If we can create some sort of more infantry focused protection so they can avoid just getting automatically infected while still providing decent protection that's honestly the biggest boon we could offer alongside the weaponry and specialist units. Biggest issue is fighting them without some sort of decent cbrn means you just lose.
Getting head of issues,i already see snowballing results on battles wich would be anticlimatic
For war rolls that involve portracted campaigns may i suggest degrees of sucess?
(Dc40 throw 7 dices,3 pass the check thats 3 degrees of sucess,the more degrees the better)
It should allow for more results in between "catastophic failure" and "crit sucess"
You can still throw flat rolls (1d100 with single checks) to add spice here and there
Now the flat roll is not much of a issue because is just russia
But when NAE and our (possible PMCs) troops get involved ot would be a pain in the ass to spend multiple turns preparing just to get wiped on a single roll of dice
Degrees of sucess allow for battles to last more than 1 turn and have bloody stalemates
On normal turns,a way to slow down snowball is to introduce pre-requisites (research A needs first to have research B and C completed)
Miniaturization of fusion cores gating scify weapons and vehicles for example
On the update itself: jesus fucking christ russia
You fucked up every turn
Also,how is the mist reaching up to poland?
There still belarus and the baltics on the way are they gone, or is just a mist on kaliningrad?
Or just a case of US geography?
"What can I say?" S says while doing a very specific pose from a rather known anime blond girl at you. "I guess you could say my servers aren't the only thing overheating—I'm a total hot-wire."
You look at her with a deadpan.
"You been watching RWBY haven't you?" You said, spotting the very terrible pun.
"S, I want function over form. Make sure they're protected. No unnecessary... features." You instructed, hoping she'd take the hint.
S gave a sly grin. "Of course. But remember, John, sometimes a little style doesn't hurt."
The one thing that scared you now wasn't the complexity of creating the new Fortified Suits—it was the fact that S, with all her processing power, had a mischievous streak that could easily lead to designs that would make your life very complicated.
You sighed, leaning back in your chair. "I swear, if Kora decks me for this, or Victoria kills me, I'm blaming you."
"Ladies and gentlemen… we will bring you more updates as they come. But for now, on this cold December night, I urge you all—wherever you are—to hold your loved ones close. Because whatever just happened to Russia… it could be the beginning of something much worse."
Russia finally learns about the Chimera, doesn't tell the world because Russia and decides to nuke them: "Nah, I'd win."
The Chimera: "Bruh."
Nice job dropping the ball Russia.
So, I think it is safe to say that Russia and its people are fucked unless a miracle happens. Now The Chimera have an entire continent where they can terraform, build up their forces and is impossible to invade thanks to the Dark Fog. They'll either invade Europe or Asia, and when they do, Humanity is going to learn that alien life exists, and it wants to kill them all.
Well, Eris might thank us.
Seriously, just wait for the Halloween Party Year 2 when I finally crosspost this on QQ.
Now in regards to how much territory the fog covers, here is the map:
The red, even the islands above the nation are covered.
But also take into effect the lost territory Russia lost during the war with Ukraine. The fog stopped at the new border, Ukraine new territory is fine.
To explain what happened, SPOILER used the energy from the nukes to supercharge the tower and activate the Russian Tower Network's Terraforming, covering the entire nation with the fog that prevent anything from getting in or out.
Advanced note= the Gulf of Mexico Tower is the only tower in the entire solar system that can activate the portal and the Chimera have to be physically there to activate it, not remotely.
Now, every quarter, I will roll background rolls to see what is happening in Russia; with a possible grace period of one year from when the Chimera win in Russia before they launch their global attack.
While at first glance it might seem that Russia will lose, it might be possible they could come out ahead.
I mean, in canon; Imperial Russia alone managed to hold on for two decades before they fell alone.
And who knows, maybe in this universe the Russians' attempts to create a vaccine instead of ending up with the crazy Cloven might work and have sane super soldiers.
And maybe, just maybe....some really desperate/strong will humans might get Stasis.
To explain what happened, SPOILER used the energy from the nukes to supercharge the tower and activate the Russian Tower Network's Terraforming, covering the entire nation with the fog that prevent anything from getting in or out.
The thick, humid air clung to your skin like a second layer, the scent of damp earth and distant water filling your nostrils. You moved through the dense jungle foliage with deliberate steps, your shotgun firmly gripped in your hands. The familiar weight of it felt off, like you weren't fully in control of your own movements, more like a machine running a program than a man on the hunt.
But what were you hunting?
The thought barely had time to settle before you emerged into a clearing, and your brain short-circuited at the sheer absurdity of what you were seeing.
Standing in the middle of the clearing, completely at ease, was that damn strange horse from your last dream. Its silvery-white coat shimmered in the dim light as it neighed and stomped, communicating in some unintelligible animal sounds.
And to who, exactly?
A velociraptor, a full-sized, scaly, terrifyingly one straight out of Jurassic Park; stood there, cocking its head as if it understood every word. Its sickle-shaped claws flexed absentmindedly, but it wasn't in an aggressive stance.
No, the damn thing was having a conversation with the horse.
As if that wasn't weird enough, a massive black wolf was curled up nearby, completely relaxed, its flank rising and falling in a deep, contented sleep.
You stared at the bizarre trio like they had personally offended you.
'What the fuck…' You though.
Then, on your left, you heard soft footsteps, bare feet against jungle floor.
You turned your head and Gale stepped into view.
Your breath hitched.
She was wearing X-Men's Rogue's Savage Land outfit, except it had seen better days. Her tattered green and yellow top barely covered her chest, the jungle-worn shorts hugging her hips. Strapped to her belt was a hunting knife, and 'because why the hell not?' the Skynet emblem had replaced the usual X-Men insignia on her barely-holding-together top.
She looked feral, wild in a way that both disturbed you and sparked something primal deep in your gut.
Your lips moved on instinct.
"Clever girl."
For a moment, Gale just stood there, staring at you with unreadable eyes. Then, her body contorted.
Her human form ripped away as chitinous, blade-like appendages burst from her back. Her skin darkened to an unnatural hue, her features twisting, warping into something monstrous.
You barely had time to process that Gale had fully transformed into what could easily be described as twin sister of Starcraft's Queen of Blades before she lunged at you—
Your world snapping to black.
You woke up with a start, your body jolting as if electrocuted.
Your breathing was ragged, and a cold sweat covered your face as you tried to make sense of what just happened. Your hands, clenched tightly around the Raptor's controls, slowly relaxed as you forced yourself to take deep, steady breaths.
It took you a moment to remember where you were.
The warehouse, inside the Raptor.
You came here today to burn off the stress of the past few days. Ever since the Fog swallowed Russia whole, the world had been thrown into absolute chaos. Governments scrambled for answers, militaries mobilized without a clear enemy, and even Skynet had been inundated with requests from global clients, some desperate; for your Reactors.
Specially in Europe now that the main supplier of natural gas for energy was no longer 'operating'.
For the first time since starting Skynet, you had felt truly overwhelmed.
So, to clear your head, you had taken the Raptor out for a run, flying through the night sky, pushing the machine to its limits in the vast desert, away from the madness of the world. A few hours later, you had brought it back into the warehouse, deciding to take a short nap in the cockpit.
But instead of rest, you were thrown into another dream.
And this one… this one had been different.
You barely had time to process it before S appeared, her holographic form materializing right on top of you, her Japanese Type 00 Fortified Suit-clad body straddling your lap, her usually composed expression replaced by full-blown panic.
"John!" She practically shouted. "You flatlined for five seconds, and your neural activity was off the charts! What the hell just happened?!"
You blinked, still feeling the last echoes of the dream in your mind.
"…Just another dream." You muttered, rubbing your temples.
S narrowed her eyes, her glowing gaze scanning your face. "Another dream? John, your heart rate was unstable for almost a minute before I managed to stabilize it. I was about to force SOP to restart your entire nervous system! What the hell was it this time?"
You let out a sigh, still shaken.
"I was in a jungle… hunting something. Then I saw… the horse again. But this time, it was talking to a Jurassic Park velociraptor while a black wolf slept nearby." You paused. "And then—" You hesitated for a moment, "—Gale appeared."
S's expression darkened, her concern now laced with something else.
"She was wearing the Savage Lands Rogue outfit, but instead of the X-Men symbol, it had Skynet's logo. And then she suddenly transformed into the Queen of Blades before she jumped me, like she was going to kill me."
S processed that for a second before making a sarcastic, dark-humored remark. "Right. Of course. So what new gift from Mom's tomb do we get this time?" She raised a finger, listing possibilities. "A Jurassic Park cloning facility? A wolf-themed power armor? Oh, I know, a time-traveling AI dinosaur?"
You shot her a look. "Do not tempt fate."
But before she could reply, your HUD flickered—a new message incoming.
A message that S could not detect.
S froze, her systems running rapid scans. "John… I can't find the origin of this."
Your blood ran cold as you read the message.
'Clever Girl.'
Your breath hitched. The exact words from your dream.
A cold shiver ran down your spine.
S stiffened, seeing your reaction. "Okay, no. I do not like that look. What does that mean?!"
Your mind raced, piecing things together. "It's from Jurassic Park." You whispered. "It's also the last thing that for some reason I said to Gale in my dream before she tried to kill me after she came out of nowhere on my…"
Realization hit.
You snapped your head toward the left side of the warehouse, the same direction where Gale had emerged in your dream.
"S, use the Raptor's sensors to scan for anything unusual on that wall." You ordered, voice tight.
S complied instantly, her holographic form flickering as she interfaced with the Raptor's systems.
It only took seconds for her to find it.
Her eyes widened. "John—there's a hidden door."
Your heart pounded.
Without hesitation, you disengaged the cockpit locks and climbed out of the Raptor, your boots hitting the warehouse floor.
S appeared beside you, her face full of urgency.
You moved fast, heading toward the wall.
Upon arriving, following S's instructions; you were able to find a hidden door.
The hidden door was big, taller and wider than you had expected.
As you pushed it open, the metallic groan of its hinges echoed throughout the warehouse, sending dust drifting from the ceiling. Beyond the threshold, a staircase descended into darkness, its depths obscured by shadows.
You exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the doorway. "If this leads to some underground biological lab, I swear to god, I'm blowing this entire place up with the Raptor."
S let out a distorted sigh, her holographic form flickering next to you. "John, please, not everything Mom left behind is a horror movie waiting to happen."
You raised an eyebrow. "Says the AI that's seen the pattern of what we've found so far."
S grimaced. "…Point taken."
With caution, you descended the stairs, each step echoing in the confined space. The walls were smooth and metallic, untouched by rust or decay.
After what felt like half a minute of descent, you reached a doorless entryway.
As you stepped inside, the lights snapped on automatically, revealing a small, sterile white room.
You paused, taking it all in.
The room was minimalistic, no decorations, no equipment; just clean white walls with strange holes dotting them in symmetrical patterns. At the center of the floor, there were two metallic footprints embedded into the smooth surface, as if marking where someone was supposed to stand.
Your brow furrowed.
"…What the hell is this?" You muttered.
Just as you verbalized your confusion, your HUD flashed, signaling an incoming message.
A detailed message.
S tensed, her data streams accelerating as she attempted to trace the sender.
She failed.
And as you read the contents of the message, your entire body stiffened.
Your fixed stance relaxed as a slow, creeping smile forming on your lips.
S, still scanning the message, whispered in disbelief. "John… are you seeing this?"
You nodded. "Oh, I see it, alright."
And once again, Gale left something behind that defined logic.
Something that if you were to give to the military, she would posthumously be declared the Lady Saint of all military grunts everywhere.
POV Change…
Two minutes later, John stepped onto the metallic footprints, which at this point his HUD flickered, displaying a single line of text:
"Do you wish to proceed?"
He hesitated for only a moment before mentally accepting the prompt.
A deep mechanical hum resonated through the room. The walls shuddered, machinery awakening from decades of dormancy. Panels hissed open, revealing metallic arms that extended towards him. Hydraulic pistons shifted, releasing their locks as the automated assembly process began.
A recording started. Gale's voice.
"John. If you're hearing this… then I am gone."
"And now all the different legacies I forged are now in your hands."
From the sides, two massive armored boots slid forward, clamping around his legs. Reinforced servos locked into place, gripping his calves with mechanized precision. His HUD instantly updated, displaying the status of his new lower limbs.
[Power Core: Engaging Primary Systems] [Mobility Enhancement: Online] [Reading new data…changing Power Core name to Gale Reactor]
"I never wanted things to turn out this way. But life? It has a cruel sense of humor."
The chest piece was next—a behemoth of reinforced plating that split open from the middle, locking around his torso like an iron coffin. Hydraulic pistons hissed, fusing the armored plates into place, aligning with his spine. John felt a sudden rush of strength as the suit's powered exoskeleton came alive.
"I don't know how much time we have left, John. But something is coming. A war. A war that will change everything. I can feel it in my bones."
The gauntlets came next, each slamming into place with a magnetized hiss, enclosing his hands in durable composite plating. He flexed his fingers, feeling enhanced precision and raw power at his disposal.
Finally, the helmet descended. The interior HUD flashed to life, linking with SOP instantly. Vision filters adjusted, targeting reticles locked on, and the suit's atmospheric seal activated with a hiss of pressurized air.
[Detecting SOP, Unlocking Final Functions] [User ID: John Connor - Approved] [Helmet Integration: Complete]
And then came the final piece.
A mechanized arm extended forward, gripping something massive—a C-14 Impaler Gauss Rifle. The distinctive hum of the rail accelerators buzzed faintly as it was presented to him.
John reached out, wrapping his armored fingers around the iconic weapon, feeling its weight settle perfectly into his grasp.
[Connecting C-14S to SMA…Connected] [Status of C-14S Ammo System….Online]
"Your new armor and weapons... They are both now a means of freedom and chains."
"What you do with them… is up to you, old friend."
The entire room fell silent except for the subtle hum of SMA-700's fully operational systems.
John took a slow, measured breath inside the suit, feeling its power surge through him. His reflection in the polished steel wall showed something different—not just a man, but a warrior, clad in a suit designed for war.
Atop his right shoulder, S materialized in her holographic form, dressed in a StarCraft Ghost Suit, her expression a mix of awe and curiosity.
She tilted her head, smirking slightly. "So, John… how do you feel?"
John tightened his grip on the C-14S, letting the weight of the moment sink in.
He exhaled sharply.
"Hell…"
A beat passes as the vizor closes.
"Let's make it count."
Reward:
SMA-700 Armor (Skynet Manufacturing Armor)
(Modified StarCraft CMC 400A, the variant used by the racist assholes of the UED)
Appearance- Same color as Raynor's armor and has the Skynet Emblem on right shoulder
Things different:
= Power Source is a miniaturized Gale Reactor.
= The "HAITE" System is replaced by S taking over, optional and only active for those with SOP
= Does not require anything special to pilot. FS and SOP are optional.
= The C-14 Rifle, this variant with the name 'C-14S' has the same ammo system as the Seraph Revolver.
(First piloting test and how the armor is taken off will be rolled for in the next opening)
Roll= 95+5(omake 'Within the Dreams of Many' bonus)= 100 ART 100 CRIT
Bonus= 89
Gift (using wheel):
Hell... it's about time
Player One
Combat Evolved
Wake Up Samurai
War never changes
Fear is freedom
Result- Hell... it's about time
CMC-400A, modified
Power Source, canon/Gale:
75
+15 (Star Horse bullshit)
+15 (Power source was already a fusion drive)
= 105
VS
21
+80 (Canon)
= 101
Does it have it's signature weapon: Weapon C-14 Rifle
59 vs 44
YEP
C-14 Ammo upgrade:
80
+15 (Star Horse bullshit)
= 95
VS
11
+80 (Canon)
= 91
Infinite ammo approved.
Any Pilot Special Requirement:
1-4 SOP
5-8 Fortified Suit
9-10 Nothing
Roll= 10
The CMC, while having SOP and the Suit is optional; it does not require anything to pilot one.
Wow, if that doesn't hint us that we need to get started on producing weapons right now( besides the Russian disaster) then I don't know how we are not doing so.
Thought. We should see if we can slap some booster jets onto the CMC, maybe take some of the smaller thrusters from the Raptor and use them. So we can make these things mobile enough to keep up with TSFs.
So, it is time to arm the world. We need to expand, so we might need to ask for upfront payments from governments so we can invest in continuous expansion.
Reward:
SMA-700 Armor (Skynet Manufacturing Armor)
(Modified StarCraft CMC 400A, the variant used by the racist assholes of the UED)
Appearance- Same color as Raynor's armor and has the Skynet Emblem on right shoulder
Things different:
= Power Source is a miniaturized Gale Reactor.
= The "HAITE" System is replaced by S taking over, optional and only active for those with SOP
= Does not require anything special to pilot. FS and SOP are optional.
= The C-14 Rifle, this variant with the name 'C-14S' has the same ammo system as the Seraph Revolver.
Looks like we got exactly what we needed to support an invasion of Chimera held Russia. These things are rated for outer space, and are actual armor as well. Combined with the Gale reactor and unlimited ammo impaler rifle, we may have leveled the playing field.
The c14 aren't exactly railguns. They may use the principles of one to help launch the projectiles, but it still very much uses more traditional chemical reaction explosions as well. Which honestly, might make it more informative as it's a hybrid between more 'traditional' weapons and railguns. Which, incidentally may make the infinity bullet thing much more useful, if it could also switch between special munitions.
The c14 aren't exactly railguns. They may use the principles of one to help launch the projectiles, but it still very much uses more traditional chemical reaction explosions as well. Which honestly, might make it more informative as it's a hybrid between more 'traditional' weapons and railguns. Which, incidentally may make the infinity bullet thing much more useful, if it could also switch between special munitions.
what im curious,is this infinity bullet a form of paracausal blessed thing only apliable to the gale made suits?
or is it a paracausal effect applied to all thing?
if the later it will be a holy grail for logistics,soldier can operate cut off from logistics for massive periods of time if they can just endlessly shower the enemy in spikes
Introduction:
The Howling Hound (HH) project aims to create a variant of the Crying Wolf from the series: Metal Gear. This project will combine cutting-edge technology and weapons to form a heavy weapon version of the Crying Wolf, spearheaded by Kora Lance. The resulting machine will be a highly defensive, heavily armored war machine.
Concept Overview:
The HH will have the same model as the Crying Wolf but with several different features that will make it look like someone has managed to successfully combined a tank with a wolves and gave it several heavy weapons.
This includes: additional armor platings, and additional weapons at the cost of decreasing its movement speed and increasing battery drainage by a estimate of 30 to 45%. Though given what is currently being considered for, that is a minor concern.
Project Objectives:
Design and Construction of HH
The Howling Hound will be approximately the size of a Crying Wolf, standing on four legs that grant it canine-like movement capabilities. Except its increased bulk in size as it is covered in additional armor plating to increase its durability in exchange of reducing its speed and ability.
The HH will possess two primary forms of offense:
Physical Combat (1): Equipped with two Rail-Gun Cannon on both its sides to increased maximum damage.
Physical Combat (2): Equipped with either a missile launcher or a mortar launcher to have increased anti-armor or anti-infantry capabilities.
Pilot Integration and Control System
The HH will be piloted by a specially trained female operator. To achieve full neural synchronization with the machine, the pilot must interface with the HH's neural network and must have SOP in her body. This enhances the transmission of sensory feedback between the pilot and the machine.
Power and Durability
The HH will be powered by the same type of battery used by the Wolves, however given it's increased battery drainage, it is unable to move beyond any base of operations. Though works have been developed to fix that problem once the Gale Reactors have been minimized to that point. In addition, the addition armor plating will insure that even a train moving in max speed will not damage it.
Technical Specifications:
Body Design:
Biomechanical Limbs: Four legs heavily armored, capable of moving at the same pack as a car.
Cockpit and Interface: Fully enclosed and environmentally sealed, the cockpit will ensure the pilot's safety even in the most extreme conditions.
Heavy Weapons: The two side-mounted rails guns are capable of devastating close-range attacks. Alongside it is a top-mounted missile launcher or a mortar launcher.
Pilot-Exclusive Features:
Nerve Integration System: A specialized neural interface between the pilot and HH will facilitate the control of the machine's every movement, requiring direct skin-to-interface contact. The pilot's body, without clothing, will ensure a seamless and uninterrupted connection.
Power Supply:
Battery Power Source: The Battery fueling the Crying Wolf is sufficient enough to last for over 2 days as long as it is not moving much in the Howling Hound.
Contingency:
Currently there is no contingency plan for the HH due to it's current purpose as a heavy defensive unit.
Expected Capabilities:
Extreme Heavy Defense: The weapons and armor the HH will allow it to dominate any defensive campaign as long as it is not moving at an accelerated pace.
Conclusion:
The Howling Howl project represents a bold step forward towards increasing the capabilities of the Crying Wolves. In addition, it is represented an opportunity for further expansion by Kora for further modification of the Crying Wolves, such as increased sniping capabilities to advance recon operations.
"Uncle Sam's really spooked if they're shoving this much money into it." You muttered, flipping through the report in front of you. "Money for the fire. Fire to forge swords, to give to people to fight the barbarians at the gate."
Across from you, Ivan nodded in agreement, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair. "It's a sensible response. The contracts alone will be doubled."
"Tripled." you corrected, briefly glancing at S's holographic form in your peripheral vision as she held up three fingers in her usual cute manner. "Probably tripled."
Ivan exhaled, shaking his head. "We're going to be drowning in defense and electronics contracts at this rate." He set the paper aside and picked up his drink. "At least until we either kill whatever scared Russia so badly they nuked themselves, or until the paranoia dies down."
"Yeah, but this kind of cash flow means we can invest in some big projects." You said, already thinking about where to allocate resources.
Ivan raised a brow. "How big are we talking? And on what scale?"
You smirked. "How much do you think Project V from Gundam cost?"
Ivan set his drink down with a chuckle. "If you believe the nerd forums? About a quarter of Earth's entire budget...after the war started and taking into account 70s futuristic tech." His amusement didn't fade as he narrowed his eyes at you. "But you're not actually planning to give the NAE all space mechs in the next seven months, are you?"
You grinned. "Doubt it. The only way that would be possible if if we gave away the secret of Glimmer to meet up with the obvious demand that our Raptors would demand."
Ivan burst into laughter, shaking his head in disbelief. "Oh, we are going to drown in money at this rate... and I am going to love seeing what kind of monster we create, just to say we did."
Reward:
NAE provides a boost in budget and resources to industrial companies for the time being in response to Russia's disappearance.
(Double NAE Civilian/Military contract payment for one year)
NAE
- Civilian (+250)----> (+500)
- Military (+500)----> (+1000)
==========================
Europe
Roll= 18
Europe in Crisis: The Disappearance of Russia Sparks an Energy Catastrophe
Europe is facing an unprecedented continental crisis following the sudden and unexplained disappearance of Russia behind an impenetrable fog.
As Russia was the primary supplier of natural gas and oil for much of Europe, its abrupt removal from global trade has left nations scrambling for alternative energy sources. The situation has been made even more dire by an ongoing winter that, for reasons still unknown since the Russian Event, has been growing colder by the day—especially in Eastern Europe, where temperatures have begun to plummet to record-breaking lows.
The only cities unaffected by the worsening energy crisis are those that had Gale Reactors installed prior to the event. These cities remain fully powered, their infrastructures intact, and their populations shielded from the deadly cold.
As a result, a phenomenon being described as "inner migration" has begun to unfold across Europe. Masses of people are leaving energy-starved cities and heading toward the nearest Gale Reactor-powered urban centers in their respective nations. Governments are struggling to coordinate and control the influx, leading to overcrowding, resource shortages, and rising tensions between citizens and authorities.
With the energy crisis spiraling out of control, European leaders are now faced with a critical choice—find new and sustainable energy solutions or risk complete societal collapse in the face of an unrelenting winter and an uncertain future.
=================================
Hakke Heavy Industries
Roll= 3
Clovis Bray
Roll= 96
Clovis Bray Expands Empire Amid The Russian Event
In an unprecedented turn of events, Clovis Bray, the founder and owner of Clovis Bray Industries (CBI), has acquired all Russian-owned companies operating within the NAE. The acquisition follows the Russian Event, which triggered the sudden collapse and bankruptcy of these companies due to the loss of their parent nation.
However, Russian companies were not the only ones affected by the fallout. Hakke Heavy Industries, a well-established manufacturer of military and industrial equipment, also succumbed to financial ruin. The company, which relied heavily on Russian raw materials, was unable to sustain operations in the absence of its primary suppliers.
Recognizing an opportunity, Clovis Bray moved swiftly to acquire Hakke Heavy Industries as well. With this acquisition, Hakke has transitioned from an independent private company to a fully integrated subsidiary of CBI.
This aggressive expansion marks a major shift in the industrial and defense sectors, as Clovis Bray consolidates control over formerly Russian assets and expands into Hakke's existing markets. The move has raised both intrigue and concern, as industry experts speculate on Clovis Bray's long-term strategy and the potential consequences of his growing monopoly.
