removed, and replaced with a dictatorship, like the one in power four decades ago. As if there has not been enough bad news, just today images emerged of corpses of people killed in the hands of Bayerland. The ongoing war has drawn international criticism, and currently there is a debate in the FCN Security Council about it. Scrolling down, Norup saw that four nations in the Depian Ocean are creating the Depian Ocean Economic Pact, or DOE pact. The pact establishes trade between the four member nations and creates three new governing bodies between them. “As if just the FCN was not enough” Norup thought as he read through the article.

Norup put away his phone and decided to go on a coffee break. Next to him on the train were a few of his bodyguards. Norup stood up and walked down the aisle, followed by two. The three men all wore suits tailored to fit them, and earpieces. A few other guards were sitting in various places on the train, including one near Norup’s seat, but he stayed put. The three men walked through a door to get to the next car. They walked past seats and luggage racks, until they the third car. From there, they walked up the stairs to get to the cafe and observation deck. FSM is known for having good customer service on board its trains. The cafe has a carpet, like the rest of the cars. Stools were placed next to the table. Tables and chairs were placed all around the car, some facing towards the large windows. The walls and ceiling were practically made up of windows. They are built from a sturdy material, which can handle impacts from a variety of objects. People were sitting at tables, some were talking, with friends, family members, and complete strangers.

“Good morning,” said a barista at the table, “what would you like to order?” Norup thought for a moment. The menu had a large selection which many restaurants would envy. “I’ll settle for an espresso.” replied Norup. While the barista wrote down the order, the two men had a quick discussion, and the barista asked “By the way, has anyone told you look like Thomas Norup?”, unaware that he was speaking with the prime minister. “Yeah, I get that a lot.” replied Norup. After some more talking, the barista asked for his name. “Thomas.” replied Norup. “Your name is also Thomas? What a coincidence.” said the barista. “Indeed.” replied Norup. He wondered how long it would take the barista to realize who he was talking to. It seemed obvious, as Norup was wearing a suit, and had two bodyguards near him, but he was also on a train, walking public space, which heads of state were not known to do. He walked back and took a look outside the large window. All that could be seen was trees from the dense Furbish jungle. Any animals would have been scared away by the train.

Sometime, a few people were heard cracking up at the bar table, but Norup thought nothing about it. His name was then called, and he walked back. “Here you go, Mr. Prime Minister.” said the barista from earlier. Norup replied with a thank you and took a sip. He walked back to his seat, followed by his two bodyguards. He had some Tjilpen posts to write, including condemning the actions of Bayerland and the autocrat rebellion in Greater Bastion.

by **Greater Bastion** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:38 am

Seeing the announcement of both the DOE and the standoff negotiations, the Premier makes a broadcast from his official residence in New Gloria.

"Following the recent attempts on the New Inglaterran government, we have decided to follow through with these talks and I, personally, have agreed to attend. I want an end to the hostilities regarding the sea around the HRI, and this economic pact proposed by New Inglaterra can be a great way to return our relations to normal, and even better than it ever was."

Following the rebellion, the Premier's standing has fallen, with many Republicans announcing that they denounce the Premier and have endorsed other candidates. As of now, the Democrats are collapsing, and the coalition is seemingly gone. In such a short time, the Premier's grand dream of a Republic is collapsing in front of his eyes. He won't let it go without a fight.

The Liberal Republicans and Classical Libertarians announced a new coalition, the New Center Coalition. They are beginning their campaign, which focuses around personal liberty and free markets, along with cutting the military budget.

The Conservatives are campaigning on a socially conservative platform, with limitations on abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, a somewhat free market with protectionist aspects, and keeping the military's status quo.

The Technocrats, while small in number, rallied over the past few days to increase support. They are the furthest left party established, and campaigned for further education and technological spending, and focusing on technological innovation (and the use of eugenics to prove the Bastonian race is a ~~superior~~, er, scratch that, predominant race, and science proves it!). Trust them, they're not fascists. They're slightly left of center!

Yeah, the Technocrats aren't going anywhere without foreign support.

Eckard begins travelling to N.I., and books the highest quality hotel while staying. He plans on vacationing for a few days, to see his potential ally's true value.

by **Snow Hill** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:17 pm

Following the announcement of the DOE President Jon held a press conference.

“Mr.President, will you be attending the talks personally?”

“Yes, I will be attending,” said President Jon,” the Ambassador to New Inglaterra will also be attending”

“Mr.President, what are you going to try to get accomplished?”

“I hope to make sure that there is free trade between these nations, that we will be willing to protect each other in times of war, and that we can help each other financially.”

“You recently announced that Snow Hill will provide Greater Bastion with 350 billion Dollars. How is this money going to get there?”

President Jon answers,”I can assure you that it will get there. Our world class special operations force will get it into the right hands. I can say no further about that.”

“What is the purpose of the research center in the Antarctica territory?”

“Recently Snow Hill built a canter 20 miles South of the Snow Hill border and 100 scientists will be stationed there permanently. To answer your question it is for research purposes. Uh ah...(press secretary whispers into President Jon’s ear)... no further question please, that is all. Thank you for coming.”

And with that the press conference ends.

by **Gagium** » Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:13 pm

Polish-Prussian Commonwealth

The representative from Dreggler & Carris Investment Group was taken aback when it hit him that the apparent NCO was the King himself, oh god. Had he introduced himself correctly, had he acted in a refined enough manner? Only time would tell, but the power play worked and the representative was caught off guard. It seemed as if the meeting would be very interesting, at least with the Polish-Prussian King's character.

The representative discretely and silently gulped before beginning. "Your Majesty, our company, Dreggler & Carris Investment Group, holds significant assets in the forms of stocks of Gagiumish-operated companies that run operations in Poland-Prussia, sometimes practically exclusively in Poland-Prussia. Hotel groups, restaurants, casinos, and manufacturing, we hold shares in a large amount of sectors that are involved in the lives of millions of consumers. However, the recent Sejm bill - Ehm, Bill 2019AD-85 - I mean, 86 - has been pushed to the forefront of Dreggler & Carris Investment Group's attention. Should this bill be signed by yourself and put in law, billions of dollars of our assets - And indeed, billions of dollars of assets from other Gagiumish corporations - will face immense risk and will very likely be liquidated within days of the bill's signing. A few of our, ehm, contacts have notified our Investment Group of plans of reaction that would see millions of dollars, if not billions of dollars, of Polish-Prussian assets liquidated within a select few Gagiumish territories as well. The finite point that the bill attempts to prove will be shadowed by a nearly infinite loss for Gagiumish and Prussian-Polish employees in both nations, as economic downturn turns to chaos among the stock exchanges as a result of the billions of dollars lost and the employees laid off."

"Asides from this, recent polling has indicated that this bill would push a good number of Gagiumishes to advocate for lessened ties with the Polish-Prussians, harming regional and international peace and stability, but that's not my primary concern, your Majesty. This bill puts lives at risk and people's livelihoods at a greater risk."

December 9, 2019
Rural Gagium

President Vincent Barbet frowned as he watched a global news program in the back of his limousine, which was currently cruising at a good 70 miles per hour on a freeway that winded through the hilly farmland of Alchemsland, connecting coastal Westmoreland to the March of Holiness in the west. He was currently bound for a military installation in eastern Ripleyland, and though flying was easier and quicker, he enjoyed the scenery of the highways and the cities that they passed through. His limo driver couldn't say the same, but money is money and the job of driving the President paid plenty. Vincent turned to stare at a magnificent freeway interchange between the highway and another as his limo drove under a fanciful overpass. He reckoned that he still had several hundred miles and a good dozen-ish hours left of his plight, though that was mighty fine for Vincent. The President looked out his limousine and took enjoyment in the several dozen cars he could see driving along the winding freeway, all of them bearing different colors, model types, and license plates. Indeed, the car and the nation's highways were symbols of freedom and individual liberties - Hell, even the poorest serf could afford a car, in the President's mind...Probably..Anyways. Vincent was amazed at how far the world and the nation had come in terms of transportation, with Gagium now possessing a nationwide freeway network of thousands of miles of highway and billions of dollars generated a year from this.

After staring at the scenery for some time, President Barbet snapped his head towards the news program, and saw that a passenger train had been derailed somewhere in southern Gagium. What a tragedy, how unfortunate...And yet, this did put a smile in Vincent's face. He always saw trains as grossly inferior and a threat to one's liberties, anyways. Trains - what a waste of money! The President shared his condolences in a social media post before smiling at the clear superiority of the automobile over trains - Pfft. His mindset was certainly that of most Gagiumishes, as cars were clearly superior, benefiting the economy more and preventing those like himself from having to sit with smelly druggies on a train.

As Barbet unlocked his phone, his head jerked to the screen one last time, and something caught his eye. Something...What was the reporter talking about? DOE pact..huh? The President squinted at the screen, discretely scratching his beard. Depian Ocean Security Council? He continued watching..Ugh, fantastic. Naturally, the Inglaterrans were moving to undermine Gagium's influence on the worldstage by attempting to strengthen their grip in the region, forming their own Federation of Conservative Nations organization. In his mind, a unified Depian Ocean region was a threat to world peace and Gagium itself - He didn't need the friends Rodier made in Bastion under Inglaterra's sphere of influence. What a disgrace. Certainly there was nothing worse for the world going on right now?

The President frowned. The global news program now showed a variety of graphic images and..oh god, straight from the hellhole that was Alenberg. The images, naturally, showed a variety of evidence that war crimes had been committed, including raping of prisoners of war and..other things. This was practically the first evidence that had come to light of such activities having been committed definitely in Alenberg, and it painted Bayerland in a horrible light - Rightfully so, in fact. It seemed as if the war being waged in Alenberg would have to come to the world's attention once more. The President thought, maybe tomorrow...

December 10, 2019
Politician's Plight, Laurillac District

It's been three decades since the National Assembly named the government district of Laurillac "Politician's Plight", and the name's stuck through the years everlasting. Sure, there's been a good many attempts to remove the 'silly' name, but the name held truth - The government district was one of plight, where the deep state and dirty nobles conglomerated to plan the takeover of the world and form their evil New World Order..In the heads of some lunatic conspiracy theorists, at least. In the Executive Meeting Room, however, the President sat with some of his generals and admirals from the Gagiumish Armed Forces.

President Barbet asked, "Good sirs, what's the situation with the New Inglaterran armed forces?"

A top admiral spoke up. "Sir, our consensus is that the New Inglaterran navy has raised tensions in the area by initiating a standoff with the navy of Bastion. Their forces in the area include a carrier strike group with armed aircraft, along with forces from their allies in the Rhinish Islands."

"So why are they now proposing a peace to the standoff that they initiated days earlier?"

Another officer, this one a high ranking general, said, "Army Intelligence has word that they're moving quickly to strengthen their position and weaken ours. We speculate that this pact won't face much resistance, and will form a New Inglaterran bloc in the world - One with a decent bit of influence and military power. One-"

"One that threatens the United Commonwealths.", concluded Barbet.

Mullen AFB, Greater Bastion

Mullen Airforce Base was the Gagiumish-given name to a section of a larger airfield largely operated by Greater Bastion on one of its several islands. The Gagiumish section was home to two squadrons of fighter aircraft and a small UAV section, with several hangars and buildings for personnel residence and leisure being present. A small collection of strategic bombers was also based at the airbase, though this was lesser known, and for a good reason too. Muller AFB was founded in early 2005 as the world saw a global uptick in terrorism, and Gagium quickly moved an appropriate aircraft detail to the strategic base to make a statement to the world. In exchange for Mullen AFB's existence, Greater Bastion also had been allowed to establish a military installation in Gagium as well, and Gagiumish military academies and training programs had a larger than usual population of students from Greater Bastion.

At around 7:00 PM, a pair of strategic bombers and a radar surveillance plane launched from the airbase on an approximately 1,200-mile flight to just outside of New Inglaterran airspace, where they would then turn to skirt westward along New Inglaterran airspace. Ten minutes into this flight pattern, the aircraft intentionally moved to barely dip into New Inglaterran airspace.

by **Huvakia** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 9:25 am

Lieutenant Colonel Abram Ivanov Lebedinstev a senior analyst at the Ministry of Strategic Intelligence sits quietly in his office within the upper North East floor of the Crucible Gate Complex. His office isn’t large or fancy but the office of an intelligence officer shouldn’t be, he liked it that way. A single window behind the desk offers a view of the central courtyard; busy with men in uniform scurrying from place to place with a clear yet unknown purpose like ants. Abram enjoyed the view but was thankful his desk faced away from the potential distraction, he had an important job to do. While there weren’t really any unimportant jobs within the Crucible it was Abrams job to screen various priority intelligence reports and decide their importance relating to the safety of the Emperor. Some would be sent to specialized intelligence services elsewhere within the Ministry of Defense, others would stay within MSI, or in rare cases a brief would be prepared for the Minister of Defense to deliver directly to the Emperor.

The Emperor had been hard at work establishing new economic and defensive pacts with some of the major regional players. Abram recalled that securing access to overseas dockyard facilities has been a major objective of “The Admiralty” for some time. If Imperial ships could refuel abroad it would greatly increase the Empires ability to project power beyond a regional level. The newly proposed Depian Ocean Economic Pact could accomplish just that, and potentially more, if things go according to plan. Lebedinstev had learned early in his career things rarely went according to plan.

For a week reports had been coming into Abrams office that would cast doubt on the long term viability of the newly proposed alliance. Rumors abound of armed opposition within Greater Bastion, and New Inglaterra had one of the most dramatic Popular Assembly upheavals in the nations history. None of this put Lebedinstev at ease, but even if he thought it was a bad idea there was little he could do to sway the opinion of the Generals or the Emperor. The summit to formalize the Pact has already been scheduled and travel plans are being made for the Emperor whom rarely leaves the secure borders of the Hegemony.
The City of Saint James has been selected to host the summit, the Capital of New Inglaterra. No doubt there would be flocks of people, all the more unknowns for Abram to deal with. He would need to contact the local authorities to square aware the transfer of materials and supplies needed to establish the “Emperor’s Bubble”. The Emperor is the embodiment of the Imperial People after all, his security is paramount, as such he his never seen without a cadre of support staff and security. Surely their hosts would understand. Abram began to prepare his request and requisition report for the New Inglaterran government but couldn’t shake the feeling that perhaps the Empire was gambling with Pandora’s Box.

by **New Inglaterra** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:09 pm

Foreign Affairs, December 11th, 2019
Early Warning Station 219-NB, Lyons, Nouvelle Burgundy, 9:22 PM
During the last major global war, about 6 or 7 decades earlier, planes flying up through the south had bombed the southern coast of the Confederacy. Determined to never let such an event happen again, the Confederated States Air Force had set up a network of early warning stations with radar coverage extending into the ocean.

At 9:22 PM, local time, a tracking station picked up three contacts flying from the south, turning to fly along the western coast of the Confederated States. The Consul was woken up for an emergency report as the CSAF dispatched a squadron of five AS-9 air superiority fighters.

By the time the fighters had caught up to the radar contacts they were running out of fuel and were forced to make an emergency landing. But the radar signatures, long range photography, and fuel range estimates were all consistent with a certain model of strategic bomber commonly used by Gagium, likely launched from an air base in Greater Bastion. Drone launches picked up several possible airbases used by the Gagiumish for the mission.

Off the coast of Gagium the Confederated States had a few… assets. One of these assets, silently and deep below the surface, slid along the seafloor until it arrived at its target; several thick underwater cables.

These cables connected Gagium to nations across other continents, including Greater Bastion, and allowing for transcontinental communications. These fiber optic cables were one of the greatest inventions of the modern age.

They were also tappable. The Confederate submarine parked itself just above a cable and inserted a device into that cable. The process was repeated for all three cables, just before they split apart to head to their individual destinations. The devices were nearly indetectable, and allowed for the Confederates to monitor all communications going from Gagium to Prussia-Poland, Greater Bastion, and Libervalley.

The submarine moved on in search of other cables.

(OOC: Before anyone calls “God mode!” just know that transcontinental communications between the USA and Europe are served by fiber optic cables on the Atlantic seafloor, and Russia has been known to tap these cables with their listening devices only being found in routine maintenance. This is entirely possible.)

At the same time, in Gagium itself, a small boat landed on the beach. The boat carried numerous representatives of the Confederated States, all of whom happened to be employees of the CS Agency of Intelligence. Meeting several serf contacts, the agents offered plenty of arms and funds for an ongoing resistance movement against the aristocratic nobles who ran Gagium.

The serfs accepted.

Meanwhile Consul Jennings sat waiting on an airport tarmac. Representatives of several nations were incoming, now he just had to wait.
(OOC: Make a post of your leader arriving if you’re invited to the DOE Pact)

by **Gagium** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 7:44 pm

Polish Prussian Commonwealth wrote:Snip

Back in the FCN Security Council, Gagium

The Gagiumish delegate to the Security Council frowned ever so slightly. It seemed like the poor Prussian-Pole didn’t see the point - Bayerland needed to get out and the FCN needed to put an end to this harmful civil war!

“I do not contest your assessment of Alenberg or Bayerland’s involvement in Alenberg, Ambassador. It is almost irrational to expect that Bayerland holds the basic capability or motive to take any positive action towards improving the situation in Alenberg, however, especially given their various alleged actions taken against civilians in Alenberg over the years. As shown by the recent attacks in Bayerland, the situation not only is harming the people of Alenberg but has had dire consequences around the globe. The world has been made an unsafer place due to the continued conflict, and it is only posed to become unsafer still. That, ambassador, is why we in the FCN need to step in and put Bayerland in its place while upholding our institution’s basic founding principles.”

ATTN: Furby Island, Greater Bastion, New Inglaterra, PPC

by **Huvakia** » Wed Dec 11, 2019 8:31 pm

It was a rainy day in central Huvakia, the winter months were known for their fierce rains, and army stalling snows when the temperature took the final months long plunge below freezing. Emperor Tywin Huffmon II sat comfortably in the rear of a limousine bound for Voznesenie Air Base in Northern Aegaeon. It was early in the morning and the streets were calm except for the sizeable conoy of dark government vehicles moving along in drilled precision. The car ride lasted twenty minutes but they always seemed much shorter to the Emperor. There was little free time in the life of Royalty to appreciate the monotony of travel.
The convoy reached the outer gates of Voznesenie Air Base driving directly to the South Access Gate. The two heavy rod-iron gates slid gracefully back along their tracks into housings within the concrete wall. 15 all black vehicles steamed through the gate towards the airstrip where Voznesenie 1 a modified BA-146 sat powered and waiting. The airplane was one of several dedicated specifically to the transportation of the Emperor. With sheets of rain pouring down along the runway, the metallic black of the aircraft was almost impossible to see. The bright landing lights drowned out most other details. As Tywin’s motorcade approached the aircraft the Crimson tail was clearly visible bearing the sigil of the Imperial Family.
While strikingly impressive the Emperor rarely made use of this aircraft, there was often little need. Today however was a special occasion, Huvakia was finally extending the branch of friendship abroad. The Emperor’s limo gracefully came to a stop at the end of a red carpet leading to the waiting aircraft. A dozen men in ceremonial uniforms stood to attention as a member of the Royal Guard opened the door for the most important man in the Empire. The same man then held an umbrella for the Emperor as he made his way up to board. Before entering the aircraft the Emperor turned to the men outside offered a quick salute and disappeared inside.
The inside of the plane was as luxurious as many of the Royal palaces and estates. Velvet carpets and custom woodwork were the least of the planes impressive features, but were among Tywin’s favorites. Today they wouldn’t be getting much attention, the upcoming summit was first and foremost in the Emperor's mind. There was much to be potentially gained from these talks and it was solely Tywin’s responsibility to secure a profitable outcome for his empire. The days leading to this occasion had been filled with reports and briefings from half a dozen different intelligence organizations. Recalling the most important of the briefs Tywin hardly realized that the aircraft had started down the runway and was slowly pitching towards the sky.
The remainder of the two and half hour flight passed just as quickly as Tywin reviewed dossiers on the members and leaders of the coming summit. On approach to New Saint James the Emperor noticed the two FEA-76 fighter aircraft that had been lovingly standing watch along his wingtips. They held position with Vozensenie One until it had almost touched down before pitching vertically and rocketing back into the sky, they would eventually enter the holding pattern and land before the return trip to Aegaeon. Tywin quietly envied the fighter pilots, they seemed so graceful and free from the confines of the world below; if only for a moment. Before he could delve too deeply into the fantasy the jolt of touchdown snapped him back to the reality at hand.
Exiting the plane it was clear that the rain had subsided, it was also clear Tywin was far from home. The architecture and signage was also distinctly different. There weren’t any crowds either, the security detail the Empire had sent a week before had seen to that. The only ones in attendance were his security detail, the security provided by the host nation, and a select few media outlets.
The cameras present all snapped pictures as he stepped from the confines of the airplane. His advisors had chosen a fashionable but basic black business suit with a striking red tie, there were concerns that the traditional royal uniform would present as overbearing and out of touch with the modern world. Ultimately the attire was irrelevant, Tywin's presence as person was all he needed. Boarding the second motorcade in four hours the Emperor was off towards the city to make history at the summit.

by **Tesyky** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 3:16 pm

Puzin international Airport, Outer Puzin, West Tesyky, Tesyky, 11th of November

(Sorry for the lateness, spend my time dying of the plague)

Director Leonid spent his early hours waving to the diplomates he had spent the last few days meeting, he had grown rather found of a few of them, but he knew that he was seen for what he was, a dictator, and he could hardly blame them for that. He has spent the last days in long talks with the best of Galia diplomates and had came out looking rather good to the world stage, however he knew he was hated, perhaps one of the most hated by the Monarchs and nobles of the world, and for good reason, he was a threat to them and their power, it was as simply as that. The Director saw himself and Tesyky as the representation of an ideal long lost on the continent, that the birth right means nothing, he had kept his rhetoric at a minimum, and it showed. He hoped that perhaps a new approach might work, diplomacy and cooperation, but that was merely hope, and it was mostly was mostly for “publicity” as some would call it.

He was waving goodbye to the last delegate from West Phoenicia when he finally could relax, no more pretending to be respectful of there wacky gods, no more having to negotiate, just him and a country to run. He got on a 11 o’clock train back to Puzin, it was a old western line to the centre of Tesyky, of course the whole carriage had to be practically taken over by his guards but it was nice to admire the countryside, given he was often stuck in Puzin for weeks without end.

After a long summit Leonid could finally get back to work on the Tesyky, First order of business was the canal, the organisation of it won’t be easy, first is the problem of getting fellow world leader with using it, other Nations at the summit seem fine with the idea of using it, however other foreign leader would be harder to be convinced.
But he has time to respond to foreign affairs, which had been surely neglected during the summit. It seemed the idea of a summit had caught on with serval being held around the world, typical really, but hey, it not like he invented them. It also seemed an autocrat rebellion in Greater Bastion had started, Nothing good could come from one of the world most powerful nations falling into pitfalls of an open civil war, however it was always best to stay out of these wars, the possible intervention by the FCN or other nation was not worth it. Bayerland seemed to be showing true colours, as a stronghold imperialist pigdog, perhaps at little over the top, but would sound good in a speech. A free Alenberg would be good of Tesyky, however FCN intervention would not be, so it was best not to get involved as usual, and to hope for the best, The Director had bigger fish to fry

by **Greater Bastion** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 8:13 pm

The Polar Crescent Research and Development Center

Otherwise known as the Big Empty

Unknown to even some of the highest levels of politicians and administrators in Greater Bastion, and utterly nonexistent to the outside world, the Big Empty, or as it's properly titled, the Polar Crescent Research and Development Center, is a secret Bastonian research base in the polar deserts of the "Antarctic." Initially thought up in 1979 by a group of elite Bastonian scientists, engineers, and philosophers, it was officially established in 1984, although they as a group had already been ongoing for several years prior. The "Think Tank," as they were called by the select few Bastonian politicians who knew of them, consisted of Dr. Hantzen (the head of the researchers), Dr. Gorbovsky (the leading physicist), Dr. Stanisław (the leading sociologist), Dr. Moreau (the leading biologist), and Dr. Halsey (the leading engineer & computer scientist). Along with the leads, there are a few hundred research staff that help along the research teams in their efforts.

The researchers in the Big Empty have often done... morally gray and socially irresponsible experiments and tests. All for the name of science - and state!

And now? Now... they need more test subjects. And the Bastonian leaders won't hesitate to give them to the Big Empty in return for... more technology.

Such a great time to be alive!

by **Gagium** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 8:26 pm

December 10, 2019
South of New Inglaterra

The strategic bombers and radar surveillance plane turned to head back to Mullen AFB shortly after the New Inglaterran fighters had made contact with the Gagiumish aircraft. It was the hopes of the government that New Inglaterra had gotten the message, and secret plans were written up among the high command of Gagium for future intrusions into New Inglaterra airspace.

Once the aircraft landed back at Mullen AFB, they made a prompt refueling before the aircraft were maneuvered back to their holding positions and hangars. The pilots involved in the mission would be discretely congratulated by top officers at the base before retreating back to their quarters. Though they were just following orders, they knew that this mission meant the start of something - Previous intrusions from Gagium had been relatively unknown.

December 12, 2019
Gagium

As the DOE Pact meeting in New Inglaterra began, the United Commonwealths of Gagium sought to prepare itself for what seemed like an inevitable cold war - Not one that would be resolved easily, either. Though Gagium had Greater Bastion as a friend in the south, there was no doubt that New Inglaterra could put up formidable resistance to any moves made against them - New Inglaterra notoriously operated one of the largest standing armies on the globe, and their soldiers had faced combat experience in the northern section of their nation. A vast majority of Gagium's Army divisions weren't technically combat ready, either, and the same went for the majority of the Airforce's fighter and bomber squadrons. Furby Island also posed as a questionable threat, should they choose the wrong side in the upcoming icing of global relations.

At 5:00 PM on December the 12th, the Gagiumish Armed Forces increased readiness levels of DEPCOM (Gagium's DEPian Ocean COMmand) to WARCON 4 - Security measures were to be strengthened at Mullen AFB , and the Gagiumish intelligence community reportedly increased their readiness level as well. At 5:48 PM, the Third Fleet was placed after WARCON 4 and was assigned orders to leave port and head towards the South Tenific Ocean. Submarine forces were also placed at WARCON 4 per Vincent Barbet‘s recommendation, though the location of these submarines was largely unknown.

..In slightly lighter news, Christmas season has begun in Gagium! Though the holiday of Christmas originally was a Christian holiday to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, the holiday has largely lost its religious meaning and has become another corporate holiday - Indeed, most people associate Christmas with ‘Santa’ (Who allegedly lives in the FCN Arctic Territory) rather than Christ. Though one would think that the perverting of a holiday like Christmas into a corporate holiday would be negative, this change has been positive overall in the eyes of most Gagiumishes - In suburban houses across the nation, colorful Christmas lights decorate the walls and Christmas trees stand in the living rooms to celebrate the festive holiday. The Christmas decorations have indeed brought about a certain cheerfulness during the month of December and early January, and many nobles and aristocrats even redecorate their places of residence entirely for the season - Often with gold or other more impressive displays.

The serfs and poorer citizens of Gagium, however, do mostly stay true to the Christian origins of Christmas, and they often can’t afford or don’t see the need of buying presents and Christmas decorations anyways.

by **Furbish Islands** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 8:40 pm

Streets of Furby City
Furby City, Furby Island Colony
Afternoon, 17 March 1805

An explosion rattled the landscape, followed by a few more. For hours, the hastily set up barricade was under constant shelling. The defenders hid behind their barrier, and some of them hid themselves in nearby buildings. The enemy continued the onslaught, attacking the weaker defended positions. The defenders, some of which did not even have uniforms, fired their muskets back, or attempted to use their bayonets. Some times the attacks were driven back, other times they broke through and sent the defenders running back and attempting to set up more barricades. Many civilians and soldiers fought on, taking muskets from armories or off their dead comrades and marching to the barricades. However, the constant shelling by the enemy made soldiers and civilians unable to sleep. At the front lines, morale was at an all time low, with frequent desertions from soldiers, and looting being commonplace. Further back, there was uneasiness in the civilian population. The enemy is likely going to punish many of them for treason for all of their actions. The Furby City Free State is at a critical point.

Three and a half months earlier, at the beginning of the year 1805, Furby Island was in a completely different state. Several foreign powers colonized these islands for over a century and a half at this point, but there was little foreign conflict against them, except for a few underground movements, which by that point had no ability to start a revolt. In the autumn of 1804, as the largest independence movement, the Noorderstein Congress, was having its annual meeting, colonial forces have been given a tip and raided of the meeting. They arrested many of the congress’ members, who were convicted of treason and publicly hanged within days. A few managed to escape from colonial forces, and recruited more members from Noorderstein residents who were appalled by the raid and hangings. Knowing they were all wanted by colonial forces, the remnants of the Noorderstein Congress and their new recruits fled east and reached the city of Tauvaki. There, they recruited even more members, and were larger than they were before the raid in Noorderstein.

In the second week of January 1805, colonial forces, fueled by another tip, began searching Tauvaki for the few members they failed to capture in Noorderstein two months earlier. But they fought back, killing the soldiers sent after them. More soldiers were sent, and a battle ensued, which was won by colonial forces due to poor leadership on the other side. Every member was captured. The next day, they were all hanged at the gallows in Tauvaki, but this enraged the citizens. The people hanged were their family, neighbors, and fellow citizens, attacked by government forces and executed for reason because of a group they were associated with. Protests began in Tauvaki. Colonial forces attempted to suppress them, which caused more, which devolved into riots. For two weeks Tauvaki was rocked by violence on the streets, until the thirty-first. Six men, including Sieb van Oorschot, a military leader who commanded the colonial forces in the battle two weeks ago, and Julian van Spijk, a local politician and staunch republican, took charge of the riots and lead them to overthrow the colonial government.

While the riots only spread to the north of the largest island, the rebellion sent shockwaves throughout all the islands. In Tauvaki, a provisional government was set up, composing of the six men who lead the revolt, in what was essentially a military junta. Van Oorschot was in charge, but van Spijk, being the only man with a background in politics, was the de fact leader. The other five men began recruiting armies, composing of former colonial soldiers and civilian volunteers. They marched away from the city, and their goals were to aid other rebellions and absorb all settlements into their new country. Further south in the main island, the land was owned by a different colonial power, but rebellions sprang up there as well. Inspired by the revolt in Tauvaki, seeing how the people had an easy time fighting off colonial forces, and the aid provided by armies like van Oorschot’s, people in the rest of the country rose up against their own colonial governments. The results of the revolts varied, but none of the other settlements will be as easy to capture as Tauvaki.

Half a dozen foreign powers owned land in the islands. One nation owned much of the north of the main islands, and another owning the rest of that island, as well as most of the other smaller islands to the west. The rest owned a few small cities dotted around the islands. They each had different ways of governing, but the only thing they had in common now was that all their lands were in rebellion. The capital of the largest colony, Furby City, was now experiencing its own rebellion. In early March, the people, without direction from a leader, stormed the governor’s residence and the army garrison. Though the governor, by a stroke of luck, was gone at the time. The people formed the Furby City Free State which became an experiment where radical policies were enacted. It was a direct democracy, with all citizens, men and women, of all races and ethnicities, over the age of 21 had a say in how the government functioned. The city-state would be run by three principles, which the people chanted as they stormed the garrison and governor’s residence: liberty, equality, and fraternity.

The governor fled to a nearby city when he heard of the revolt, then began gathering forces and prepared an assault on Furby City. He launched his assault from the north, hoping to squeeze the rebels in between his forces and the ocean. After the initial attack, the people organized a hasty defense, using weapons looted from an armory. They managed to push back the first wave of soldiers and gain ground, forcing the governor to regroup and gather more forces. At that time, an emergency meeting was called and several thousand people showed up at a public square to discuss the problem. The group that gathered was extremely diverse, representing most if not all groups that live in the Furby City Free State. Men and women showed up, and some would later claim that there were more women than men at the square. There were people of all ethnicities, from the white descendants of colonists, including northerners, to former slaves who were all freed following the establishment of the Furby City Free State, to native tribesmen, and immigrants.

The people unanimously agreed that an organized defense force was needed. People still fought at the city’s northern border against colonial forces, but for the defense to continue well, leadership was needed. There were debates between who should be the leader of the new Furby City Defense Forces, but the people eventually agreed on a man by the name of Martijn van Riemsdijk. The man was not a northerner, being born in Furby City, though his parents were alive while a different colonial power owned Furby City, before a new nation seized all the land besides the north of the main island. Nearly two meters tall, van Riemsdijk towered over most other people, and his presence was often intimidating. He commands a small group of mercenaries, who typically protect any travelers making the dangerous trek through the Furbish jungles against natives. He is known for his bravery during the many engagements he was in, fighting on when the odds were stacked against him, never flinching when staring at death, and always leading his forces to victory.

After the vote to confirm the new army leader, van Riemsdijk was brought to the center of the square. He and his two dozen mercenaries all participated in the meeting. Being a staunch republican, van Riemsdijk voiced his support for the uprising, and joined the meeting when it happened. This form of government, where every person had a say, where every vote was equal, where the opinion of a rich landowner was equal to that of a poor homeless person on the street, was the only fair way of governing. And now van Riemsdijk was selected to defend it. He did not know how much time he had to prepare, before the current defenders were overwhelmed, so he began creating the new army quickly. Recruitment began on the spot, and every able bodied citizen was given a gun and a uniform. He ordered all uniforms to be dyed green, a cheap and easily available color, to differentiate his forces from the enemy. The first wave was sent off immediately to the front line, with van Riemsdijk at its lead. The rest of his mercenaries were put in charge of recruitment and logistics.

The other defenders were sent back to rest and given new uniforms. On the streets, barricades were set up. No colonial forces arrived for a while, giving time to gain new ground and defend it. Several hours later, a large colonial force arrived at the barricade. Under van Riemsdijk’s orders, the Furby City Free State soldiers organized a quick defense and counterattack. Colonial forces attempted to retreat, but many prisoners were taken. The governor, upon hearing the news of the defeat, decided to try a different strategy. A few hours after the battle, cannons were brought to the streets, and the barricade began being shelled. This went on for some time. In the front lines, van Riemsdijk ordered the soldiers to sleep nearby so they can mobilize quickly in case of emergency. And while he was easily able to sleep at a nicer house, and eat better good, van Riemsdijk chose to sleep with the rest of his men and eat the same rations as them. Being in a democracy, with one of its founding principles being equality for all, this was all he thought he should be allowed to do.
-
All night, the barricade was being shelled. More soldiers kept coming in, and exhausted soldiers rotated out, but the colonial plan would begin to take its toll. Both sides had strong leadership, similar technology, and the Furby City Free State had the advantage in numbers and in motivation. But the colonial forces were better trained and disciplined. After days of their constant shelling, the forces advanced, recapturing land and pushing van Riemsdijk back, but not without heavy losses. The colonial forces continued this plan, and the lost ground began demoralizing the Furby City Free State forces. While they lost relatively little land, and life in most of the city remained unaffected, soldiers in the front lines were demoralized and the situation in the streets can be described as anarchy. While the battle was going on, towns and cities near Furby City began their own rebellions, but without much military equipment and leadership, they were quickly suppressed with a small amount of forces, though they did draw forces away from Furby City.

On the seventeenth of March, two weeks since the revolt first began, the morale of the soldiers in the front line was at an all time low. They hid behind the hastily set up barricades, hoping to survive the shelling. Van Riemsdijk however was not phased by all the losing battles. As the sun reached its peak at noon, the general rode on horseback, and had new soldiers following him, and walked to another group hiding behind the barricade. “You volunteered to put your lives on the line, to fight for the Furby City Free State, and you just hide behind the barricade?” he shouted, “How do you want to be remembered? A hero bravely risking his life for a noble cause, or a coward who can’t look the enemy in the face?” He paused for a moment. The soldiers in front of him stood up and picked up their muskets, then turned towards the barricade. The front line was several kilometers long, but the soldiers could see that further along some officers lead smaller groups. They looked towards the direction of van Riemsdijk, as if waiting for an order to attack.

Before van Riemsdijk could give that order, he heard a soldier shouting his name. He ran to the general holding a piece of fabric and a wooden pole. Van Riemsdijk recognized him as one of his mercenaries, the second in command of his force. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “Sir, this is a gift for us from a man named Julian van Spijk.” replied the second in command. He unfolded the fabric, showing a flag. The bottom half of it was blue, and the top half is split in three stripes, red on the top and bottom, and white in the middle. Across the white stripe were the words “Sic Semper Tyrannis”. The second in command then showed a hand written note by van Spijk. In it, he congratulated the revolution in Furby City, and wished van Riemsdijk’s force luck in the battle against colonial forces. The note ended with a suggestion to form a united Furby Island, ruled by the people, and free from foreign powers. Van Riemsdijk has heard plenty about van Spijk and his revolution in Tauvaki, as this has been the inspiration for every revolt in the past month and a half. But there he was, writing to a general on a different part of the island.

“Take this letter and leave it on my desk.” van Riesmdijk said to his second in command. The general took the flag, and the mercenary sat back on his own horse and rode away down the street, disappearing behind some of the buildings. Van Riemsdijk looked around, then fixed his gaze to a soldier who stood at his size. The soldier turned back, and before he was able to speak, the general said.“You will carry the flag into battle, wave it high above us and the enemy. Do not let it fall.” The soldier nodded. He took the flag from the general’s hands, holding it by its wooden pole. The flag, being present in the revolt in Tauvaki, was about to be waved at another important battle. A long line of soldiers was behind the barricade, with van Riemsdijk and the flag bearer in the center. On his orders, the soldiers loaded their muskets and fixed bayonets to the mussels. The general was on horseback, and he carried a saber.

On his orders, the soldiers walked up to the barricade and took it apart from behind. Then he ordered them to go past it, and said one more word, “charge.” The safer option at that point would have been to turn back, into the cover of the barricade, or the buildings, or the city far behind the front lines. But the soldiers ran forward, guns and bayonets facing the enemy. Just a short distance were the enemy soldiers and their cannons. The cannons were set far back, on the thin cobblestone streets, in positions which were planned to be temporary then moved forward as soon as another position was stormed by the soldiers. Some of the colonial soldiers only guarded the cannons, but at a few points some were seen standing just behind the barricade as if they were amount to attack it at a point. The soldiers held muskets, and wore red coats, white trousers, and black hats. The uniforms of the Furby City Free State Army were nearly the same, since they were taken from colonial armories, but were dyed to make them look different. But the guns and ammunition were the exact same.

The colonial soldiers seemed to see what was about to happen, but did not yet comprehend. Ahead of the formation was van Riemsdijk, who was ahead on horseback, and in his hand held a saber. Behind him were the Furby City Free State soldiers, who all ran forward to the enemy guns. The enemy did not stop firing them, and some soldiers took their muskets and fired, but there was still many more. A stray musket ball hit van Riemsdijk’s horse in the leg. The horse dell down, taking the general down with it. But van Riemsdijk stood back up and ran forward, still holding his saber, as if nothing happened. Colonial soldiers fired, some hitting Furby City Free State soldiers, while many shots missed their targets. A few soldiers fell, but the rest did not stop. Behind the line, a flag was waving in the air. It bore a phrase from a language not spoken by most of them, but a few picked out the meaning, “thus always to tyrants”. The soldiers called the colonial forces, their governor, and mother country tyrants, and were ready to be independent.

The soldiers reached the cannons, and any colonial soldiers in their way were stabbed with their bayonets. Van Riemsdijk ordered the soldiers to go forward, and stop at nothing to drive away the enemy. Some of the colonial forces fled, while others tried putting up a fight. For the colonial forces who did, they were taken out with some gunfire or with bayonets. In less than a minute after reaching the cannons the Furby City Free State soldiers were past them. They were left abandoned on the streets, aimed at the barricade which was no longer at the front line. Gunpowder and cannon balls sat beside them. The space between the cannons and the barricade was now empty, besides corpses of soldiers from both sides on the street. To both the colonial and Furby City Free State forces, they would all become just marks in reports of casualties. But each one of them was once a living person, who had friends and family who will never see him again. Not many who will later read the reports or see the numbers will take the time to think about this.

A few city blocks past where the barricades stood, the colonial soldiers hastily set up a line of defense. They had their own barricade, and positioned themselves on it and fired. Van Riemsdijk was not going to stop when he reached it. He kept running. Next to him, the striped flag continued waving, flying high above the soldiers. The colonial forces opened fire on the enemy, taking some of them down, and shot their leader. Van Riemsdijk was hit in the shoulder by a musket ball. But this was not the first time he was shot or wounded in battle, and he continued running with his saber forward as if nothing happened. The Furby City Free State soldiers, seeing their leader run straight towards danger, even after being shot, had no choice but to follow him. They reached the barricade, then climbed up and over it, to the enemy, swinging bayonets in any colonial soldier they saw. The general sliced away with his saber. A large group of colonial forces rushed towards van Riemsdijk and the flag bearer. Surrounded, the general still attempted to fight the enemy. He swung his sword at the soldiers, blocking their bayonets and landing some hits. A few times he was bayoneted. Even while cut, he fought off all the enemy soldiers.

Furby City Free State forces fought off all colonial forces at the barricade, with heavy causalities on their side. Van Riemsdijk was shot twice, and covered in cuts, and slowly losing consciousness. Further back he spotted a larger group of colonial forces, but they did not seem like the earlier group. They had no cannons, and looked more like they were assembled quickly rather than prepared to fight. Van Riemsdijk looked at the sheer number of forces, then back at his own. He saw that the enemy was setting up another barricade. “March to their barrier and stop!” He knew that his force were now the attackers, and the enemy was now the defender, meaning they now had the advantage. He planned to attack tomorrow, after shelling the colonial soldiers’ barricade using their own cannons. But not long after giving the order, he fell unconscious, due to the many wounds inflicted during the battle. The soldiers once again followed the orders of their leader, but some stayed back with him.

Martijn van Riemsdijk woke up. He saw that he was now inside a building. He did not know where he was, but heard the sound of cannons firing just outside. The same sound he fell asleep and woke up to for weeks. He looked up and saw that men were lying on beads beside him. Another man was walking between them. “Where am I?” he said, hoping the man would hear. He turned to the general. “Good evening, sir!” he replied, “You were shot and stabbed quite a few times today, but there is nothing serious. You should be fine by tomorrow morning.” Van Riemsdijk responded with a nod. At that moment, a knock was heard at the door. The man walking between the beds said to come in. Van Riemsdijk recognized him as his second in command. “Good evening.” he said. “Martijn, you’re awake?” responds the second in command. “Yes” replied the general, “What happened since I was knocked out?”

“Nothing too major.” said the second in command, “One of your soldiers ran back and found me, and told me that you fell and were covered in wounds. While we were arriving, this kind gentlemen,” he points at the man who was checking on the people lying on the beds, then continued, “He is a doctor, and his house happened to be just next to where you were knocked out. He walked outside and took you and a few other soldiers in. A few soldiers stayed back, and helped in setting up this makeshift hospital. Most of your army stood far in the front, behind a barricade set up by the enemy.” Van Riemsdijk smiled. “Glad they followed my orders. But what about the cannons?” he said. His second in command continued, “I followed the soldier on horseback, and spotted some cannons just sitting there. After I reached the front line I got a few soldiers to go back and drag the cannons to here, and ordered them to shell the barricade.”

“It seems I have taught you well.” said the general. “That was your plan too?” asked the second in command. “Yes” replied van Riemsdijk.

Two hundred years later

In the charge, Furby City Free State soldiers reversed all gains made by colonial forces over the past two weeks. Within another week, under van Riemsdijk’s leadership, all colonial forces were driven out of the city, and the colonial governor was captured. He, as well as all colonial soldiers and officers, were given the option to be a private citizen in the Furby City Free State and avoid any punishment, which some accepted, but others fled to other parts of the islands or the foreign power which formerly controlled the land. Van Riemsdijk, two and a half weeks after being appointed to his position, finally returned to city center, to cheering crowds. But he stayed for a single night, then he gathered another army to aid revolutions near Furby City, and absorb them into the Furby City Free State. In the square where the people met to discuss and vote on matters, there was a central platform for people to speak, and in the center of it was a pole, topped with a red cap. Next to it was a shorter pole, with a flag, another one which was present at the revolution in Tauvaki. Van Spijk sent several flags to Furby City.

Van Riemsdijk returned to Furby City after his expedition more popular than ever, and with more settlements being a part of the Furby City Free State. Van Riemsdijk realized a direct democracy centered in Furby City would be too ineffective to govern lands this vast. People have completely different problems and concerns there, and would not be able to visit the capital frequently. He still was still a republican, but knew a different type of republic was needed. Taking advice from one of his mercenaries, he walked into Furby City with soldiers and declared that he would be in charge of all matters. The people could still meet and vote together on matters, but he had the final say, until another constitution could be drafted. The people did not oppose the move. At that time, news of other revolts from around the islands spread. Van Riemsdijk sent letters to the leaders of all the revolutions, to go to Furby City, and draft a constitution for a united Furby Island. This was an idea van Spijk suggested in his letter which he sent a few weeks ago.

Furby City has grown since the time of van Riemsdijk and the revolution. Buildings were town down and replaced with newer ones. Skyscrapers covered much of the land around the city’s older borders, and almost every building was replaced, except for one, the doctor’s house which became a makeshift hospital on the night of the charge. It was preserved by the government of Furby City as buildings around were torn down to make room for skyscrapers, and converted into a museum. In much of the land where the charge took place, signs and statues sat on the streets to remind people of the battle. On the place where van Riemsdijk fought off the colonial soldiers who surrounded him, a statue of the general sits. He sat on horseback, saber out, and beside him is a soldier who carried the flag into battle. A plaque gives the name of both people and describes the events of the battle. The flag which was flown in the battle and van Riemsdijk’s later campaigns is currently on display at the museum, as well as the flagpole, van Riemsdijk’s saber, van Spijk’s letter, and some of the cannons.

By by far the most grand monument of the battle was just across the street from the Museum. It is a large building, taking up an entire city block, and visited by millions of people every year. When railroads were being built up across the country, a small station and yard were built in the area. The company which owned and operated the railroads then built it up into a large station. The name chosen was Martijn van Riemsdijk station, after the famous general and the battle that took place on the ground which it sits on. The daily ridership at the station numbers in the hundreds of thousands, including buses using its busways, trams stopping at the ground level tracks in the station, the metro stops underground, and the many commuter and intercity rail services that terminate at this station.

by **West Phoenicia** » Thu Dec 12, 2019 10:45 pm

WP||The West Phoenicia Times

Sports || Health || Technology || Gossip || Domestic Politics || International Politics || Entertainment || World || Religion || Weather

December 13, 2019

West Phoenician Minister of Foreign Affairs Jack Portland has returned home from Tesyky where the first Galia Summit was held. It was a great summit for West Phoenicia and other nations present with the signed agreements of non aggression pacts between many nations. West Phoenicians can sleep soundly knowing the continent of Galia are all on the same page in wanting peace and prosperity.
Other items on the agenda was a canal proposal by Director Leonid of Tesyky between the continent of Galia and the Antarctic Region. A canal that once built, will open up quicker shipping lanes for a number of nations and help increase the West Phoenician treasury with increased exports and imports.
Also attending the conference was Senator Guru El-Shamwood, assistant Minister of Trade and Commerce who also discussed with our surrounding neighbour's possible free trade agreements, that would fill every nations coffers and continue making us a rich continent. This was also part of the key address from the representative from Eldrado who proposed a Galia Trading Agreement.
Guru El-Shamwood advised the proposals and agreements will take time to work out, but he was sure a positive outcome would appear at the end of discussions.

All in all the Summit was a success with all nations citing increased terrorism and global tensions as issues that need to be addressed and need to be stomped out before reaching any Galia border.

West Phoenician tennis star Renne Richardson who in the past was more famous for her drama on and off the courts as opposed to her backhand, forehand and volley had a successful run at the Beçonailles tennis tournament, finishing in the Semifinals. The move has secured her spot on the tennis delegation team for the next Summer Olympics. Joining her will be double team made up of Kamal Dallas/Tiffany Love who also finished the tournament in the semi finals.

Dueling has now become fully recognised through out West Phoenicia as a means of securing your honour. The Right to Duel Act making it clear dueling will no longer be listed as a crime.
After passing through the House of Representatives with a vast majority. It was debated long and hard in the 106 member West Phoenician Senate, before passing the Senate 71 to 32.
Dueling has a long tradition in West Phoenicia and until 10 year ago It was legal until the Centrist West Phoenician First Party secured enough votes to have it banned.
With the West Phoenician First Party and their allies in the opposition and with smaller numbers, the Coalition who now holds the majority along with other parties in the House of Representatives and the Senate were able to push for the ban to be overturned.
Emperor Glenton Gryphon-Bush II was quick to approve the Law when presented by the Prime Minister with only a small amount of opposition voices asking for the Emperor to veto the Law.

by **Snow Hill** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 10:10 am

The citizens of Snow Hill recently watched from their televisions as their President Olek Jon took off in a Zoing-747 jet plane. Because there was recent military activity in the area 2 S-52 went with the President’s plane. While in the plane the Ambassador to New Inglaterra briefed the president on the DOE.
“We need to make sure we are heard”, said Ambassador Yergen Smorgen,” Free trade and military issues MUST be addressed!”

“Yes, thank you Yergen. Can I have a water please?”said Olek Jon.
General Fosters was also present and said,” Mr.President, while there we should propose a joint task force between our countries. The recent activity from Gagium should worry us. The task force could be very helpful in the future.”

“Mmmmm”,was all Jon said while scratching his chin.
“Sir, if I can say something please?” Said Hojen Merlox who was the Economic Minister

“Yes, go ahead Hojen”

“If we can make sure that other countries buy from our industries while we buy from theirs this would make a nice global economy”

“Yes yes yes. All your points are valid gentlemen, now let me sleep we have a long flight ahead. By the way we’re is my water!”

by **Gagium** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 3:45 pm

December 14, 2019
New Vitre, Gagium

Today, a funeral was held for the fictional nation of "The Rouge Christmas State" (Also known as 'The RCS'), which ceased to exist in the latest episode of the drama show 'NationStates'. Hundreds of followers of the show and self-proclaimed citizens of the RCS gathered in a small stadium in New Vitre to mourn the passing of the nation. The funeral started at noon with a rendition of the anthem of the Rouge Christmas State, which lasted for around three minutes before the teary-eyed actor who was cast as the leader of the RCS on the show gave a rousing speech that lasted minutes. In this speech, the actor cursed those who brought the end of the RCS, both in the show and outside of the show within the drama's producers. After this, a casket draped in the RCS flag was brought to the stage as several actors who played as RCS soldiers saluted the flag and a patriotic RCS folk song was played.

At one, the casket was lifted and those gathered to pay their respects marched throughout the streets of New Vitre with the casket, some of the crowd waving flags of the fictional nation while others sang the anthem. A small police presence was summoned to escort the crowd of dozens of RCS-mourners through the streets, as some spectators who watched NationStates offered the crowd words of comfort while others gave the crowd of apparent cultists weird looks. The crowd's march ended at the show's production studio, with the flag-draped casket being placed at the door of the building while others waved their flags in pride. However, the studio did not take to this lightly, and soon a small police force was tasked with dispersing the crowd off of the studio's private property. The crowd, largely not being idiots willing to risk an arrest over a fake nation's CTE'ing, dispersed, bringing their casket and flags. A few rowdy mourners, however, jeered at the police and furiously waved their RCS flags. After a tense standoff between flag-waving mourners and handcuff-bearing police, the mourners eventually drifted along with the rest of the funeral procession.

After this occurred, the casket was loaded into a limousine, where it would eventually be buried outside of New Vitre (Planned for the 16th of december). Teary-eyed mourners and casual spectators watched as the limousine drove off into the distance. The driver, however, had no intentions to bury the flag-draped casket - once he arrived at his home, he discretely opened the casket, expecting to find money or some other piece of RCS memorabilia..To his horror, however, he found the corpse of one of the show producer's children, who had disappeared shortly after the controversial episode aired. The police yet again were called, and the disgusted and shaken limousine driver pleaded to the police that he had no idea what was in the casket. Though he wasn't arrested, an investigation was launched into the organizers of the funeral - Certainly one of them would have insight into the murdered child?

However, the investigation would later prove to be futile - All organizers of the event claimed no knowledge, as did all other participants in the funeral that were interrogated. The casket, they claimed, hadn't been opened since it had been ordered. In media, the murder has been dubbed 'The RCS Murder', and conspiracy theorists have begun claiming that a group of terroristic cultists had murdered the child and are planning to form a real-world Rouge Christmas State.

by **New Inglaterra** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 7:36 pm

Alliance, December 15th, 2019
An aide came up to the Consul saying “Sir, the Convention approved the Depian Ocean Pact! 251-39 in the Popular Assembly, and 8-1 in the Senate.”

“Party lines?”

“Exactly down party lines. All Democrats and Federalists voted for, and all Centralists and Populists voted against.”

“That’s what we expected.” replied Jennings. The Centralists were beginning to scream over to the DOP, what had originally began as an economic trade deal had become a military alliance.

The rules of the DOP were simple. A General Assembly suggested laws to an economic and security council, which all nations had a seat on.

“Do we know what places we have?”

“Yes sir, we’ll head the Security Council, the Bastionians are heading the Science-Culture Council, Snow Hill is going to head the Economic Council, and Huvakia is going to head the General Assembly. The positions will rotate within a few weeks.” replied the Counselor on Foreign Affairs.

“Good.”

New Inglaterra’s goal was beginning to succeed. An anti-Gagium alliance was beginning to take shape. It needed strength, and so Consul Jennings was approaching the Furbish Islands, Missourj, Aksumar, and the San Carlos Islands at possibly joining the DOP.

New Inglaterra was also inviting the HRI to Saint James to broker an end to a naval standoff and territorial dispute. With the beginning of the DOP, New Inglaterra was ready to switch to supporting Greater Bastion if the HRI didn’t come to the negotiating table.

New Inglaterra was weakening domestically, but foreign affairs?

The Confederacy was just getting started.

by **Vyeborg** » Mon Dec 16, 2019 3:44 am

16 December 2019
The Palace of the People, Grozny Lek, Vyeborg

Never was a building more offensively named than the so-called "Palace of the People" - the rambling, baroque vastness in the centre of Vyeborg's capital, Grozny Lek. The former principle palace of the old Kings of Vyeborg, following the Scarlet Revolution of 1902, the home of the oppressors had, ostensibly, become the centre of government of the formerly oppressed. The idea had been that this once-elitist symbol of decadence would become the free, open home of the nation's politics. That was not to be. After the rise to power of the Union of Workers all bets on a liberalised democracy were off. The Palace became the home of the Praesidium and the personal residence of the Chairman of the Party, who also served as the Chairman of the Praesidium. The irony is that the Palace had been more open in the days of the monarchy. Now it was closed to all but the inner sanctum of the ruling party.

Konstantin Myalov was aware of how lucky he should feel to work here. Emphasis on the should. His father always beamed with pride when he told his friends at the local Party Social Centre that his son, his Konstantin, not only worked at the Palace but did so as one of the aides to the Chairman, Dmitri Kharkov himself. Konstantin's mother used it as a reason to pressure him into marrying well into one of the great families which held sway in the Party. Yet each morning, as he walked through the gold gilded halls, through all the elegance of former ages and the bustle of power-present, he did not feel how he thought he should feel. There was no pride only...something else...something he couldn't quite yet put his finger on.

Checking his wristwatch again he saw the time was 8.25am. Each morning at 8.30am precisely he brought to his boss a large red box containing the morning's briefing notes from the various Ministers of the Council of Ministers. Kharkov would work through these with brutal efficiency, making notes in red ink in the margins of the briefs and then occasionally dictating to Konstantin memos of his own or other various orders which later he in turn would delegate out to his junior staffers for actioning. He arrived outside the closed door of the Chairman's private office. Looking expectantly at the private secretary who acted as gatekeeper, she gave a gentle nod so Konstantin rapped on the door and went inside.

The Private Office of the Chairman was the former private study of the last Kings of Vyeborg. Oak paneled walls rose up to a gilded ceiling. A huge marble fireplace drew anyone's attention immediately, with its supporting pillars of purple porphyry. A vast window at the end of the room dwarfed the Chariman's actual desk and looked out along the entrance avenue of gardens and on out to the bustle of downtown Gorzny Lek, with its glittering towers of steel and glass, its ever snaking queues of traffic and, in the distance, the turgid pillars of steam and smoke emanating from the factories on the periphery. Konstantin often thought that if he were ever to sit in this office he would never get anything done - he would be too distracted by the moving tapestry of life outside.

However, all of this Konstantin was used to by now so there was no gawping, not even at the twice-life sized full portrait of Dr Fyodor Brilov, the father of the Union of Workers, the hammer of the Imperialists, and the first Chairman of the People's Republic - the brutal, ruthless visionary whose drive, bordering on the edge of madness, had shaken a nation apart and then built it up again. Brilov's present day successor, Dmitri Kharkov, was not sat at his desk but instead was comfortably sat in a leather chesterfield armchair before the roaring fire, idly sipping at a coffee from a 17th century silver cup and saucer. He was not the sort of person you would have picked to be an autocrat - only a touch over 5 foot 7, he had developed a noticeable paunch and wore oversized glasses over small, piggy, sunken eyes. His hair, once jet black, was now greying and retreating at the temples. Nevertheless this was the most powerful man in the country and it did well to remember that.

He was also not alone. Konstantin repressed a shiver when he noticed that in the matching armchair opposite the Chairman sat Danilo Yanilov, the Chief Commissar of the UCS - the Union Central Staff. The UCS was a fooling-nobody gimmicky name to crudely try and disguise that their members were the State's secret police. They reported to no one save the Chairman directly and thereby were able to keep tabs on everyone - everyone - including Ministers and the Party's top brass. Feared from the bottom to the top of society, the UCS acted with the swagger befitting state-sanctioned bullies. Yanilov was the most important of their number. An enigma of a man, there were only two things you could say clearly about his beliefs, even if you couldn't say why - firstly, he was deeply loyal to Kharkov and secondly deeply passionate about the "purity" of the Party and the Revolution. The longer Konstantin worked for Kharkov the more he had privately - vary privately - begun to wonder who was the master and who the servant in the relationship between the two?

"Ah, morning, Konstantin," Kharkov said, setting down his cup and indicating a vacant, noticeably less fancy chair for him to take. "You can leave the dispatch box on the desk, Danilo Alexandrovich has been filling me in on what I am sure is most of what is in there." Konstantin always wondered why the Chairman gave Yanilov his full patronymic name when talking about him to others. He sat down and instantly pulled out his pad and pen, ready to take down the orders he could already see swirling around behind the eyes of his boss. Yanilov fixed Konstantin with a cold, dismissive stare and turned back to the Chairman.

The Tesyky Canal

"I am uncomfortable about their decision," Yanilov said, clearly carrying on a conversation that had been taking place before Konstantin's arrival.

Kharkov nodded. "But it is their land, if they wish to undertake such a project so be it. It makes sound strategic sense and benefits their position greatly."

"No one doubts that," broke in Yanilov brusquely, "but why the need to invite foreign powers for involvement? Investment is a word Imperialists use for getting a foot in the door."

"I am sure the Director knows what he is doing," replied Kharkov although his voice betrayed an element of uncertainty.

"Regardless," continued Yanilov, "the existence of such a canal will affect our strategic position as their neighbour. We ought to know more of what the Director plans, particularly if he is courting Imperialist nations and inviting them to our doorstep." He left the sentence there, hanging pregnant with a silence which demonstrated that he was waiting for the Chairman to say what he expected him to.

The Chairman turned to Konstantin. "Have quiet contact made with the Director's people. It would seem sensible for a quiet meeting between us to ensure that we present a unified front, away from prying Imperialist eyes."

International Dissent

As Konstantin hurriedly scribbled down the last note Yanilov didn't bother to wait for him to finish but changed the topic. "There is little point using any such meeting as a means to discuss matters other than those of the continent, Tesyky is uninterested seemingly in propagation of World Revolution."

Konstantin, thanks to his position of being able to read all the confidential briefs each morning, was far more internationally aware than most Vyeborgians. Consequently he was aware that in the wider world many of the foreign imperialist, capitalist oppressor states were being rocked by violent internal dissent. Like tremors from an earthquake, each spontaneous attack seemed to encourage other ones in other nations. Of course the reasons for each were as various and different as snowflakes but it did nevertheless seem to give the impression that the capitalist ediface was not as monolithic as the oppressors wanted you to think. The great Brilov, in his magnus opus The Essence of The World Revolution, known simply as "The Essence" and a book which was required learning in all Vyeborgian schools, made it clear that the Revolution in Vyeborg was just the start. He wrote that it was the natural order of things that ruthless capitalism would burn through natural resources, including people, with the eventual effect that over exploitation would lead to a backlash from both Nature and Man. In such a way, the Revolution of the Oppressed Workers was not just a possibility but in fact a natural eventuality, and it was the job of every true believer to help hasten the day of the World Revolutions coming.

Kharkov nodded. "I have been giving this one some thought. It does us no favours to tie our colours to the mast of failing causes. Better to test the waters first and if we see a winner then jump upon it." Turning back to Konstantin he continued. "Have press releases sent out through the usual national and international channels. Make it clear that the Government and People of Vyeborg unequivocally stand by all oppressed minorities struggling against the tyranny of untrammeled exploitative Imperialist powers. We will act with utmost friendliness to any such groups who may seek advice in their struggle."

Turning back to Yanilov he said "the language is a little tougher than neutral. It will certainly annoy the Imperialists as it is meant to. Yet it does not commit us to supporting suicidal struggles elsewhere with an open, blank cheque. However, if any of these freedom fighters wish to come to Vyeborg for a time they may...unintentionally of course...find money, training and contacts."

The FCN

"There is also the matter of our ambassador to the FCN," Yanilov said. The Chairman snorted derisively. The FCN was seen as a pointless Imperialist talking-shop by the Party's top brass but nevertheless Vyeborg sent a delegate to its meetings, if only to stir up trouble. The former ambassador to the FCN had recently returned, his tenure being cut short by the discovery of far-progressed, inoperable lung cancer.

"Who does Grigor Grigorivich suggest?" the Chairman asked. Grigor Grigorivich Manstein was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, one of the Praesidium's most senior members and one of the leading Party grandees. Photogenic and popular, he had a rapidly swelling head and hero complex from being treated as the darling of the Party. Some whispers were already going round that he may one day be Chairman himself. An almost suicidal thing for someone to gossip about when the current Chairman was alive and well. Konstantin knew the answer to this question already and broke in, hoping to be helpful. "He suggests Comrade Elena Tann, his deputy in the Ministry."

Kharkov nodded and then Konstantin was horrified to see how he immediately looked over to Yanilov. The Chairman was seeking approval from his supposed dogsbody! Yanilov shook his head. "Comrade Manstein cannot be allowed to have his way on this matter. We have already noticed a rise in subversive talk in his favour. Allowing a member of his following to achieve such a promotion would be unwise and would fuel the speculation that he holds more authority than he does."

"Who do you suggest, then?" Kharkov asked.

Yanilov thought for a moment. Or, rather, he tried to give the impression that he was actually thinking about it. Konstantin knew he must surely already have an answer. At length Yanilov broke the silence. "I suggest Comrade Repnin."

"What!" Kharkov exclaimed. Konstantin too was taken aback at this suggestion. Vladimir Vissarionivich Repnin had, until five years ago, been one of the greatest men in the Party. He had been Foreign Minister before Manstein. He had then suffered an incredibly fast, brutal fall for not fault of his own. Repnin's wife, Ilyanka, a beautiful society socialite many years his junior had allowed the power and wealth of her position as wife of a Party grandee to go to her head. Using her sexual hold over her husband, she used him as an unsuspecting dupe to do favours for a large number of people who had come to Ilyanka and given her money to use her influence to get what they desired - mostly foreign travel permits which a number had used as a means to escape the nation and not return. Manstein, then a member of the USC, had discovered this quickly and, without reporting to his superiors, had exposed the matter directly to Kharkov, tricking him that the matter might be more publicly known than it actually was. Determined to avoid a corruption scandal, Kharkov ordered the USC to arrest Ilyanka who disappeared into one of the State fortresses. Repnin was told to consider himself a widower. Their two children were taken from him and placed in state custody. After a period of confinement and investigation it was revealed that Repnin was guilty of nothing more than being a fool in love but that was still sufficient crime for him to be taken from his post and banished internally to become the Chief of Party Affairs in the barren northern province of Nova Astra, the backwater of backwaters, remarkable for nothing save for its mining operations and lack of much else. There he had remained in disgrace to the present day, bitterly cursing his fall and its architects, including the man who had taken his job and, as far as he was concerned, killed his wife - Manstein.

It was obvious why Yanilov would suggest him. An excellent counterwight to Manstein. Better yet, as the two were supposed to work together but clearly wouldn't be able to, they would surely be too busy plotting against each other to plot against the Chairman or Yanilov.

"It is a suitable choice," was the only thing Yanilov commented. Clearly that was enough. The Chairman, like a dog, did as bid.

"Message Comrade Repnin," he told Konstantin, "tell him to go directly to take up his new position. Send the usual diplomatic notices to the FCN requesting them to accept our new ambassador's credentials and so forth."

Yanilov broke in. "And tell Comrade Repnin that I will be calling him shortly after his arrival. We must ensure that he is clear on our policy for the FCN."

And who does our mean, thought Konstantin to himself as he finished his notes and was dismissed. Who rules the country, the Party or the USC?

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