- Location
- Poland
Which will it be?
[X] 3
Apparently
[X] 3
Apparently
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That Time I Became A Dictator Of A Small Asian Communist Nation
- Thread starter HeroCooky
- Start date
- Original
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Rolling to choose
[X] 2
[X] 2
Barondoctor
The things I chase come to me.
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
- Pronouns
- He/His/Him
Might it have been more useful to go for HI investment? Maybe. But taking us a bit further off the food clock will help us do other things.Nooooo. The poor heavy industry!
Edit: For real tho, were probably headed for some major HI investment to jump start local chip fabrication, that boost would be real helpful.
Also, this is a bonus that came from the lulz, and to the lulz it should return.
A friendly... Face and open (Legs) Minds
BoSPaladin
The Paladin
Omake: A friendly... Face and open Legs Minds
For all the doom and gloom, all the panic of the 'Crisis' the fears of invasion, war, captivity, torture, interrogation, war crimes and nuclear armageddon as in those first crucial hours and later days the worlds powers attempted to get to grips with an unprecedented international cataclysm. Much of those worries would be laid to rest as Guangchao, in a fit of diplomatic brilliance, laid the fears of retaliation to rest with a very simple announcement of a fine for littering of all things.
An act that in the darkest of hours when the world was poised for intercontintal missile launches, nuclear subs on standby awaiting go codes and fully fueled aircraft lay engines growling upon airfields the world over, the mocking almost irreverant demand defused much of the tension and painted the picture for a pathway out of the crisis.
Oh it was never that simple of course. On the face of it the deal was simple, Guangchou returned the american soldiers in exchange for a fine that would go towards the cleanup of the wrecked vessel. Easy to agree in principal, but it precipitated lengthy negotiations and a great many diplomatic meetings in order to go over the details. And of course, all the while the government of the island nation extended the stranded crew of the ship credit for entertainment and were welcoming hosts. In some cases that term becoming literal with a number of pregnancies to american servicemembers both known and unknown due to the volume of traffic.
But beyond the puerile antics which were the subject of a great many pieces of adult entertainment, the political and financial wrangling behind the scenes and the military manoeuvres carried out all over the world. It put a human face on each side.
To the workers of Guangchao providing 'services' the american soldiers they interacted with were no longer greedy invading monsters. But, regular customers, if, perhaps customers whose expenses would be credited to their government and so took full advantage of the military funding their nation enjoyed. And to the americans, the people of the island nation were no longer ideological opponents hellbent upon the destruction of capitalism, but simply people, and regular workers. Many of whom lent a listening ear to the soldiers shipwrecked far away from home.
Put simply, it contextualised each other. They were human.
Absent ideology or political thought. Capitalism and communism are the extremes of two simple ideas. The first, that people should be rewarded for hard work.(related is the idea of reinvesting capital in order to grow the economy but that's ideologically neutral) The second, that food and the basic necessities of life should be affordable, if not subsidised by the state. There's a mass of arguments over how much should the state own or that people should be allowed to own when some of the richest owned so much more than the poorest. But the core of the two systems. "Hard work should be rewarded. People shouldn't be left to starve." Well, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who'd admit to not agreeing to both.
Most obviously of course the workers in the entertainment industry were happily and vigorously engaged in capitalism. And throughout their stay the american servicemembers quite often engaged in distributing 'assets' to be shared amongst themselves.
That's not to say that visiting brothels was the only attraction the americans partook of. During their time there some of the local villagers invited them into their homes, to treat them to traditional cuisine of thickly stewed kelp and local fish and crab freshly caught. A cultural exchange of sorts, and not all one way either. Fusion dishes, rather than traditional stews being the standard, tortilla wraps stuffed with local produce, or burgers layered with surplus ranch and sauces from the ships stores were traded back and american cuisine saw an explosion in popularity. With the burgers and bread providing a more easy and convenient eating method on the go, and one that did away with dishes and utensils.
Of course, it would be naive to assume espionage didn't take place. It did, and on both sides. American troops and their officers noting electrical sub-stations or other infrastructure and targets of opportunity. Or Guangchou officials requesting permission to come aboard the stricken vessel to ensure no planes were being made combat ready for sorties.
Trust but verify, afterall. Though it was largely above board and far better than the worst cases that had been expected, abduction and torture. One or two spankings aside no american troops came to any harm during their stay. And the visits onto the american carrier were scheduled well in advance, giving clear routes on where the party was to be taken. Allowing for ample time for the americans to remove any sensitive materials they didn't want seen. Or, more cynically, to disarm any weapons they might have been arming. Avoiding the need for awkward escalations. They were, in a word, treated exactly as what they were on paper, guests of the island nation. And accidental litterers. the crippled vessel would be removed in due time. But in the immediate aftermath the government and it's officials required assurances that the carrier wasn't leaking nuclear waste or fuel into the environment. Reasonable and fair concerns on all sides, that each did their best to accomodate the other.
The American admiral wanted the soldiers under his command safe. And wanted to safeguard critical intelligence. Guangchou wanted to ensure it's population and waters wouldn't be exposed to nuclear fallout or other pollution.
By and large, despite the accident. Both sides profited from the incident. Politicians at home spun it as their calm negotiations securing the release of the crew and of installing and deepening diplomatic relations with the isolationist regime. And Jungmin leveraged the diplomatic capital to the hilt in order to receive a boost of stimulus in his nations economy.
By the end of it, America was satisfied at least one communist nation wasn't plotting their immediate destruction.
Even if, to this day the alphabet soup agencies of America wake up in cold sweats worrying about what captive american soldiers might have revealed during extensive debriefings.
For all the doom and gloom, all the panic of the 'Crisis' the fears of invasion, war, captivity, torture, interrogation, war crimes and nuclear armageddon as in those first crucial hours and later days the worlds powers attempted to get to grips with an unprecedented international cataclysm. Much of those worries would be laid to rest as Guangchao, in a fit of diplomatic brilliance, laid the fears of retaliation to rest with a very simple announcement of a fine for littering of all things.
An act that in the darkest of hours when the world was poised for intercontintal missile launches, nuclear subs on standby awaiting go codes and fully fueled aircraft lay engines growling upon airfields the world over, the mocking almost irreverant demand defused much of the tension and painted the picture for a pathway out of the crisis.
Oh it was never that simple of course. On the face of it the deal was simple, Guangchou returned the american soldiers in exchange for a fine that would go towards the cleanup of the wrecked vessel. Easy to agree in principal, but it precipitated lengthy negotiations and a great many diplomatic meetings in order to go over the details. And of course, all the while the government of the island nation extended the stranded crew of the ship credit for entertainment and were welcoming hosts. In some cases that term becoming literal with a number of pregnancies to american servicemembers both known and unknown due to the volume of traffic.
But beyond the puerile antics which were the subject of a great many pieces of adult entertainment, the political and financial wrangling behind the scenes and the military manoeuvres carried out all over the world. It put a human face on each side.
To the workers of Guangchao providing 'services' the american soldiers they interacted with were no longer greedy invading monsters. But, regular customers, if, perhaps customers whose expenses would be credited to their government and so took full advantage of the military funding their nation enjoyed. And to the americans, the people of the island nation were no longer ideological opponents hellbent upon the destruction of capitalism, but simply people, and regular workers. Many of whom lent a listening ear to the soldiers shipwrecked far away from home.
Put simply, it contextualised each other. They were human.
Absent ideology or political thought. Capitalism and communism are the extremes of two simple ideas. The first, that people should be rewarded for hard work.(related is the idea of reinvesting capital in order to grow the economy but that's ideologically neutral) The second, that food and the basic necessities of life should be affordable, if not subsidised by the state. There's a mass of arguments over how much should the state own or that people should be allowed to own when some of the richest owned so much more than the poorest. But the core of the two systems. "Hard work should be rewarded. People shouldn't be left to starve." Well, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who'd admit to not agreeing to both.
Most obviously of course the workers in the entertainment industry were happily and vigorously engaged in capitalism. And throughout their stay the american servicemembers quite often engaged in distributing 'assets' to be shared amongst themselves.
That's not to say that visiting brothels was the only attraction the americans partook of. During their time there some of the local villagers invited them into their homes, to treat them to traditional cuisine of thickly stewed kelp and local fish and crab freshly caught. A cultural exchange of sorts, and not all one way either. Fusion dishes, rather than traditional stews being the standard, tortilla wraps stuffed with local produce, or burgers layered with surplus ranch and sauces from the ships stores were traded back and american cuisine saw an explosion in popularity. With the burgers and bread providing a more easy and convenient eating method on the go, and one that did away with dishes and utensils.
Of course, it would be naive to assume espionage didn't take place. It did, and on both sides. American troops and their officers noting electrical sub-stations or other infrastructure and targets of opportunity. Or Guangchou officials requesting permission to come aboard the stricken vessel to ensure no planes were being made combat ready for sorties.
Trust but verify, afterall. Though it was largely above board and far better than the worst cases that had been expected, abduction and torture. One or two spankings aside no american troops came to any harm during their stay. And the visits onto the american carrier were scheduled well in advance, giving clear routes on where the party was to be taken. Allowing for ample time for the americans to remove any sensitive materials they didn't want seen. Or, more cynically, to disarm any weapons they might have been arming. Avoiding the need for awkward escalations. They were, in a word, treated exactly as what they were on paper, guests of the island nation. And accidental litterers. the crippled vessel would be removed in due time. But in the immediate aftermath the government and it's officials required assurances that the carrier wasn't leaking nuclear waste or fuel into the environment. Reasonable and fair concerns on all sides, that each did their best to accomodate the other.
The American admiral wanted the soldiers under his command safe. And wanted to safeguard critical intelligence. Guangchou wanted to ensure it's population and waters wouldn't be exposed to nuclear fallout or other pollution.
By and large, despite the accident. Both sides profited from the incident. Politicians at home spun it as their calm negotiations securing the release of the crew and of installing and deepening diplomatic relations with the isolationist regime. And Jungmin leveraged the diplomatic capital to the hilt in order to receive a boost of stimulus in his nations economy.
By the end of it, America was satisfied at least one communist nation wasn't plotting their immediate destruction.
Even if, to this day the alphabet soup agencies of America wake up in cold sweats worrying about what captive american soldiers might have revealed during extensive debriefings.
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
Point of order: the Iwo Jima isn't nuclear. It's avgas and fuel oil leaks that would be the concern.
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BoSPaladin
The Paladin
Deliberate. Easy to fix/ explain that it's not nuclear, and far lower clearance to be shown the engines. Beyond that in the immediate aftermath everyone is worrying about worst case/panic.
"They think we're nuclear?! Did you tell them we're not?"
"Yessir. They want to check anyway."
It's a paper thin justification of them trying to sneak a peek at the interior of the ship. But there are legitimate concerns about making sure there's no other fuel spilling from the vessel or fires/risk of ammunition cooking off. More or less. The Guangchou want to have a look inside and poke around. And co-operating to a degree is easier for the admiral and crew than refusing and having them arrest the crew and poke through everything anyway.
Intrigue and espionage is obviously taking place. And reverse engineering is wanted, but it's largely being kept polite and above board.
Hmm. I'll change the line to add 'or fuel leaks' but yeah. The justification is largely a pretext to see how much data they can gather
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hmmm, the Americans are leaving the ship there tho, we can look at the interior at our own leisure, no?
In fact, once the Americans finish breaking all the sensitive stuff and leave, we can invite the PRC and USSR to send naval architects over to have a look at the internal structure and layout?
In fact, once the Americans finish breaking all the sensitive stuff and leave, we can invite the PRC and USSR to send naval architects over to have a look at the internal structure and layout?
HeroCooky
Unverified Monstergirl
I love this, and how it shows some of the details I overlooked/didn't show.
Choose:
[] Boost the Food Deliveries
[] Boost the Light Industry Deliveries
[] Boost the Heavy Industry Deliveries
[] You know what? I'll stay.
Yep, that is one option you can take!
BoSPaladin
The Paladin
You're welcome. And huh. Was not expecting a bonus.
[X] You know what? I'll stay.
[X] You know what? I'll stay.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Taking immigration options is good, and it's especially good for our entertainment industry.
Speaking of ideas I got an idea of a quest involving guanchou in TNO being allied with the OFN mainly because of this little idea I had
(Insert TNO president): So your telling me that SOMEHOW despite the colossal fuckup that was the pacific war we managed to gain an island in the pacific far into sphere territory.
advisor:yes apparently the locals managed to ick the IJA out and liberated some members of the US armed forces to claim that the island was "liberated" by the OFN being held as POW's and the Japanese didn't notice until after the treaty was signed that they had actually lost the territory.
president: and that said island is inhabitted by communists who are complete deviants ( I really don't feel like using 1962 expressions)
advisor:yes
president: I'm mre amazed by the fact they managed to find something that actually works from the Wehrmacht
HeroCooky
Unverified Monstergirl
I understood some of those words, and none of the acronyms.
it's a hoi4 mod where both Nazi Germany and japan won and the world is in a three way cold war between the eheintspakt or pakt led by Nazi Germany,the east Asian co prosperity sphere or sphere led by Japan and the organization of free nations or OFN led by the US
BoSPaladin
The Paladin
Yup, my thinking too. Food, light industry, heavy industry. They're exactly what they say on the tin. very good at exactly what they say they are.
Otoh, my thinking/preference is for the migration option, because it potentially helps diplomatically, culturally, and potentially in the sciences boosting both light and heavy industry with educated populace.
And even if they don't share stuff that's confidential which I'm not expecting. It provides a potential inroads for other stuff. A dedicated embassy to provide lines of communication to prevent a repeat of panic and defcon mode in future, so these sorts of things can be more easily de-escalated. Even potentially naval bases, where american ships in the region can shelter from any storms to prevent reoccurence (and where the troops on shore leave can contribute to the local economy)
Even if none of that comes to pass. The idea that Guangchou is a modern/modernising nation where american troops are willing to visit and settle down in has value purely by it's own merits. Economically for the tourist industry, and on the international scene we look less like a twitchy paranoid loner who might shoot someone for stepping on their lawn. All of which are good things.
At least, that's my thinking.
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....That sounds like a cheeky thing they might do to secure independence.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Ah fuck. I just realized: Chernobyl.
We should put together some sort of mechanized (I love the double meaning) international disasters relief organization that use civilian engineering mechas for things like disaster relief and development work. That sort of work is absolutely perfect for mechas because it requires flexibility.
In would even make sense for us to have rad shielded versions because we're going to pursue a nuclear power generation program.
The idea of paratrooper engineers airdroping into Chernobyl like Big Damn Heroes and quickly improvising a seal for the core is a very appealing image.
Hmmm, add a romance sub plot between one of the Soviet soldiers and one of our mecha jockeys*.
*My head canon is that mecha operators are called jockeys because they 'ride' mecha. Also, 'pilot' is a boring and overused term.
We should put together some sort of mechanized (I love the double meaning) international disasters relief organization that use civilian engineering mechas for things like disaster relief and development work. That sort of work is absolutely perfect for mechas because it requires flexibility.
In would even make sense for us to have rad shielded versions because we're going to pursue a nuclear power generation program.
The idea of paratrooper engineers airdroping into Chernobyl like Big Damn Heroes and quickly improvising a seal for the core is a very appealing image.
Hmmm, add a romance sub plot between one of the Soviet soldiers and one of our mecha jockeys*.
*My head canon is that mecha operators are called jockeys because they 'ride' mecha. Also, 'pilot' is a boring and overused term.
Great idea. But in practice, it is likely not gonna happen unless we got well placed spies. Namely cause when it happened, those involved didn't want to admit how badly it got screwed up, ESPECIALLY to the west...
Since the a major part of the problem were engineering oversights that British engineers had noticed long before when they had permission to look at some nuclear reactor plans.😅
- Pronouns
- She/Her
That's kind of why I was thinking it could happen: The Soviets might be less reticent with Guangchou being communist. It could even be a result of the close ties between out R&D complexes: scientists going behind the politician's backs to make sure the problem gets solved right.
Must Read - The Danish Boy
- Location
- SEAsia
- Pronouns
- Thou
This was a fucking mess. Took a long time, too. @HeroCooky Sorrynotsorry for the large word count. Lemme know if there's something I should change for canon compatibility.
Edit: Took care of some typos. Added a bit more explanation in the notes too.
The Danish Boy
Note: just some background stuff about a minor character and some lesser lore about stuff in America.
To summarize, danish fam get involved with some unethical experiments from the nazis, migrate to america, make more questionable experiments and profit, mostly situated near or at some historical lgbt movement events (los angeles, new york, and also the one with african americans in tuskegee, alabama).
How did Lars get to Guangchou? Rasch had some experience moving around the world, and contacts among various groups, especially his old buddies now living in Guangchou. Plus it wouldn't be an unusual thing for an American to travel out of country. Harder to sneak a spy in and stay hidden.
Decided to be a bit vague on details since I couldnt let it run on for too long. Anyways, enjoy.
Edit: Took care of some typos. Added a bit more explanation in the notes too.
The Danish Boy
Lars Johansen had never been a typical person. He'd never felt like a typical person either. For all that the word 'typical' could ever be used to wholly describe any single human being, Lars would have been among the least deserving of such a word.
Not even when people knew him as Anna. ESPECIALLY back when people knew him as Anna.
The Johansens had lived in Denmark for centuries, spanning various professions, and most recently had presented a long line of doctors, chemists and psychiatrists to the world. They blended well with the society they found themselves amongst. And when the Second World War began in earnest and Denmark was occupied by Nazis, the family thrived under the new order.
Lars's grandfather Erik and father William profited greatly when the Nazis employed them for their skills with chemicals. Under their orders, the Johansens had taken responsibility of a newly formed pharmaceuticals company, fulfilling contracts and orders from the fascist government. And when the tides of war turned against their German overlords, their connections and wealth had allowed them to emerge largely unscathed, even migrating to the US shortly after.
Lars had been born just before the war in Europe finally ended, the youngest child, a daughter; at least 'till his younger brother, Oliver, was born.
As he grew up and matured, so did his family's business. The free market had done much to boost his family's already considerable fortunes, and his father's business practices, long since honed during his time in Denmark, served him well in America. Threats of torture and bribes of contraband goods translated easily to threats of imprisonment and bribes of cold, hard cash. Things he only learned much later in life.
Lars, then known as Anna, was a bright kid. She learned quickly and questioned relentlessly, driven by a neverending hunger for new experiences and information. She'd proven herself to be brilliant young lady, growing up, and had been the golden child of most of the Johansen clan's older members as well as her own parents. It was a wonderful childhood for Anna, veiled by ignorance and innocence.
It would not last.
It had began during a quiet family dinner. Her grandparents, parents and a few aunts and uncles had joined in with much of the younger Johansens, a regular meal to keep the family close. 15-year-old Anna, in her own unabashed way, had told her parents and family of her day; of hanging out with friends, talking about gossip, and of her first kiss. With a girl. A friend who'd also ask her out to see a new movie, and one she'd said yes to.
Sheltered and innocent, Anna could not comprehend the mix of stunned silence and scandalized shock the elder members responded with. Had she known about the increasing outspokenness of the LGBT movement in America, and the corresponding backlash, she'd have understood. As it was, her family had kept her and her siblings and cousins largely insulated from popular news. That dinner changed things.
With homosexuality largely regarded as a sort of illness, her family of medical professionals had responded the only way they knew how. She was given medication, therapeutic sessions, counseling and constant chaperoning. The Johansens had flourished in the capitalist nation and had grown prominent in the public eye for their successes and contributions. Anna's… controversial… views and desires were deemed too risky to leave to chance.
For a time, it worked. Anna had been convinced that her friend had almost led her astray, and one she no longer interacted with. She also grew less outgoing. She became quieter. She no longer asked her questions or expressed her curiosity. She was the picture of perfect behavior. Compliant, obedient, a blessing to her family. All the while she performed magnificently in her studies and pursuits. High test scores, impressive performances in the arts, and praised and lauded by both peers and instructors.
And all the while Anna chafed under the persona she crafted. One who believed that her family was right. That all they did, they did for her sake. Her application to master the field of medicine had also been part of that plan; one which, by all accounts, was progressing quite well. As such, there was nobody to witness Anna's quiet suffering.
That is, except her youngest brother…
————————————————————————————————————————
Oskar Johansen was a quiet child. Timid and shy, forever hiding behind someone's shadow. Largely ignored as well, what with his parents more focused on their brilliant daughter. Yet Oskar was not so dissatisfied with this. Unlike his older brother Tomas who was expected to inherit a large role in the family business, and thus was under a lot of pressure, Oskar was left largely free to do as he pleased. And Anna… Anna was simply there for his parents to compare him and his brother too.
But Oskar didn't mind. He idolized his older sister, who always knew how to make him smile or laugh; Anna who'd always cover for him if he did something wrong, Anna who'd cheer him up and comfort him whenever he felt upset…
Anna… who'd changed so much after that fateful dinner.
For years he'd tried to get her to talk to him, to tell him what was wrong… to let him in… to no avail. She was quieter now, meeker. There were no more questions, no spontaneity, no sudden plans and adventures to share with. He couldn't even remember the last time she smiled. The Anna he knew was gone…
Or hidden away, at least.
For years, Oskar continued trying to reach out to the stranger he once knew as his sister, even going so far as to following her footsteps and studying medicine. It was this particular course of action that would lead him to one person who could help him and his sister make sense of what really changed since that night.
————————————————————————————————————————
Dr. Emil Rasch was never a "people person". He loved studying human behavior, but socializing is something he believed should only happen to other people. Not him. Definitely not him. Still, appearances had to be kept, and lectures had to be given if he wanted his tenure in the university to remain peaceful and his own research largely uninterrupted.
It was on one such lecture on human sexuality that he met young Oskar Johansen.
Rasch was good at remembering details. And the surname had elicited some old, albeit unpleasant memories. And when the young man had asked to speak privately with him, Rasch had wasted no time in asking if the young man knew a Dr. Erik Johansen.
He did, apparently. His grandfather, he said.
Young Oskar had wanted to seek advice with helping his older sister Anna. And from there he told Rasch of everything he knew about the dilemma.
Rasch knew right away what had happened. It helped that he knew exactly what kind of man Erik Johansen was, let alone the pharmaceutical company that had been quietly gaining power while partnering with the American government. William Johansen hadn't even seen any need to change the name since the Nazi party ordered and funded its creation.
That aside, Rasch wasted no time having a meeting set up with Oskar and his sister. It helped that she was also studying in the university, and in the same course, no less. Soon enough, they were in the privacy of his office.
After some brief introductions, he'd had asked if she didn't mind him asking some personal questions. Young Oskar had enough tact to quietly step out just as his sister said yes. He could see a glimmer of the natural curiosity the young woman had reportedly once exhibited so freely, eager to know why her brother had insisted so strongly on the meeting despite refraining from explaining the why.
What happened next was something Rasch, who, again, was most definitely not a "people person", didn't wish to repeat ever again.
He'd started off with questions about the fateful night Oskar had spoken of, he'd asked her of her what she felt, what she thought she felt, and what her family no doubt convinced her she felt. She was guarded, yes, but his own knowledge of her grandfather and father had been enough to leave just enough openings to get his questions and statements across.
The repressed feelings, the shame, the guilt, the frustrations… all things he'd expected, ones he'd recognized from past patients, both alive and… deceased…
In turn, he told her of her family's own sordid history. Of a grandfather and father who'd collaborated eagerly with a growing fascist power. Of a secret project couched as medical trials on certain undesirables. Of unethical experiments and countless corpses in the twisted name of science. And of his own involvement and complicity in said crimes.
Rasch had been motivated by fear, mostly. His age and lack of both wife and children had started to elicit some unpleasant rumors about him, and it was only his own brilliance in the field of psychology and medicine, and a carefully crafted guise as a workaholic, that spared him from joining the so-called medical trials.
He then told young Anna of his own escape with the help of a certain institute of certain sexual sciences. Of how he came to America, and of how he learned of her family's own migration. He told of her of new medical trials, new experiments in California, New York and Alabama, and more in cities all across the country; of Blacks, Asians and anyone associated with Communist ideals and movements being brought in as participants.
It was only after she'd asked to have her brother rejoin them that Rasch realized he wasn't exactly doing the whole therapy thing properly. Then again, it seemed like Anna was taking things admirably well for someone who'd just learned her family had been heavily involved in crimes against mankind. That, and bedside manner had never been Rasch's forte.
Bit by bit, Anna began questioning more. Years of repressed confusion and curiosity finally bursting out onto the surface. Eventually she began vocalizing her own thoughts and opinions, ones she'd kept hidden for years. Slowly, confidence crept back into her voice, encouraged by the fact that her own brother listened and encouraged her from the side.
It brought back to mind of old friends he'd made back when he learned of the institute. He'd even made a brief trip in the east. To a small island nation whose people were, paradoxically more free than most others yet more repressed as well. That trip had almost gotten him into trouble with the authorities once he arrived back in America, but it was worth it.
More so now that he'd been brought back to the present the moment Anna asked, "What do I do?"
The question was broader that it seemed. It was a request for a solution to all their problems. Regarding her own desires, regarding her family, regarding everything wrong in the American society… But Rasch wasn't so all-seeing. For all his studies and experiences, he had no such all-encompassing solution…
The first answer to come to his mind was foolish, of course. Dangerous and irresponsible, should the Johansens or the authorities (who the Johansens no doubt had connections and ties to) ever find out, But that was it. "IF" they found out…
————————————————————————————————————————
Anna rechecked her papers. She'd made a habit of doing so every 15 minutes or so. Her two bags packed beside her. All she needed to do was lay low until the ship reached the Philippines. From there, a ride on a cargo ship would take her to Taiwan, where a fishing boat would eventually drop her off on some obscure island nation surrounded by nothing but ocean…
She had said only one farewell. Nobody could know what she was about to do, where she was about to go. It wouldn't take long for her to be reported as missing, and her family would no doubt spend no small amount of resources to find out what happened. While the meeting had been discrete, Dr. Rasch had already formed an alibi should he be questioned, and all that left was Oskar.
Dear Oskar, if she'd known just how deeply he'd worried for her, she'd have talked to him sooner. But now there was no more time. All those years she'd wasted distancing herself from him, and now she may never see him again. Her little brother could not afford to see her off. His alibi needed to be as ironclad as possible, and their farewell had come sooner than she'd liked.
There was no shock, or disgust on his face as she spoke of all the things she'd kept hidden and lied to herself about. Well, there was shock, but only when she spoke of the so-called treatments. Of psychotherapeutic and emetic drugs, aversion therapies and more. While being family had spared her from the most extreme treatments, it had been no less difficult to talk about.
In the end, right before telling her goodbye for what may be the very last time, Oskar had simply asked her if she was happy. And she was. She was scared, anxious, uncertain… but happy. Happy and free, for the first time and years. In reply, he smiled and said, "Then that's all that matters."
One of the sailors came up to her, the rest of the crew busy making preparations to cast off.
"You Mr. Johansen?"
Adjusting the hat on her… no, HIS head, he replied, "Yeah. We ready to go?"
"Just about. Cap'n wants me to check your papers, make sure you're who you say you are."
With some tense hands, he handed over the forged documents. The man unfolded them under the nearby lamppost, his eyes scanning the typewritten message therein.
"Alright… Lars… everything looks good. Follow me and I'll show ya where you can bunk in."
After taking back and pocketing the papers, Lars reached for his bags. Feeling the weight of his meagre belongings pulling down as if protesting his choices, he took his first steps forward.
With each step it seemed like years' worth of fear and frustration were being cast away, and as he took his first step on to the gangway, Lars quashed the urge to look back to all he'd ever known, and kept his eyes forward into the lit interior of the ship's cabin, to his future.
To a future unknown…
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A Future Unknown
As he waited for the ink to fully dry, Lars Johansen thought back to the trip he made all those years ago. For all the fear and uncertainty he'd once felt about it, the trip had been largely uneventful and incredibly boring. There were no mysterious thugs sent by his family to retrieve him, no assassins there to silence him before he could spill American secrets, not even pirates wanting to loot valuables and hold foreigners for ransom. While there had been that one customs agent who'd looked at his papers a little to closely, a thick wad of dollars had solved that problem.
No, the real excitement began when he'd first stepped foot onto Guangchou's exotic soil. His very identity had made him a most interesting and singular visitor, and later immigrant, but earning his place among the, at first, suspicious population had been nothing short of extraordinary.
While Wei Cai was more than happy to accept him as proof of the West's and capitalism's 'obvious' flaws, appearances had to be kept, and for all the strength of his hold on his people's lives, they still needed to be reassured lest it contribute to further discord. And thus, Lars had been conscripted as an agent for the nation's intelligence services for a time. In this regard, his Danish ancestry and American upbringing made him a unique and valuable addition, not to mention his originally female gender.
And so began a few years of clandestine and exciting detours on his way to a new home. While it had not been entirely pleasant, he had ended up making no small amount of friends and like-minded colleagues, learning crucial and outlandish skills and knowledge, and seeing all kinds of exotic and bizarre locales and sights. And no shortage of… interesting, and lethal, memories as well. That one incident with a murderous camel in Arabia, a pit of snakes in Vietnam, a daring escape in a hot air balloon over the skies of Tokyo, and that last, unforgettable jaunt across the Korean DMZ with a North Korean soldier, a Russian defector, and a bloodied pineapple. Yes… he would never look at pineapples the same way ever again…
And now, here he was, enjoying his freedom amongst people that behaved both so differently and similarly as the ones he grew up with. It had been a few lonely years at first, of course, when he'd been the strange foreigner who'd washed up at shore some years back, but over time he'd grown on the locals. He'd found so many things in common with them. And so many things that weren't as well.
That said, the few odd letters from Oskar had helped. A lot. After getting his degree, he'd set up his own practice, distancing himself from the family business. As for Lars, his family had eventually given up the search, writing him off as dead and mostly trying to forget him.
Of course, his old friends and contacts from his years doing wetwork had helped bridged some unknowns, informed him of notable events happening back in America, but he'd actively avoided any news about his family, aside from Oskar and Dr. Rasch.
Until now, of course. While Oskar had warned him of the fact, seeing Tomas again was still a shock, more so the fact that he was in the navy. Again, Oskar had written a bit of what had happened. How the pressure and the effect of Lars's disappearance on the family had eventually driven Tom to the brink. An argument had happened. Or several. Even Oskar hadn't been privy to all the details as he'd grown estranged to the family earlier on. In any case, Tom had joined the navy. So, there's that.
In a way, it would explain the myriad emotions he saw on his older brother's face. No small amount of confusion and anger clear as day at seeing his "younger sister" after all these years. He could only imagine what would have happened if Oskar had not cared about him so much, or if he'd found some way to say goodbye or write about what his decision to leave.
But that was "IF". He had made his choice. Even if Tom told their parents about seeing Lars in Guangchou, it wouldn't matter. Because whatever happened, he knew he at least still had family. Oskar would always be on his side.
And that made all the difference.
Not even when people knew him as Anna. ESPECIALLY back when people knew him as Anna.
The Johansens had lived in Denmark for centuries, spanning various professions, and most recently had presented a long line of doctors, chemists and psychiatrists to the world. They blended well with the society they found themselves amongst. And when the Second World War began in earnest and Denmark was occupied by Nazis, the family thrived under the new order.
Lars's grandfather Erik and father William profited greatly when the Nazis employed them for their skills with chemicals. Under their orders, the Johansens had taken responsibility of a newly formed pharmaceuticals company, fulfilling contracts and orders from the fascist government. And when the tides of war turned against their German overlords, their connections and wealth had allowed them to emerge largely unscathed, even migrating to the US shortly after.
Lars had been born just before the war in Europe finally ended, the youngest child, a daughter; at least 'till his younger brother, Oliver, was born.
As he grew up and matured, so did his family's business. The free market had done much to boost his family's already considerable fortunes, and his father's business practices, long since honed during his time in Denmark, served him well in America. Threats of torture and bribes of contraband goods translated easily to threats of imprisonment and bribes of cold, hard cash. Things he only learned much later in life.
Lars, then known as Anna, was a bright kid. She learned quickly and questioned relentlessly, driven by a neverending hunger for new experiences and information. She'd proven herself to be brilliant young lady, growing up, and had been the golden child of most of the Johansen clan's older members as well as her own parents. It was a wonderful childhood for Anna, veiled by ignorance and innocence.
It would not last.
It had began during a quiet family dinner. Her grandparents, parents and a few aunts and uncles had joined in with much of the younger Johansens, a regular meal to keep the family close. 15-year-old Anna, in her own unabashed way, had told her parents and family of her day; of hanging out with friends, talking about gossip, and of her first kiss. With a girl. A friend who'd also ask her out to see a new movie, and one she'd said yes to.
Sheltered and innocent, Anna could not comprehend the mix of stunned silence and scandalized shock the elder members responded with. Had she known about the increasing outspokenness of the LGBT movement in America, and the corresponding backlash, she'd have understood. As it was, her family had kept her and her siblings and cousins largely insulated from popular news. That dinner changed things.
With homosexuality largely regarded as a sort of illness, her family of medical professionals had responded the only way they knew how. She was given medication, therapeutic sessions, counseling and constant chaperoning. The Johansens had flourished in the capitalist nation and had grown prominent in the public eye for their successes and contributions. Anna's… controversial… views and desires were deemed too risky to leave to chance.
For a time, it worked. Anna had been convinced that her friend had almost led her astray, and one she no longer interacted with. She also grew less outgoing. She became quieter. She no longer asked her questions or expressed her curiosity. She was the picture of perfect behavior. Compliant, obedient, a blessing to her family. All the while she performed magnificently in her studies and pursuits. High test scores, impressive performances in the arts, and praised and lauded by both peers and instructors.
And all the while Anna chafed under the persona she crafted. One who believed that her family was right. That all they did, they did for her sake. Her application to master the field of medicine had also been part of that plan; one which, by all accounts, was progressing quite well. As such, there was nobody to witness Anna's quiet suffering.
That is, except her youngest brother…
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Oskar Johansen was a quiet child. Timid and shy, forever hiding behind someone's shadow. Largely ignored as well, what with his parents more focused on their brilliant daughter. Yet Oskar was not so dissatisfied with this. Unlike his older brother Tomas who was expected to inherit a large role in the family business, and thus was under a lot of pressure, Oskar was left largely free to do as he pleased. And Anna… Anna was simply there for his parents to compare him and his brother too.
But Oskar didn't mind. He idolized his older sister, who always knew how to make him smile or laugh; Anna who'd always cover for him if he did something wrong, Anna who'd cheer him up and comfort him whenever he felt upset…
Anna… who'd changed so much after that fateful dinner.
For years he'd tried to get her to talk to him, to tell him what was wrong… to let him in… to no avail. She was quieter now, meeker. There were no more questions, no spontaneity, no sudden plans and adventures to share with. He couldn't even remember the last time she smiled. The Anna he knew was gone…
Or hidden away, at least.
For years, Oskar continued trying to reach out to the stranger he once knew as his sister, even going so far as to following her footsteps and studying medicine. It was this particular course of action that would lead him to one person who could help him and his sister make sense of what really changed since that night.
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Dr. Emil Rasch was never a "people person". He loved studying human behavior, but socializing is something he believed should only happen to other people. Not him. Definitely not him. Still, appearances had to be kept, and lectures had to be given if he wanted his tenure in the university to remain peaceful and his own research largely uninterrupted.
It was on one such lecture on human sexuality that he met young Oskar Johansen.
Rasch was good at remembering details. And the surname had elicited some old, albeit unpleasant memories. And when the young man had asked to speak privately with him, Rasch had wasted no time in asking if the young man knew a Dr. Erik Johansen.
He did, apparently. His grandfather, he said.
Young Oskar had wanted to seek advice with helping his older sister Anna. And from there he told Rasch of everything he knew about the dilemma.
Rasch knew right away what had happened. It helped that he knew exactly what kind of man Erik Johansen was, let alone the pharmaceutical company that had been quietly gaining power while partnering with the American government. William Johansen hadn't even seen any need to change the name since the Nazi party ordered and funded its creation.
That aside, Rasch wasted no time having a meeting set up with Oskar and his sister. It helped that she was also studying in the university, and in the same course, no less. Soon enough, they were in the privacy of his office.
After some brief introductions, he'd had asked if she didn't mind him asking some personal questions. Young Oskar had enough tact to quietly step out just as his sister said yes. He could see a glimmer of the natural curiosity the young woman had reportedly once exhibited so freely, eager to know why her brother had insisted so strongly on the meeting despite refraining from explaining the why.
What happened next was something Rasch, who, again, was most definitely not a "people person", didn't wish to repeat ever again.
He'd started off with questions about the fateful night Oskar had spoken of, he'd asked her of her what she felt, what she thought she felt, and what her family no doubt convinced her she felt. She was guarded, yes, but his own knowledge of her grandfather and father had been enough to leave just enough openings to get his questions and statements across.
The repressed feelings, the shame, the guilt, the frustrations… all things he'd expected, ones he'd recognized from past patients, both alive and… deceased…
In turn, he told her of her family's own sordid history. Of a grandfather and father who'd collaborated eagerly with a growing fascist power. Of a secret project couched as medical trials on certain undesirables. Of unethical experiments and countless corpses in the twisted name of science. And of his own involvement and complicity in said crimes.
Rasch had been motivated by fear, mostly. His age and lack of both wife and children had started to elicit some unpleasant rumors about him, and it was only his own brilliance in the field of psychology and medicine, and a carefully crafted guise as a workaholic, that spared him from joining the so-called medical trials.
He then told young Anna of his own escape with the help of a certain institute of certain sexual sciences. Of how he came to America, and of how he learned of her family's own migration. He told of her of new medical trials, new experiments in California, New York and Alabama, and more in cities all across the country; of Blacks, Asians and anyone associated with Communist ideals and movements being brought in as participants.
It was only after she'd asked to have her brother rejoin them that Rasch realized he wasn't exactly doing the whole therapy thing properly. Then again, it seemed like Anna was taking things admirably well for someone who'd just learned her family had been heavily involved in crimes against mankind. That, and bedside manner had never been Rasch's forte.
Bit by bit, Anna began questioning more. Years of repressed confusion and curiosity finally bursting out onto the surface. Eventually she began vocalizing her own thoughts and opinions, ones she'd kept hidden for years. Slowly, confidence crept back into her voice, encouraged by the fact that her own brother listened and encouraged her from the side.
It brought back to mind of old friends he'd made back when he learned of the institute. He'd even made a brief trip in the east. To a small island nation whose people were, paradoxically more free than most others yet more repressed as well. That trip had almost gotten him into trouble with the authorities once he arrived back in America, but it was worth it.
More so now that he'd been brought back to the present the moment Anna asked, "What do I do?"
The question was broader that it seemed. It was a request for a solution to all their problems. Regarding her own desires, regarding her family, regarding everything wrong in the American society… But Rasch wasn't so all-seeing. For all his studies and experiences, he had no such all-encompassing solution…
The first answer to come to his mind was foolish, of course. Dangerous and irresponsible, should the Johansens or the authorities (who the Johansens no doubt had connections and ties to) ever find out, But that was it. "IF" they found out…
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Anna rechecked her papers. She'd made a habit of doing so every 15 minutes or so. Her two bags packed beside her. All she needed to do was lay low until the ship reached the Philippines. From there, a ride on a cargo ship would take her to Taiwan, where a fishing boat would eventually drop her off on some obscure island nation surrounded by nothing but ocean…
She had said only one farewell. Nobody could know what she was about to do, where she was about to go. It wouldn't take long for her to be reported as missing, and her family would no doubt spend no small amount of resources to find out what happened. While the meeting had been discrete, Dr. Rasch had already formed an alibi should he be questioned, and all that left was Oskar.
Dear Oskar, if she'd known just how deeply he'd worried for her, she'd have talked to him sooner. But now there was no more time. All those years she'd wasted distancing herself from him, and now she may never see him again. Her little brother could not afford to see her off. His alibi needed to be as ironclad as possible, and their farewell had come sooner than she'd liked.
There was no shock, or disgust on his face as she spoke of all the things she'd kept hidden and lied to herself about. Well, there was shock, but only when she spoke of the so-called treatments. Of psychotherapeutic and emetic drugs, aversion therapies and more. While being family had spared her from the most extreme treatments, it had been no less difficult to talk about.
In the end, right before telling her goodbye for what may be the very last time, Oskar had simply asked her if she was happy. And she was. She was scared, anxious, uncertain… but happy. Happy and free, for the first time and years. In reply, he smiled and said, "Then that's all that matters."
One of the sailors came up to her, the rest of the crew busy making preparations to cast off.
"You Mr. Johansen?"
Adjusting the hat on her… no, HIS head, he replied, "Yeah. We ready to go?"
"Just about. Cap'n wants me to check your papers, make sure you're who you say you are."
With some tense hands, he handed over the forged documents. The man unfolded them under the nearby lamppost, his eyes scanning the typewritten message therein.
"Alright… Lars… everything looks good. Follow me and I'll show ya where you can bunk in."
After taking back and pocketing the papers, Lars reached for his bags. Feeling the weight of his meagre belongings pulling down as if protesting his choices, he took his first steps forward.
With each step it seemed like years' worth of fear and frustration were being cast away, and as he took his first step on to the gangway, Lars quashed the urge to look back to all he'd ever known, and kept his eyes forward into the lit interior of the ship's cabin, to his future.
To a future unknown…
————————————————————————————————————————
A Future Unknown
As he waited for the ink to fully dry, Lars Johansen thought back to the trip he made all those years ago. For all the fear and uncertainty he'd once felt about it, the trip had been largely uneventful and incredibly boring. There were no mysterious thugs sent by his family to retrieve him, no assassins there to silence him before he could spill American secrets, not even pirates wanting to loot valuables and hold foreigners for ransom. While there had been that one customs agent who'd looked at his papers a little to closely, a thick wad of dollars had solved that problem.
No, the real excitement began when he'd first stepped foot onto Guangchou's exotic soil. His very identity had made him a most interesting and singular visitor, and later immigrant, but earning his place among the, at first, suspicious population had been nothing short of extraordinary.
While Wei Cai was more than happy to accept him as proof of the West's and capitalism's 'obvious' flaws, appearances had to be kept, and for all the strength of his hold on his people's lives, they still needed to be reassured lest it contribute to further discord. And thus, Lars had been conscripted as an agent for the nation's intelligence services for a time. In this regard, his Danish ancestry and American upbringing made him a unique and valuable addition, not to mention his originally female gender.
And so began a few years of clandestine and exciting detours on his way to a new home. While it had not been entirely pleasant, he had ended up making no small amount of friends and like-minded colleagues, learning crucial and outlandish skills and knowledge, and seeing all kinds of exotic and bizarre locales and sights. And no shortage of… interesting, and lethal, memories as well. That one incident with a murderous camel in Arabia, a pit of snakes in Vietnam, a daring escape in a hot air balloon over the skies of Tokyo, and that last, unforgettable jaunt across the Korean DMZ with a North Korean soldier, a Russian defector, and a bloodied pineapple. Yes… he would never look at pineapples the same way ever again…
And now, here he was, enjoying his freedom amongst people that behaved both so differently and similarly as the ones he grew up with. It had been a few lonely years at first, of course, when he'd been the strange foreigner who'd washed up at shore some years back, but over time he'd grown on the locals. He'd found so many things in common with them. And so many things that weren't as well.
That said, the few odd letters from Oskar had helped. A lot. After getting his degree, he'd set up his own practice, distancing himself from the family business. As for Lars, his family had eventually given up the search, writing him off as dead and mostly trying to forget him.
Of course, his old friends and contacts from his years doing wetwork had helped bridged some unknowns, informed him of notable events happening back in America, but he'd actively avoided any news about his family, aside from Oskar and Dr. Rasch.
Until now, of course. While Oskar had warned him of the fact, seeing Tomas again was still a shock, more so the fact that he was in the navy. Again, Oskar had written a bit of what had happened. How the pressure and the effect of Lars's disappearance on the family had eventually driven Tom to the brink. An argument had happened. Or several. Even Oskar hadn't been privy to all the details as he'd grown estranged to the family earlier on. In any case, Tom had joined the navy. So, there's that.
In a way, it would explain the myriad emotions he saw on his older brother's face. No small amount of confusion and anger clear as day at seeing his "younger sister" after all these years. He could only imagine what would have happened if Oskar had not cared about him so much, or if he'd found some way to say goodbye or write about what his decision to leave.
But that was "IF". He had made his choice. Even if Tom told their parents about seeing Lars in Guangchou, it wouldn't matter. Because whatever happened, he knew he at least still had family. Oskar would always be on his side.
And that made all the difference.
Note: just some background stuff about a minor character and some lesser lore about stuff in America.
To summarize, danish fam get involved with some unethical experiments from the nazis, migrate to america, make more questionable experiments and profit, mostly situated near or at some historical lgbt movement events (los angeles, new york, and also the one with african americans in tuskegee, alabama).
How did Lars get to Guangchou? Rasch had some experience moving around the world, and contacts among various groups, especially his old buddies now living in Guangchou. Plus it wouldn't be an unusual thing for an American to travel out of country. Harder to sneak a spy in and stay hidden.
Decided to be a bit vague on details since I couldnt let it run on for too long. Anyways, enjoy.
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HeroCooky
Unverified Monstergirl
Fantastic Omake, and you have the best timing, dropping it as I was starting my just downloaded Elden Ring, forcing me to postpone that.
Purge the unclear grammatic.
Drive out the Ignorance of missing "A's!"
For with the Purity of Soul, Humanity shall ever be free of missing "He's."
And in the "Memories" of Old Gods, we shall live eternal.
And let not the revisionists disdain the past of those who sought refuge within the nation of free'd bodies and free'd minds.
(There was the whole thing about Lars going on a crazy adventure (that was put into a movie triology) involving arabia, vietnam, and a hot-air balloon before arriving at Guangchou.)
Anyways, Choose:
[] +6 to any Social Roll
[] +8 to Praise Sex Workers - For their contribution to the nation's foreign cash reserves.
[] You know what? Double the LGBTQ+ Knowledge.
(Have better chemical and surgical practices for transitioners, more in-depth knowledge about the mental states, insight into suicide statistics, etc.)
dgr11897
FBI surveillance Tank
- Location
- Behind you
This might be a good way to reveal our mechs. Showing them off in this role would help keep people from viewing them as just war machines. Building and transporting them in secret could be a pain in the ass though.
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Chernobyl is in '86 - too long to wait (22 turns?). We need them out and about and building bridges for us long before that.
I got an idea what if we tried to make a force similar to the US navy's Underwater Demolition Teams I mean we're surrounded by water and our troops could be used in Vietnam and Cambodia to target the ports the US used and to act as scouts plus if we get subs we can use the as infiltration/exfiltration craft for these guys
dgr11897
FBI surveillance Tank
- Location
- Behind you
Fair enough, I didn't remember when the incident was.
Side note. I'm going to bet that the US has project Walkure. My evidence? The Lockheed CL-1201. They were already looking into stuff like this, thus if surviving notes of the project exist the U.S probably snagged them, and even if they don't have the notes there exists the possibility of them stumbling onto the same tech or having stumbled onto the same tech already.