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Sufficient Velocity World 1 (SVW1) IC Thread

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    • Skywalker_T-65

    Skywalker_T-65

    Writer with too many ideas.
    Location
    United States
    Pronouns
    Plural/They/He/Her
    SVW1


    (Sufficient Velocity World One, or what happens when random people make up countries)


    Recruitment Closed.


    Core Concept: In a similar vein to the old SDNW games on SDN that inspired this, players will take a blank map and add a country to it. Simple, right? It's intended to be such, anyway.​

    In less simplified terms, this is a game where there is no preset world. Players build the world themselves, working together to craft something unique. In the case of this game, taking a Strangreal world map (not the AC one) and putting personally crafted nations upon it. These nations can range from the absolutely fantastical, to the more mundane. Maybe what you like is a United States Expy. Maybe what you like is a nation of animal girls. Either one is perfectly viable, here.

    If you can't stand the weird, it is probably not the game for you.

    One key thing we need to note here, before going any further: This is not intended to be a serious business game. What this game is, at the core, is people vibing and having fun with each other in a collaborative world. It was never intended as that, not in the original concept, nor in this modernization/reworking. In this regard….Do not expect turns. Do not expect actions. Do not expect firm guidance on what to do in the game world. Expect people to be doing weird stuff.

    This is a game where the goal is to write stories, not to make pseudo-diplomacy and 'win' the game. There will be no formal turns. Write at your own pace, be that crafting a story on your own, or with other players. The goal is to have fun first and foremost.

    The world is roughly mid-2010s, with obvious allowances for wackiness and Strangereal tech memes. ADDENDUM: No nukes. Superweapons are of the Strangereal variety (read: Stonehenge) and something that need very heavily justified.


    And now, posting is open.​
     
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    • INDEX

    OOC THREAD

    PLAYER POSTS

    GM POSTS

    (Player) COUNTRIES

    United Kingdoms of Arcadia (Republic of Rixis/Kingdom of Valua)
    Federal Republic of Artemia
    Democratic Technocracy of Sylva
    Republic of the Union of Meownyamaw
    Vasada
    Kingdom of Kereske
    Westrazwalhiskia
    Outer Haven
    Nikea
    Sacred Rehonic Dominion
    Kuroshio
    Federal Republic of Gwrthyriad
    United Republics of Ratan
    Federal Republic of Ruvuma
    Kingdom of Havjfell
    Sunlit Union
    Agnigrad
    Floridian Imperium/Kingdom of Einher/Destrian Federation
    Katrazia
    Doggerland
    Kalptovia
    Saakhiwa
    ANoBTEI
    Alba
    ​
     
    Arcadia, New Years
  • Threadmarks
    • Port Glacia, United Kingdoms of Arcadia
    January 1st, 2010

    ​

    "...and that does it folks! The bell has chimed on a New Year and a New Decade! Join us later tonight as we go the City of Shrines and ring the New Year in style with The Moon Crystal shining brighter than ever!"

    Looking up at fireworks bursting over the icy waters of Port Glacia, a woman shook her head with a slight smile tugging at her lips. The radio she heard in the background continued to jabber along without pause, talking about inviting delegates from the Union of Nations to the celebrations. As if most of those countries weren't still behind Arcadia in hitting the New Year. Well. More power to them if they wanted to celebrate early. The woman just looked down at her Purple Moonstone ring and smiled wider. No, she had her own stuff to do. And she'd already been to Shrine Island anyway.

    Honestly, it's just the start of a new year, anyway. Same as all the rest. Maybe I'm getting older? Then again...

    As the woman walked along the deck of an old ship, she couldn't help but shake her head again. She was older, yes, but as her ears twitched and a deep black tail swung behind her, she was also going to outlive most of the crew of this ship. Was that a curse or a blessing? She wondered that, sometimes. It didn't help that she stuck out like a sore thumb in Arcadia. The Arcadians were almost universally human and while they didn't really discriminate, it was still a rare sight for someone like her to be around.

    "How you doing, Captain? Enjoying the fireworks?" A male voice broke her from her thoughts, as the woman chuckled softly.

    "They are nice fireworks, yes," she turned and looked at one of her crew. One of her 'escorts' if one was being less generous, which, eh. New Years. "Shouldn't you be back on the Gilder right now? At least I have an excuse to be here. Do you?"

    The man, giving an infuriating smirk beneath blonde hair, shrugged. "I don't have anything better to do right now. Besides, shouldn't you have someone to show you around?"

    "I grew up here." Her voice was impressively dry, as the Captain looked around the old ship they stood on. "And anyone who lives in Glacia and hasn't visited the old Irene probably lives under a rock. Hell, I know some Valuans who practically live aboard her."

    As the two walked past old gun turrets, the twelve-inch rifles long since fallen silent, they had to dodge around the old dreadnought's ceremonial crew. Still in-commission as the flagship of the Royal Navy, Irene I was never entirely quiet. Even if her duties mostly revolved around being a museum, and the most action her crew saw was pulling apart rowdy kids. If one looked close enough, they'd sometimes see her spirit giggling at school children, when they did that. Right now, Irene was clearly on her bridge, since there was no sign of her anywhere.

    That didn't really make much difference for these two, though. The woman, the captain, was just trying to enjoy some time before she got sent out again. Her somewhat irritating shadow was just following his own orders in keeping an eye on her. Sometimes that was the price of what she was.

    Or who I am, I suppose. This, her tail wagged a bit at that thought, drawing looks from newer crew who weren't used to her. Is much less of an issue than who I am.

    Stopping in the lee of one of Irene's casemated five-inch guns, the man tugged down his cap, the insignia of the Arcadian Royal Marines proudly emblazoned on it. "Well, considering that Irene here sank the Kazaian flagship, I can't really blame the Valuans for liking her. They fund her upkeep as much as the Kingdoms do."

    "That they do." The captain leaned against the casemate, her ears twitching when she heard Irene on her bridge. She laughed, a little, at the indignant grumbling about 'people leaning on her guns'. "So. Let me guess. Father wants me back on Gilder making sure she's ready to head out?"

    The marine sighed heavily and joined her on the casemate. Now everyone could hear the grumbling from Irene, though the crew just chuckled and shook their heads. As for the marine, he looked out at the fireworks and sighed again.

    "Not that we need to leave any time soon, but yes. You're new to your post and he thinks you should be visible there. Especially on the New Year." Looking at her with dull brown eyes, the marine shook his head. "Honestly, I think it's a waste having Royal Guards play babysitter, but I'm not the one calling the shots."

    The captain snorted, "Then that's the first time we're in full agreement. Well," she looked up at the sky, as the last fireworks faded away, silence returning to Port Glacia. "I guess I can head back. I just wanted to get away from it all for a bit, Don. Can you blame me?"

    Looking out at the lights of ships moving through the harbor, Don was silent for a moment. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket, the light of a match joining the ships, as he sucked in a puff. Blowing smoke from between pursed lips, he offered the package to the captain.

    Who narrowed her violet eyes, her ears sticking up straight, "You know I hate those cancer sticks."

    "Suit yourself, ma'am." Don smirked, before replacing the package and taking another drag on his 'cancer stick'. Both of them ignored Irene's squawking about fire hazards, knowing there was no ammunition aboard her. "To answer your question, I don't blame you. Leaving aside who your father is, not a lot of people are used to someone like...well, you being what you are. First of your kind to be in that position."

    "Heir to the Saranan throne, you mean."

    It wasn't really a question, and the marine just took another puff with a shrug. "You said it, not me, ma'am."

    "Father knew what he was doing when he married Mother, though I still haven't gotten the story of how he met her out of him." Her tail swishing in agitation, the captain stepped away from the casemate and looked out at where the hulking form of her ship sat at rest. RSS Admiral Gilder, the nuclear battleship flagship of Sarana. People like to say I got here because of Father, but I worked my tail off for my post. Pun very much intended.

    Arcadians may have been human, for the very most part, but as the center of the world...people of any race could be found. It was just very rare for someone like her, a kitsune, to get anywhere near command positions. That she was a princess too? Oh the scandal when her father had married her mother. Sarana with a kitsune as the future Queen? It was all over the papers and news broadcasts. Even in her forties, though she looked half that age, the princess could remember it well.

    It was why she focused so much on running her ships, from her posting aboard RSS Claudia, an old destroyer, to her new and far more prestigious posting.

    "Well, let's get back to Gilder, then." Shrugging again, Princess Annabelle of Sarana set off back to her ship.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Ringing In a New Decade (Cormoropolis Herald)​

    With New Years celebrations dying down, residents throughout Cormoropolis and the rest of Artemia are looking forward to achieving their resolutions, or hoping for a fresh start. The previous 10 years have seen significant changes to the nation, most notably the opening of the far north and the modernizations to the Armed Forces. While many are optimistic that the 2010s will see many positive changes, there are those who believe that the next decade will bring new challenges. Here are some of the things you can expect as the new year comes in:

    Foreign Policy:

    The Artemian government has pledged to lower its CO2 emissions by at least 25% by 2020 as a new Union of Nations report suggests that increasing concentrations of it within the planet's atmosphere will lead to rising global temperatures and extreme weather phenomena. Other nations have made similar pledges, but some scientists state that more drastic action may be needed to curtail the threat.

    President Miura has stated that her State Department will work closely with Arcadia and its former colonies to strengthen trade relations. A conference is scheduled with Arcadian leaders towards the end of January with trade, maritime security, and "other issues" on the agenda.

    The State Department and Armed Forces have stated growing concerns that political instability within the Sacred Rheonic Dominion could reach a boiling point. Current Dominator Marco Guerino has heavily favoured his homeland of Erde in the Dominion's domestic politics and is reportedly suffering from failing health with no clear successor named or agreed upon.

    Talks to lower tensions with United Sogdia-Aseania are expected to begin early February. The nation had invaded Artemia during the Great War, inflicting more than 7 million fatalities, and tensions continue to simmer. It is expected that Meownyamaw will be the primary focus of discussion.

    Artemian Cosmonauts are expected to be launched from Canaveral Spaceport in the Floridian Imperium in March, alongside parts for a new spaceborne telescope. The telescope, nicknamed the "Alligator's Eye" for its distinctive shape, is intended to search for habitable extrasolar planets within 500 lightyears of Earth.

    Domestic Policy:

    The Department of Education has launched a new "hybrid" initiative when it comes to school curriculums. This approach seeks to standardize language, science, and mathematics while allowing for some localized approaches to history, the arts, and physical education. It is estimated that upwards of 20 million students will be seeing classroom changes within the next 5 years. Funding has also been approved for the adoption of individual student computers with corresponding educational lessons, although critics state that many students outside of major cities may have difficulty finding reliable internet access at home.

    Efforts to survey a second rail corridor through the Redoubt Range are set to begin next week, though teams are preparing for harsh winter conditions in the region. The Bureau of Meteorology has stated that there are indications of a major blizzard forming within the next 3-4 days, which could delay efforts to offset the pressure on the Redoubt Corridor. The line has been shut down 3 times in as many months due to landslides and an avalanche.

    The Department of the Armed Forces continue modernization efforts and are expected to roll out the first groups of new "Slinger" light tanks within the next 3 months, while the Navy is expected to commission 1 new aircraft carrier and at least 2 dozen new warships and support vessels, while decommissioning at least 2 aircraft carriers and at least 20 older warships and support vessels. The Air Force, meanwhile, has approved the new "Felon" stealth fighter for production as upgrades to its fleet of Fencer fighters are completed. Vilensky Aerospace has begun looking for export customers for its "Forager" aircraft to supplement existing government contracts, pending approval by the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

    Arts and Entertainment:

    New and anticipated movie releases this year: You and Me and Him (Romance/Drama), The Inky Depths (Suspense/Thriller), Incrediboy (Superhero/Comedy), Steel Stars (Sci-Fi/Animated), Fort Knapford (Historical/War), Argus (Mystery/Thriller), Blademaster (Suspense/Animated), Return of Whom? The Casivalite Story (Documentary)

    New and anticipated album releases this year: Dead on Arrival (Metal, The Scarred), Morning Glory (Rock 'n' Roll, Adrian Enfield), Phoenix (Electronic, Mila Chenkov), Disaster Area (Experimental, KillZone)

    New and anticipated video game releases this year: Raise the Banner (Shooter/Strategy, Mirya Collective), Morning Stars (Mystery/Adventure, Kislev SoftWorks), Dominator (Historical/Strategy, Sakurasoft), The Ring of Power III: Daganland (RPG/Fantasy, Coldstone Software), Smoking Rubber: Hot Pursuit (Racing/Arcade, Hillside Studios)

    (Continued on Page A4)

    [=]​

    • Bank of Artemia Calls Expected Financial Reforms "Detrimental", The St. Andrew Times
    • Dominator Guerino Assures Audience He Remains Fine After Fall, The Rheonic Post
    • President Miura Expected to Remark on Growing Dominion Instability in State of the Republic Address, Artemian Broadcasting Service
    • Planned Student Rally Canceled Due to Food Poisoning Outbreak, The Carrier Pigeon
    • Major Snowstorm Expected to Produce Significant Impacts in Redoubt Region, bumet.gov.at

    [=]​

    Dear Diary,

    It's a new year, and a new decade. Dad got a new job up north,     way up north. Of course, the winter absolutely sucks because the snow slows everything down and people panic buy anything they can get their hands on the moment the weather calls for barely 5cm of the stuff. Of course, dad would say that's just an exaggeration. Weather is his thing, after all, and BuMet needs more people up in Avrora to make sure that the mines don't become completely inaccessible.

    Hurricanes to blizzards. I always liked hurricanes. They're simple things, yet have a mind of their own at times. You just heat a bunch of seawater up, let some disturbance stir the thing into action, and before long, you have something of incredible power. Snowstorms are way too complicated. Advection, DGZs, temperatures at 850mb, wind shear, existing snow cover, and what seems like dozens, if not hundreds of other factors.

    Of course, dad came from up that way, so he would know them. He'll tell stories of the blizzard when he met my mother, of how he kindly offered her shelter and worked to calm her fears. She was just a college student, far from home and in weather she had no idea how to deal with. Of course, I wish I could be with her, but her work has taken her far away, all the way down to the Dominion.

    I hate it because I'm scared for her. The news keeps talking about how there's going to be some huge civil war, and in a developed country, no less! I don't want to move up there only to learn that someone shot her because she's Artemian scum or whatever. I have friends down that way, too, in Shimokuni. One of them is in the Dominion Navy and I said that I'm afraid someone's going to do something stupid and get my country involved. I was told we weren't considered much of a threat. Everyone down there hates Ruvuma and thinks they're two-timers.

    I hate the idea of being trapped so far away, unable to do a single thing about the world. We've been at peace for decades and it seems like it's all about to fall apart. I don't want to wake up and learn that my mother and friends are all dead. I don't want to fear for my life because the country was invaded. I don't want to invade another country, either.

    Maybe I need help. There's got to be a bright spot in all of this, right?

    Sincerely,
    Misha

    [=]​

    January, 2010
    Redoubt Province, Artemia

    The inn was a bastion against the raging storm outside. Those within its walls knew this and were all the more thankful, as a few watched outside the big bay window as the snow came practically in sheets. The storm had been called at least a week in advance, and a few eyes on the TV were glued wondering when they could leave.

    The lobby was full of people slowly unbundling themselves, travel cases by their sides and a few with tags. Storms meant delays, and the sight of a train conductor stepping in with his crew only drove that point home.

    "Yeah, we're not going to be departing today!" He hollered, as he approached the counter. A few grumbles rose in response.

    The inn's architecture was a mix of archaic and modern. Logs served as support beams yet hung modern lights with their soft golden glow. Pictures of ancient hunts to the construction of the railroad line that ran barely a few meters outside several years prior hung from the walls. Manning the bar was an older man with a well-trimmed beard, scars on his face and the look in his eye indicating military service.

    Sitting himself down, the conductor gave him a nod as the bartender spoke up. "So what can I get you?"

    "Shot of the Glenfarrow 18, if you could. Neat."

    Another nod, before the bartender turned around and grabbed the bottle in question and a shotglass, "They say folks like you shouldn't be drinking while on shift, but, well…" A glance out the window was all that was needed, as the winds howled to emphasize the point.

    A soft snort, as the conductor saw the glass slid over to him and grabbed hold. "It's technically the engineers who shouldn't be drinking, but Dave's busy making sure something critical doesn't freeze over. Could be the motors, or the generators, or the water pumps. Supposed to hit 20 below tonight, I hear."

    "Yeah. As long as you and the others don't leave this place a mess, the boss and I don't care if you stay a night or two without paying."

    Another snort. "And it's, like, almost 30 in St. Andrew. Bloody hell, the weather in this region is awful."

    "Hear, hear." The bartender replied, as the conductor took a sip. "So, where are you from?"

    "Me or my train?" He asked, only to have a finger briefly pointed at him. A brief 'oh' look crossed his face as he spoke back up. "Grew up in a little town called Highland. It's a farming community not far from where you start finding people who roll their 'r's. Quiet outside of the big grain silos and the trains that service them."

    A small hum. "I grew up near Speyside. Joined the Army because of my father. Then, well…" He pointed at his scars.

    Another sip. "Caught in the worst of it?"

    "First Highlanders. We were on the raid that put that bastard Casival down. I don't know who torched the place, but some days I wonder if I should've died there." He said, tone low. "We were all mad bastards, though, and I pray every night that at least one of the men who died that day comes back to kick the ass of someone who deserves it." He held up his necklace, the pendant on it being a blood-red symbol.

    Eyes widened. "I have an aunt who serves as a priestess at the temple down in the capital." The conductor said. "You don't find many moonstones on this side of the pond."

    "I'm of the mind that I don't need to find one." He said, before spearing another glance outside. "The Goddess knows who's earned their rest as the stars, and who still has business to take care of here on Earth."

    "Hmph. Lot of business for men of your old profession these days."

    There was a knowing glance, as the bartender spoke. "Damned Dommies are all too eager to start looking for new reasons to shoot each other. I knew that idiot Guerino was going to cause trouble the moment he was crowned."

    The conductor took out his phone, pulling up a news site and shaking his head. "They won't shut up about him, that's for certain."

    "He's got too much love for his native Erde when there's two other groups who want their two cents." He replied, before shaking his head. "They're getting too big for their britches."

    Looking outside, the conductor let out a low grumble. "I've got a brother in the Navy. Gods and Goddesses help him if this gets out of hand."

    "And you know it will."

    A sense of foreboding came upon the conductor, as he downed the rest of his drink, before removing his wallet and taking out a bill. "Keep the change." He said, as the bartender nodded.

    Folding the walled closed and setting it back in his pants, the conductor began making idle chatter with the currently-stranded passengers. A family returning south for a college graduation. A few going north for a fresh start. A journalist who was doing a human-interest story.

    The sky went dark as the sun went down. The snow continued to fall. Eventually he was given a room, one with just a single bed, but it had a small kitchenette and a proper bath. A small smile formed on his face as he set his bags down and stepped into the bathroom, undressing and showering off. A hot shower on a cold day such as this was always a nice thing.

    As he washed off, his mind focused on his duties. The Redoubt Corridor was an ambitious project. A fully-electrified mainline punching through some of the most rugged terrain in the world to access the resources beyond. The trip here had them pass trains with covered ore jennies and empty flatcars that just days before carried pumps, generators, and construction equipment. This was the last station before that isolated wilderness.

    Part of him wondered if it would be worth it. All that effort, all of those dead from landslides and avalanches. The station had a small memorial plaque for the 73 workers who were killed building the line, who had families who were still alive because all of this happened within the past decade.

    Would the new decade bear the fruit they were all talking about? Or would it not even matter?

    Perhaps he was working himself up over nothing.

    [=]​

    **URGENT! IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUIRED!**

    The Artemian BuMet in Ashford has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the following counties in Redoubt Province:

    Ashford
    Blackhill
    Burnett
    Cornmere
    Dardyr
    Dunkeld
    Glencoe
    Keller
    Lassiter
    Locharron
    McMullan
    Lochbannet
    Otterhead
    Redoubt
    Wetwood
    Whitcall

    The following routes are included:
    M-94 between marker posts 129 and 293
    M-5 between marker posts 1220 and 1522
    PR-4 between marker posts 1 and 55
    PR-7 between marker posts 20 and 87
    Redoubt Main between Control Points Redoubt and Forager Lake
    Cormoropolis & Western Railroad Redoubt Subdivision main between Control Points East Redoubt and Sperry River
    Artemia National Railways Boundary Subdivision main between Control Points Forge Hill and Sarna


    Hazards Expected:
    Snow accumulations up to 40cm
    Wind gusts up to 65km/h
    Temperatures as low as -20C and wind chills as low as -40C
    Ice accumulations up to 15mm
    Scattered blizzard conditions possible
    Isolated power outages possible

    Duration:
    2010/01/26 @ 1545 hours Eastern Artemian Time through 2010/01/28 @ 1700 hours Eastern Artemian Time

    Protective Measures:
    Avoid travel except in emergencies.
    If one must travel, have winter weather survival kits in hand including blankets, handwarmers, fresh water, flashlights, and first-aid.
    Have secondary heating measures in place in the event of power outages.
     
    SCANDAL! FEDERAL ASSEMBLYMAN IMPLICATED IN CORRUPTION INVESTIGATION​
    By: Syandene Alves

    Nhamatanga Morning News

    In a morning press conference, the Federal Directorate of Internal Security announced that an as yet unnamed Federal Assemblyman had been arrested yesterday night at 8 PM on charges of corruption and collusion with a foreign state as part of an ongoing investigation. The Directorate spokesperson declared that the Assemblyman would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that no bail would be posted. The People's Democratic Party declined to comment.

    Sources within the Directorate indicated that the arrest was related to the ongoing investigation into members of the People's Democratic Party and their affiliation with Erde Avia. Though as of this writing the sale or leaking of military and industrial secrets has been ruled out, the level of involvement of the individuals implicated remains a concern.

    In the case of the arrested assemblyman, the Directorate revealed that the Assemblyman had been in talks with with Erde Avia for a joint development venture whose details remain obscured. These talks included use by the Assemblyman by an Erde Avia private jet, an extended stay in a mountain resort, and several high-class meals, all on Erde Avia's dime.

    "The bias of the Assemblyman was clear, present, and deliberately paid for by Erde Avia," the Directorate spokesman stated. "Such corruption will not be tolerated."

    Pundits across Ruvuma on radio, television, and internet have offered a different view.

    "The only reason this guy was arrested was because he had the gall to take kickbacks from a Dominion company," declared MNN pundit Edrichio Moreira immediately after the press conference. "Not that I disagree with the charges, but let's be honest about the reasons he was arrested and the entire rest of the assembly enjoys similar kickbacks daily."

    "I mean, c'mon, man, if you're going to risk sucking at the Dominion's teat, at least get your dick sucked back," declared The Cattlebruiser, popular podcast host. "If you aren't snorting coke off a prostitute's ass on the Dominion dime, you're doing it wrong."

    ~o~
    ​
    Keya Faria, head of the Federal Office of Barbarians, snorted and tossed the newspaper into the bin, taking the sports section. Idiot. If he'd agreed to keep quiet about the goings-on her bureau had been conducting in Erde that he'd stumbled across she wouldn't have leaked his corruption to the Directorate. As she'd threatened. Corruption was such a useful tool, especially when it was so widespread. Anyone in the Assembly, at least those of the People's Democratic Party - the new parties making inroads were all principled.

    But no, the idiot had had principles of his own, and apparently the under-the-table preparations to back Erde in the upcoming civil war bothered them. Oh, yes, the civil war, the one everyone and their grandmother knew was coming. Faria was more privileged than most in that regard: she had intelligence briefs crossing her desk weekly detailing every teetering step the Dominion took towards war. It was going to happen before Guerino's corpse cooled, and therein lay opportunity.

    She smiled. It was not a kind smile. Oh, yes, Ruvuma would be taking grand advantage of the chaos. Of that she was assured.

    Oh, hey, the Stokers won last night. Faria's smile became more genuine as she read about her hometown team crushing the opposition.
     
    In contrast to the daily tabloids sold at cheap prices to the working class of Outer Haven, the Lunmenca Daily was strictly disseminated to the corporate higher ups of the Haven state apparatus. Serving as a way for high-level officials, CEOs, and trade investors to access information normally subject to censorship in Outer Haven, the Lunmenca Daily reported daily on important domestic events, important proposals in the Federal Directorate (the thirteen-person collective executive council of Outer Haven) and external affairs.

    This issue of the Lunmenca Daily describes the inauguration of Makarov Carpathia into the ranks of the Federal Directorate, granting him an astonishing degree of political influence over Outer Haven's internal affairs, alongside other external affairs.
    • The Global Encyclopedia, 2???

    The Lunmenca Daily
    January 3rd, 2010

    INTERNAL REPORT: Makarov Carpathia's Inauguration​

    (TLD) - Makarov Carpathia ended his first day as part of the Federal Directorate on a hopeful note, promising to advocate for greater economic deregulation and to spark a new era of economic growth and prosperity, declaring that "the further progress of Outer Haven's republican libertarian ideals must fall not only on us, but the people at large as well".

    "For over a decade now, our economy has been mired in stagnation despite our open economic policies and ties all across the globe. This stoppage of progress ends today. My Directorship will be focused on loosening the last chains on our economy, giving government control over our finances to the people" said Carpathia in his inauguration speech in Lunmenca. "I pledge to work with like-minded people in the Federal Directorate to bring this future about".

    But political analysts have noted that Makarov's ascension to power has sparked severe backlash from the Conservative faction of the Federal Directorate. Director Ansgar Wendell has stated previously that he and his allies would "oppose the further deregulation of the economy", making note of the fact that the majority of Outer Haven's infrastructure is privately owned. "Our government and leadership has already done all it's can to alleviate the continued economic status quo. Now it falls to the people and our business leaders to fix this issue".

    Carpathia's nomination to the position of Director is also unusual. Normally, seats in the Federal Directorate are either inherited or given to people of significant authority and respect. In contrast, Carpathia is a newcomer, a political firebrand. The economic collapse of Deere Corporation due to numerous accounting scandals, and it's subsequent buy out by Carpathia Industries, a semiconductor producing company owned by Carpathia, gave Carpathia the necessary monetary and political ties needed to claim Andrew Deere's seat at the Federal Directorate in a surprise upset during the run-off elections in November.

    In Carpathia's first day in office, he met with the Libertarian faction of the Federal Directorate, a radically libertarian political grouping that believes that Outer Haven's current economic woes have been caused by a failure to loosen government control over the economy further. Several proposals by the New Guard have stirred up controversy in the past, including a proposal to dissolve the Outer Haven Food Export Administration, a government department which manages external export standards. While Carpathia's rhetoric has signified a clear bias towards the Libertarians, reports indicate that this first meeting was inconclusive towards setting a clear policy.

    When questioned about his meeting with the Libertarians this evening, Carpathia responded "I think that me and them are close to working out an understanding between the both of us. I wouldn't say we're just there yet, but we're close".

    When asked about his opinion on the Conservatives, Carpathia laughed, and simply said "no comment".


    EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: Outer Haven to host 'Non-Aligned Economic Summit' in Lunmenca​

    (TLD) - The Federal Directorate took its next step towards their agenda of promoting greater economic ties with the world at large today with their recent announcement of an economic summit between Outer Haven and the developing nations of the world.

    "Outer Haven has many, many economic ties with various nations all across the world, and we believe that these ties should be strengthened in order to, ah, help foster a collective bloc of nations that can stand up to the traditional powers of today" said Director Jayden Foster in her announcement.

    The Director continued: "We believe that hosting this summit will allow us to promote greater economic unity and prosperity across the globe, and I personally believe that… these ties will allow Outer Haven to live up to its namesake, for it to truly be an libertarian economic haven outside the norm".

    From its inception in 1941 during the decades long Haven Revolution against the then-Vyali Mandate's colonial occupiers of Einher and Meownyamaw, the Free State of Outer Haven has always been a tax and data haven for all but a select few nations and people. With the Free State's entry into the Union of Nations in 1964, Outer Haven's prominence in the world economic system has only risen in the passing decades.

    The summit however is not without controversy. The gathering of representatives includes ambassadors from Misca, Apuole, Switz, United Sogdia-Aseania, Fiursant, Ganaria, Namur, the Mu Islands, Ysia, and Canaanria. Many international observers have criticized the inclusion of Canaanria and Ysia in the conference, which are both heavily authoritarian nations. Others are concerned about what the conference may mean for Sogdia-Aseania's position on the world stage.

    As a whole, the summit signifies the reentrance of Outer Haven onto the world political stage after nearly thirty years of isolationist policies. Political analysts have theorized that this is a reaction to the slow stagnation of Outer Haven's economy, which despite the best efforts of Outer Haven's leaders and CEOs, has failed to be completely stopped. Various topics are expected to be discussed at this summit, including economic treaties, trade policies, technological and economic aid, and even the usage of Outer Haven launch facilities to launch satellites from other nations into orbit.

    The Federal Directorate in a statement on Tuesday said that "we intend to showcase our internal and external progress to the world at large during this conference".
     
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    Agni at the Crossroads



    Agnigrad Ushers in the New Year

    With the new year finally coming and gone, Greater Agnigrad is still feeling the effects of celebration as some parties wrap up well into the morning. This is an excellent display of national unity and confidence despite political turmoil within the government and the declining economy, and that it will take more than some minor scandals to break the Agni's resolve…

    Hazels Celebrate New Year with Parade

    The Hazel Front hosted many marches down the streets of Agnigrad's cities, the largest being held in Lesser Agnigrad. Columns of uniformed men and younger 'National Scouts' left a sharp reminder on the Hazel Front's growing influence a few months before the election. Eugen Gror, the nominal leader of the movement, has ramped up his speeches railing against…

    Economy Sinks, Reds Rise

    With the economy still reeling from last quarters sudden collapse in the wake of the President's impeachment, growing unemployment and inflation has turned many desperate citizens towards the OL-RG who have successfully championed workers rights since the Republic's founding. The Red political group has shocked political theorists as the once minority group exploded in popularity since the collapse of the UEP, and several strikes have already brought businesses to terms with…

    Azure's Holding Steady

    The Azure Coalition, recognized as the enlightened successor of the UEP has managed to fight tooth and nail to maintain their very slight majority in the senate. Murial Notmann, the Presidential-Elect and head of the party, has further criticized the Vice President for 'reckless use of authority' despite the promises he made ensuring expansion of coastal industries sorely needed by the Republic…

    Military Maneuvers Completed, Generals Unsatisfied

    The Army of Agnigrad, one of the nations greatest points of pride and one of the largest militaries in the world, has declared itself practically incompetent by its general staff. An unusual move, the military has stated that unless a crash modernization program and a set of reforms is pushed through, the ability of the Agni Armed Forces may defend against foreign enemies may be hindered. The problem may be serious if the General Staff was forced to publicly declare its issues. The blame has naturally
    fallen on the previous presidents…

    Neutrality in Question

    With the world becoming more and more interconnected by the day, many are wondering if Agnigrads self imposed isolation is warranted or effective. Though the Republic has always been a major power in the region, pride battles with pragmatism as the nation hesitates whether to stay the course of 'splendid isolationism' or push for one of the international blocs…

    Carrier Purchased Despite Criticisms

    The TNV Bohr has been bought by the Peasants Republic under the authority of the Vice President, purchasing the vessel at only a third of its construction cost and building a comprehensive deal with the Tish as well. Despite his possible aims of displaying himself as a mover and shaker who can get things done, the Vice President has found himself under fire as every political group criticizes the agreement from different angles…

    Hazels Drum Up Anger Towards Destria, Katrazia

    The Hazel Front has always held that the enemies of Agnigrad are many and always circling, ready to prey on its weakness. Citing the Agni-Destrian Wars and the Katrazian-Agni War as evidence, Eugen Gror was quoted saying that an attack would come, "If not today, tomorrow. If not tomorrow, next week. Conflict with our rightful enemies is inevitable!"

    Azures Propose Corporate Bailout

    In hopes of stopping the recession from dropping into a freefall, the Azure Coalition has proposed a series of corporate bailouts intended to allow the nascent Agni economy to recover its footing. The OL-RG has denounced the bill and has instead called for stimulus checks to first and foremost support the common citizen while the Hazel Front remains rooted in belief that hefty austerity measures are needed to prevent further economic burdens. The motion is unlikely to pass without a majority.

    Foreign Investment Key to Recovery?

    With the economy further sliding backwards, many economists point to the rich resources of Agnigrad proper. Common consensus is that a ramp up in resource extraction in exchange for economic investment would buy the government time to construct a solid economic plan…


    Election Season

    With elections approaching rather swiftly, it is only natural that the various political parties ramp up their own efforts to campaign in what is to be the country's most contentious election in its history. Leading the race just slightly in polls is the Azure Coalition led by Murial Notmann, however they are closely followed by Eugen Gror's Hazel Front. On their heels is the OL-RG, the anarchist-socialist organization that has returned to the forefront of politics following the UEP's collapse. With the difference in popularity so small and voter turnout predicted to be high, it is still anybody's race as election day rapidly approaches…

    General Staff Meets, Contents Unknown

    In a concerning move, the General Staff of the Agni Military has met in Fort Justynkol to discuss 'matters of national security'. The contents of the meeting are not known at this time, but already conspiracy theorists and paranoid citizens have declared that the military is 'obviously' preparing to stage a coup. Such nonsense is…


    ​


    Top Secret

    Official Eyes Only

    It is of the opinion of the AXIS that foreign intervention and 'meddling' in the elections is likely and most likely already being executed. Many of our rivals would benefit from a certain party's victory or an electoral gridlock. AXIS has already set in motion certain numerous operations to identify and contain foreign agents and collaborators. AXIS agents are keeping a close eye on our traditional rivals in the region as well as certain international groups that would benefit from establishing networks within Agnigrad. The AXIS would also take this moment to reaffirm its loyalty to the government regardless of ideology or creed, and will not involve itself in the election process with the exception to ensure its authenticity.​
     
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    Saakhwia
    Home of the Saakhwian Matriarch    ​

    The celebration of the new year was an important one, in Saakhwia. While the Saakhwian people weren't as rambunctious in their celebrations as some other nations around the world, the new year in particular was one of their most enthusiastic. All across the city of Respite, the citizens were out in the streets, making merry with friends and family, making new friends along the way. For two days, the hustle and bustle of the city stopped cold (often literally, given Saakhwia's tendency to get heavy snows in the winter), as people celebrated.

    And in a modest house, in the outskirts of the city, two women were celebrating in their own way. Their own, quiet, solemn way.

    "Thank you for the tea, Alyssa," Matriarch Kay Yorktown said politely to the maid. The young brunette curtseyed and quickly vacated the room, leaving the Matriarch and Consort alone once more. Kay filled her mug from the teapot and took a sip. "How many years does this make, now?"

    "Two-thousand and thirty five," her Consort, Tally Evans answered. "At least, if you're asking how long we've been here. One-thousand and sixty five, if you're wondering how long we've been ruling Saakhwia."

    "And it's safe to say that we've made the most of it," Kay replied with a smile. Between their various duties as Matriarch and Consort, Tally leading Saakhwia's armies on training maneuvers and expeditionary missions, and Kay going on diplomatic visits to countries around the world, the two women rarely had the chance to do this. To quietly enjoy a peaceful evening together as wives, drinking tea, reading books completely unrelated to their jobs, and reminiscing about days past.

    "By some miracle, yeah," Tally agreed, sipping her own tea. "I blame Trickster."

    "That's because Trickster is an ass. We still haven't gotten those swords back from him or Karena."

    "Hey, at least there was a funny story to go with that. I still can't believe that he burned himself on Dom's sword, and that was a century and a half ago."

    "I told that bastard off so hard," Kay joked, reminiscing. "If I remember correctly, it was something along the lines of 'If I went around proclaiming that I was Emperor because some gloomy tosser lobbed a sword at me, they'd think I was a nutter!'" Kay held her fake scowl for a moment before both women burst out laughing.

    "You know, I'll bet that's why he gave the swords to Karena instead of putting them back on the mantle. You annoyed him! Powers know he's messed with us for lesser offenses."

    "I can hear Karena's shout now. 'I don't use swords you shitgrill!'"

    Tally laughed at her wife's impersonation of their longtime friend, but her mood quickly grew somber as her mind wandered. The redheaded Consort set her tea and book down and reached into the cabinet positioned between their two seats. Out came two shot glasses and a bottle of brandy. "Speaking of people we haven't seen in some time..."

    "That time of the night already?" Kay asked, her mood matching Tally's as she set her drink and novel aside as well.

    "Yeah. Time to remember those we've lost."

    "And we've lost more than most," Kay agreed, as their tradition went. Tally poured the drinks, and Kay accepted hers.

    "Here's to Lou and Dan," Tally began, raising her glass.

    "Here's to Allie and Izzy," Kay followed along, raising her glass.

    "Dominus."

    "Jade and Jason."

    "Nic and Alex."

    "Luna and Kaz."

    "Karla and Andrew."

    "And to every brave man and woman whom we've ever known, who has ever fought with or under us, who has died because of our orders, and anyone else we may have forgotten over the centuries," Kay finished. Their glasses clinked together, and the two immortals drank. They'd long ago gotten over their grief at losing people, and it just became a fact of life. But just because the world aged around them while they stayed unchanging, didn't mean that Kay and Tally would forget everyone who was important to them. Every year, they honored the birth and death of their daughters, their long-lost siblings, and those important friends they had made along the way.

    The memories of immortals are long. Too long to be filled with grief or sorrow, nor hatred or grudges. The lives of mortals, their friends and family, were short, to be cherished above all else. For when those same mortal lives have ended, they live on in the memories of immortals.

    Tally sealed the brandy and returned it to the cabinet, to be saved for the next commemoration. Then, she smiled, scooped her wife out of her chair, and kissed her. "Here's to a new year and a new decade, Dear! May they be better than the last!"

    "Hear hear!" Kay agreed, leaning back in for another kiss. They were certainly starting the decade out right.
     
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    January 1, 2010

    Tonight is a night for fire.

    The air is filled with the roar of thousands of protestors packing the boulevards of downtown Kaz-Vallis. They grumble, they shout, they chant slogans, and it all mixes together into a great raucous force that fills the air with discontent. They hoist banners and signs—some carry the slogans of political groups, calling for a return to tradition and national purity, while others are just demands for food and housing.

    Their march comes short at a barrier of guards—police, in international parlance. A wall of riot shields and armored vehicles stand steady. Their presence deters the march, creates an open space of dozens of meters separating the two. The crowd surges and recedes like waves on a beach, tossing stones and bricks and the occasional Molotov. They fall short and fill the empty road with small blazing fires.

    For Ben Turnpike, Arcadian Broadcasting Service reporter, it reminds him too much of historical paintings; on one side, a crowd thousands-strong made up of the horned, the clawed, the huge, the pale, the shark-toothed and crimson-eyed. On the other, the same thing, just clad in heavy police gear.

    They almost look like demon hordes of old, braying for blood. Excellent material for news coverage.

    As he talks and narrates, his back to the line, the news camera is the one that catches a katraz man running ahead of the rest of the crowd. He would look nondescript–cheap T-shirt and denims–were it not for the satchel he clutches in his hand.

    The katraz man charges when the crowd surges once more, keeps charging when the crowd retreats, unslings the satchel, grasps it by the strap, and flings it like a slinger.

    The camera catches the satchel striking true against a riot shield.

    It catches the moment the bomb inside the satchel detonates.

    =K=​
    January 2, 2010
    Skodian Palace

    Zofia blinks and holds her jaw shut to keep from yawning as the meeting devolves into bickering yet again.

    "As I have told you time and time again," the Director of the Black Chamber says, "dissident elements have been coalescing and networking on a scale greater than ever before. An attack of this scale by the League has been inevitable."

    "And did the Chamber not state that it had the situation in hand?" Prime Minister Kallix says. "That handling this 'National League' was well within the Chamber's capabilities?"

    Zofia thinks the Director looks ridiculous. Dressed in the robes of a conspirator and the mask of a religious cultist, he stands at the table and punctuates every sentence with gesticulation. If they were in a shadowy temple, he would have been frightening. In a modern conference room, with early dawn light streaming from wide windows? He looks like a lost actor from a theater play.

    The Director huffs and crosses his arms. "Our operations are built with the assumption that the Guard Departments would cooperate in intelligence."

    The Prime Minister scoffs. "Are you blaming the Guards for your failure?"

    "The Chamber cannot act on what it does it know."

    "I'm certain that if the Chamber had wanted to act, it could have."

    "We would have if we had the power to do so!"

    "And you would have sent your goon squad out again? Pulled people off the street for 'questioning'?"

    The Prime Minister against the Chamber, the same argument once again. Zofia glances down at the laptop set before her. The page is set to a slew of collected headlines, fresh from the news agencies. They all mention explosions and bombings, the count of the dead, the count of the wounded, and wild accusations of who to blame.

    She looks away from the meeting and out the window. Down there, in distant downtown, the smoke from the explosion has already ceased. She had been jolted awake when it had gone off. She had not returned to sleep. Her morning afterward had been filled with incoming reports and news.

    This had not been the only bombing. Two had gone off in Limanis, damaging the port and the intercity rail terminal. One in Ikedis had struck a Guard district headquarters. Another in Kaz-Margo had blown a hole in the mayoral palace. The last bombing had been in Zentery, in the middle of a New Year's celebration rally held by the Ganiman Cultural Association.

    She had been in one of those rallies once. She had visited them on goodwill and spent a day and night observing the festivities. Parades had been held and the streets had been packed with performers doing tricks, hawkers selling their wares, families eating and gawking and enjoying their time.

    She imagines an explosion ripping through all of that…

    She knocks on the table. The room falls silent.

    "Gentlemen," she begins, "what are our options?"

    The Director speaks first. "The Black Chamber has the ability to neutralize the League, but not the permission—"

    A BANG rings out as Kallix slams his fist on the table. "Could you cease proposing expansions to the Chamber?"

    Kallix turns to Zofia. "Your Majesty, the Chamber's failure to have foreseen this disaster is clear. I propose that a new, independent body be drawn from the Guard Departments to specifically combat this League."

    "The Guards?" the Director exclaims. "The Guards are an—"

    He stops when Zofia puts up her hand. She lowers it to the desk, and lets a moment pass in silence.

    She could expand the Chamber. All she would need to do is write another royal edict and it would be done, the Diet be damned. And the Black Chamber had been terribly effective in her father's time; it was only the restraints she wrote into law that held them back. Let them loose, and she could be sure that any internal threat would be dealt with. Even threats that lay within her own legislature.

    But...to undo her work? See the Chamber return to its terrible glory once more?

    She makes her decision.

    "An autonomous investigative service, to be staffed by members drawn from the Guards, will deal with this matter," she announces. "Kallix, see to it."


    As the meeting adjourns and everyone takes leave, the Director's mind is in motion as he stalks through the halls of the Skodian Palace. In one disused room, he enters a hidden passageway that would make him seem as if he suddenly disappeared.

    He damns Kallix, damns the Guards, damns the God-forsaken Constitution, but stops short of damning Her Majesty; disloyalty to the crown would be a step down the path to treason.

    What he would be doing would not be treason; it would circumvent Her Majesty's authority, but to leave the safety of his country in the hands of the Guards? He cannot abide by that.

    His thoughts continue as he leaves the Skodian Palace, skulking in the dark and drawing up plans. The Black Chamber would keep the nation safe, even without Her Majesty's permission.
     
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    Snippets from the ANoBTEI, 2010: The Trial of Sami Oro

    "We call the defendant to the stand. You stand accused of attempted murder through the use of an ambulatory carnivorous plant. Sami Oro, how do you plead?"

    "Not guilty, your honor."
    -----
    "As can be proven from these records, the specimen dubbed 'Venus Manhunter' was registered as a submission for the Skav Experimental Botany convention months in advance, and approved by the event organizers."

    "Objection! That does not prove the defendant had no intention of using their creation as a murder weapon."

    "Security camera footage of the lab block that the event occurred in, coupled with cell phone activity logs show no signs of deliberate malice. Sami Oro did not know his accuser was even in the building at the time. He had just received news of his aunt's involvement in a major laboratory accident, and failed to properly secure the specimen as he rushed to the hospital."
    -----
    "Members of the Jury, what is your verdict?"

    "Not guilty of attempted murder, but guilty of negligence in containing untested organisms."

    "Understood. In that case, I hereby sentence the defendant to two years of community service and remedial specimen security training."
     
    OUTER HAVEN GENERAL STAFF
    АГЕНТСТВО РОЗВІДКИ ТА БЕЗПЕКИ OUTER HAVEN
    OUTER HAVEN INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY AGENCY

    INFORMATION:

    TO: ASRB DIRECTOR STAN BRANKO

    FROM: GENERAL TON SABLINK

    DATE: JANUARY 8TH, 2010

    Branko,

    I've reviewed the information you've sent over to me about the ongoing developments in the Dominion, and our prospects are not exactly promising. After giving it sufficient thought, I've come to the conclusion that your current proposals to the General Staff and the Federal Directorate are simply too radical to execute properly.

    To start with, our current plan to support Von Lutzow in a potential struggle for power already puts our international reputation heavily at risk. Our current support (that is financial and diplomatic backing) is already at risk of being uncovered by Dominion authorities or by Lutzow's rivals. Yet you, without any plan or even justification, wish to expand our involvement in the Dominion from mere support to outright extraterritorial involvement. You want to, to put it mildly, perform the impossible with your plans to assassinate the monarch of Kereske.

    Now, as you know, I have had qualms with our plans for Pampia and the world at large. Involving Outer Haven in outside conflicts can only bring bad things upon us and our current (and potential future reformed!) system. However, I have often pushed these doubts aside in service of Outer Haven's inhabitants and leaders. Up until now, that is.

    Speaking frankly, you've crossed the line. I have sent my complaints about your leadership directly to the Federal Directorate and the Outer Haven General Staff. Quite simply, you've gotten too old and senile for your position. Outer Haven needs new blood to help repair our economy and modernize our political system.

    I advise that you begin seeking out a retirement home.

    Yours sincerely,
    General Tom Sablink

    ****​

    OUTER HAVEN GENERAL STAFF

    INFORMATION:

    TO: GENERAL TON SABLINK

    FROM: GENERAL NICOLAI VRAGUS

    DATE: JANUARY 11TH, 2010

    Sablink,

    I am glad that you have voiced your complaints to the General Staff, and expect that you will be happy to know that I have read over your letter. I also expect that you will be glad to know that my men in Army Strategic Intelligence intercepted and read over your complaints before they made their way to the General Staff as a whole, the ASRB, and the Federal Directorate.

    Also attached in this letter is a ticket to the plains of the Lysneko Desert, where you will go on a well-deserved two-week vacation hunting big game in the wild. There you will contemplate your choices, how they would have affected both us and you, and how when you assumed that the Federal Directorate and I wouldn't have booted you out of the General Staff entirely you made an ass out of you and me.

    Don't shake the boat, Sablink. You nearly could have ruined your own career and your family. You've always been a dove in the General Staff, but you must take heed of the situation around you for once, and keep your head down.

    As a coworker and a friend, I sincerely hope that you listen to my words.

    Yours truly,
    Nicolai Vragus
     
    January 1st, 2010: Friday: Midnight

    "POI!" A fist slam came down inside the room.

    The door came down, and in went two Rosyth Knights, immediately brandishing their batons, "Your Majesty! Are you alright?!"

    Both knights, however, put down their batons, finding the princess in no danger. Instead of a fight, or another attempt to escape, the Princess instead was at her desk and her computer, Universe of Warships online and her Fubuki-class destroyer slipping beneath the waves.

    "John, what's going on?" One of the Knight's radios crackled.

    "Nothing, ma'am," the Knight sighed, and answered. "Seems her highness just lost a game and was bitter about it."

    "Gotcha," The girl answered. "Man, she's been obsessed with that thing ever since that archaeologist from the NHM gave it to her."

    "I'm not obsessed," the Princess muttered into her desk, apparently listening in on the conversation.

    "Right, right," the other Knight said, fake-shock in her voice, "She's just…overly curious."

    "I've been asleep for over a thousand years," the Princess replied, "Cut me some slack."

    "Fair enough," the Knights shrugged, and John put away his radio. As they walked out of the room, the girl turned back to the Princess.

    "Hey, what does 'poi' mean?"

    "Huh?" The Princess asked, looking up. "Poi is poi."

    "Yeah I get that, but what does it mean?"
    "Poi."

    "What?"

    "Poi is poi," the Princess said. "Poi is not koi, nor is it moi, or boi. It is poi."

    "That doesn't answer anything! What does it mean?! If you were to ask someone 'what is poi' with no knowledge of it yourself, what would you want the answer to be?"

    "...it's like ara-ara, or pan-paka-pan."

    "Eh?" The Knight just looked even more confused.

    "It's a proverbial saying, Karen," John rolled his eyes. "The meaning changes based on the context of the conversation. It could express shock, confusion, questioning, lust, or like 7 other things depending where in the conversation it's used and how it is used."

    "Yeah, that." The Princess agreed.

    "...so if I were to say 'poi' now?"

    "Best guess you would be asking it in a questioning and curious sense, as you don't actually use the term with any regularity."

    "...poi…" Karen muttered, and just walked out of the room. John in tow, Fubuki simply stared at the door, until she heard the lock buzz and seal her in again. Turning her attention back to her computer, she clicked out of her game, and opened up Internet Explorer.

    After waiting for ten minutes for it to load, she typed in news and scrolled through, eyes glancing over the headlines. Getting herself caught up, she opened her desk drawer, pulled out a tape recorder, and hit record.

    "January 1st, 2009-no, 10. 2010," she corrected herself, "Apparently it's the new year, which I understand to be the celebration of the repetition of the world's natural cycle, as well as signifying the date wherein we reset our calendars. Seems simple enough."

    She turned her attention back to the news headlines, "Current noteworthy topics are the increasing concerns in the Dominion, this 'Mass Driver', and me."

    "Topic one, the Dominion. It seems this current spat in this Dominion has arisen from the ailing health of the current Dominator, with the standard 'every regional power wants to put their own person on the throne' reasoning."

    "It still baffles me that the Dominion has managed to unite together into some form of a cohesive country. When last I awoke, I still remember the three groups fighting vigorously and feverishly over control. I recall one meeting where my Court argued over which region we should support, after we consolidated power among the archipelago. We never came to an agreement on which side we should support, and decided to shelve the topic away until I had finished my conquest."

    A conquest that never came to be, she reminded herself.

    "My thoughts? I don't find any of them very likable. To be fair, I haven't exactly been in a position to gather information and conjugate a proper opinion on these three candidates, my past weeks have been spent languishing within these medical quarters of mine. All I can gather is that each candidate is probably allied with either the Kuroshio Islands, this 'Ruvuma', and probably this 'Outer Haven' has a…what is the saying…'horse in this race as well'. Call me insane, but two are the most powerful countries that share a land border with the Dominion, while one was an enemy that pushed an invasion on their territory. With the specific circumstances behind this change of leadership, they probably hold a side in which candidate they will rally behind."

    "The Republic has not chosen a candidate, officially or unofficially. They simply claim to back whoever wins at the end. Cautious, but considering each candidate is backed by at least one country already, it will likely be better internally if we do not tip the three-way balance towards one side."

    "Now, for this 'Mass Driver'," She pulled up the article, "I honestly have no opinion on it. Far be it from me to understand it's inner workings properly, it seems to be a massive projectile launcher of massive proportions, capable of accelerating payloads into the stars for exploration, exploitation, warfare, or research. I grasp at wisps of memories of my mages debating what happened in the heavens above. Did the gods dance and play among the stars? Was there a capstone of inky black, sealing us away from what is in the heavens? Or was there simply nothing but the twinkling light of the stars beyond what we can grasp in the palm of our hands?"

    "...I am suddenly reminded of Doctor Meltzer and her comment on my vocal pattern as being too literary. I should strive to tone this down, according to her comment."

    "Anyways, the point is I have no clue what this thing does, and why it is. All I know is that everyone else understands what it is, and it's apparently on schedule for construction. A massive feat for a project this large."

    "Lastly, it seems that even after several weeks of the initial announcement, I am still a very large topic on the minds of the populace. Considering I was responsible for the destruction of thousands and bringing this region to its knees, I cannot blame them for thinking so. Many still speculate on my whereabouts, and what I am doing."

    "Surprisingly, it seems that I have garnered a generally favorable viewpoint from the majority. A byproduct of this country's tolerance of, well, generally anything and everybody. As long as I am not harming anyone, it seems I am quite welcome at this time."

    "The minority call me a godless demon who should be burned on a pyre and sent to the bottom of Castle Lake. An understandable response."

    "To summarize, it seems we are currently balancing at the very fine thread that is peace right now. Every day we teeter closer and closer over the edge into the pit of chaos, but we haven't yet. All in all…this may not be that bad of a year."

    As Yuki shut off her tape recorder, she knocked at the top of her wooden desk.
     
    January 1st, 2010: Friday: Midnight
    Naval Station Luxon Bay (Civilian Sector)

    Bang
    Fizzle
    Bangbangbang
    ffffiiiiizzzzzzle
    brattatat
    brattatBANG!
    shhhhhhhhh

    "Damn, they really went all out on the celebrations this year," Repulse said, watching the fireworks exploding overhead.

    "New year, new decade," her older sister, Renown, answered. "Remember the new millennium? I swear we were at risk of blowing our ears off that year."

    "Wish they had," Repulse muttered, "Than I wouldn't have to hear those stupid September Lockdown special tours they give every year. Is it just me, or ever since the start of the new millennia, there's been more and more people coming just to see the 'Betrayal ship'?"

    "Aww, don't think like that, 'Pulse," Renown patted her younger sister on the back, who leaned into her.

    "You'd think they'd get over it or at least come for less specific reasons than specifically seeing the girl that was responsible for splitting this Navy in two."

    "You know, that never made sense to me as well," Saratoga's voice rang out over the radio from across the harbor, "Why is it that I'm the one that started the damn Revolt, but it's always Repulse that gets the flak and blame?"

    Renown facepalmed, "I don't know, Sara, does the fact that she was named the new flagship overall after Lusty bit the bullet ring a bell?"

    "...I imagine losing your flagship to a revolt against your government, especially one as new as Repulse, was not a good thing at the start of the war."

    "Sis, don't give Ren any more reason to facepalm into the bay," Lexington's voice cut into the radio.

    Renown sighed in relief, "How's the new year so far, Lexi?"

    "Loud." An annoyed tone was conveyed, "You're not the one closest to the launch site."

    "Another reason to thank Admiral Darren for giving us the prime seats," Repulse said. "Sucks that they got put next to the military side of the base."

    "I'm not complaining 98% of the time," Saratoga said, "It's nice talking with all of the younger girls. So full of life every time they come into the base. I swear, they remind me of Repulse when she first came off the slip."

    "Except they're not so much of klutzes," Lexington chuckled.

    "How about we don't bring up that part of my life?" Repulse half-way pleaded.

    Even if they were across the bay, Repulse could feel Saratoga and Lexington drill a stare into her. "The gum incident."

    "How was I supposed to know that gum's really hard to get out of your hair?"

    "That wasn't the problem," Renown interjected, "What was the problem was when you decided it was a good way to prank Sara and Lexi during Fleet Maneuvers with the Main Fleet."

    "I still remember Appi just handing us a jar of peanut butter," Lexington reminisced, "That was an awkward thing to do in front of the flag."

    They all chuckled at that, "Gods, I miss Lusty sometimes."

    "Sometimes, Renown?" Repulse asked.

    "Hah, don't think Little Ren here is a clean sheet," Saratoga said, "Why, have I ever told you about her heading over to the Dominion-"

    "Let's not." Renown quickly interrupted, and changed the topic before anyone could protest, "How are the new girls?"

    "They're all fine, not that there's many of them," Lexington said. "The Navy's been wanting to upgrade for awhile, but you know how committees are. It takes them 5 years to agree on a ship design, another 3 just to clean up the proposal. You can barely imagine the relief me and Sara felt when they made up their mind in the early 2000s."

    "They're DDG's, right?"

    "Yeah, Lachman-Class," Saratoga answered. "Main point of difference between them and the earlier Olympus-Class is the fact they got rid of the aft 3 inch. Details are fuzzy, but they swapped it out for either a helicopter landing deck, or more Double-S and Double-A missile batteries."

    "A helicopter would be nice," Repulse cut in, "Would help in a lot of on or off-shore operations, plus they'd be great for Anti-Sub ops."

    "Yeah, but it's not anything we can't already do," Renown said. "Missile batteries would be a lot more useful against ships and aircraft and other missiles."

    "Well whatever the option chosen, we'll figure it out in a few months," Saratoga said. "She's set to be sent off the slip in Insignia and towed here after Valentine's Day at least."

    "Well, we'll see how she is when she comes in." Renown finished, closing the channel.

    "Here," Repulse said, giving her sister a flute of champagne. "To the new year."

    "To the new year, and the new decade." With that, they gave a toast to the sky just as the next round of fireworks went off, and both downed their drinks.
     
    Premiere of the Gunpowder Rose, Season Two, Announced
    ​
    After months of anticipation, Season 2 of The Drama Network's The Gunpowder Rose was announced to be premiering on May 7, Coronation Day. Accompanying the announcement was a new three-minute trailer that revealed Season 2 is almost certainly going to cover the second year of the Ruvuman Civil War, which is sure to grab the attention of any fan of Queen Teresa.

    The Gunpowder Rose is the latest adaptation of the life of the Gunpowder Rose, Queen Teresa of the Magnificent. Season 1 had great expectations to live up to, given its sixteen predecessors on television alone, and the showrunners did so by committing to telling the whole story of the Ruvuman Civil War, with better production values and a greater focus on historical accuracy than previous shows. Combined with crisp screenwriting and an all-star cast, Season 1 roundly succeeded in its endeavors, snatching the top ratings spot from the Ruvuman Football League and single-handedly getting streaming service Hoopa off the ground.

    Season 2, however, faces an uphill battle to replicate the success of Season 1. While the first year of the Ruvuman Civil War was packed full of dramatic events to build a story around, the second year was a year of siege, maneuver, and political infighting among the nobility. It was not until year 3 that Queen Teresa started building the Royal Artillery, and conceived of her sweeping land reform, the two factors that lent her the unstoppable momentum the Queen enjoyed in the war's later years. There is a reason the second year is the most rarely adapted of the Civil War, appearing largely in documentaries.

    Still, the showrunners have earned the benefit of the doubt, and the reaction of the fanbase has been exceptionally enthusiastic. If any telling of the Ruvuman Civil War can break the curse of the second year, it is The Gunpowder Rose.
     
    Excerpt from "The Online Warfare Museum" website, accessed 2009:

    ****

    Walker Gear TX-F014 TYRANT

    Technical Details:
    Height: 13.3 meters
    Length (with cannon equipped): 15.1 meters
    Width: 11.5 meters
    Crew: One
    Radar: CAPTOR AESA area-detection radar
    Main Armament: 9M133 Kornet ATGMs, two 30mm rotary cannons, two 20mm top and pelvis mounted autocannons, 40-kilowatt omnidirectional diode laser, 152mm autoloading long-range ETC cannon capable of launching both missiles and shells
    Powerplant: Two Cosmokat hydrogen fuel cell engines with 3,100 horsepower each
    Armor: Composite plate, heat-resistant ceramic armor
    Speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)
    Range: 500 km


    ​

    The Haven Revolution and the arrival of Dr. Mudhar Hukuvanhich to Outer Haven was the beginning of the end for the main battle tank in the Outer Haven military. Hukuvanhich, the original developer of the first Walker Gear prototypes, originally conceived Walker Gear in late 1955 as a way to connect infantry with the new realities of armored warfare. Whereas before tanks were simply more heavily armored vehicles that supported infantry, Walker Gear was a mobile artillery and infantry support platform, standing above the battlefield on its two legs and capable of operating in all environments and terrain. Although Hukuvanhich's original proposals were laughed out by his colleagues, over the years he would slowly but surely evolve upon his original designs, even starting a new company: Paladin Incorporated.

    In 1963, the Federal Directorate (at the time organized into a coalition nominally headed by Bruno Krummerman) decided to give Paladin Incorporated a monetary grant to develop a new kind of armored vehicle. Director Krummerman, having seen Paladin Incorporated impressive progress in developing new kinds of military transportation (more often than not ripping off designs from the Dominion and combining them with blueprints from other nations) decided to support Hukuvanhich's vision of warfare, partly due to his desire to leave a mark upon Outer Haven and partly due to his jealousy at the Kuroshio Island's highly advanced Tactical Surface Fighters, which the ASRB intelligence agency had repeatedly tried (and failed) to steal the designs to.

    Despite being given generous funding by the Federal Directorate, the new Walker Gear TYRANT project suffered through numerous delays, with many issues stemming to a lack of technological development and expertise that was needed to carry the project forward. The TYRANT project was even nearly canceled in 1979, and was only saved due to the Federal Directorate observing the ongoing Austraz-Westraz Conflict, which had given them new impetus to avoid a long, drawn out conflict involving massive tank battles that they could ill-afford given their (at the time) lack of military sophistication. As a result, Project TYRANT only managed to complete a prototype in 1988, three years after the death of Mudhar Hukuvanhich.

    The technological demonstration model, simply named Prototype F013, was a marvel of engineering. Previously it was thought that only with a powerful enough exotic energy source, such as Solarium or Honkai Crystals, could massive military machines be built and deployed for use on the battlefield. Prototype F013 disproved that notion entirely, if only due to the fact that it had slapped two highly inefficient and powerful diesel engines onto its chassis and called it a day. Armed with a demonstration 120 mm autoloading cannon, a mounted machine gun, and several ATGM canisters, Prototype F013 impressed the Federal Directorate enough to warrant full production of a finished product.

    In 1990, Walker Gear TX-F014 TYRANT would debut onto the world stage at the annual Outer Haven Arms Expo. Now equipped with a larger and more powerful 140mm cannon, two 30mm autocannons, and the high-powered CAPTOR AESA radar, Walker Gear TYRANT was a beast to behold. And soon it would begin winning fame and infamy; in 1990, an infantry division equipped with two TYRANT models was deployed to Westrazwalhiskia in order to help support the federal regime there. Over the next three years, the two TYRANT models would gain attention as they were used to systematically crush several attempts by insurrectionists to capture important Westraz-managed port cities, winning Outer Haven's military considerable prestige and allowing the General Staff to finally gain the momentum to phase out the main battle tank completely from Outer Haven's armed forces.

    The current modern day model of Walker Gear TYRANT serving in the Outer Haven Ground Army has been upgraded and modernized extensively, with the recent BLOCK III upgrades giving TYRANT two brand-new hydrogen fuel cell engines, a 152mm ETC cannon, and new attachable reactive armor. Several TYRANT models even boast an experimental 40-kilowatt laser able to burn through mortar shells and melt through 40mm steel plating in just a few seconds, although this new weapon is highly experimental and prone to malfunction.
     
    Agni Elections, 2010

    ​

    "... And with that our experts can finally say, yes, they're calling the election now! As for those of you just joining in we can finally say for certain the OL-RG Coalition ticket is claiming the electoral win. Our final votes indicate the OL-RG have achieved 48% of the vote, with the Azure Coalition trailing behind them with about 41%, and the Hazel Front suffering a terrible, crippling turnout with only 11% of the vote. Ladies and gentlemen of Agnigrad, we can confirm that Borin Yeles has indeed secured his position as President of the Peasants Republic of Agnigrad!

    "As many of you know, Borin has campaigned heavily with the peasant farmers and urban worker promise both labor and land reforms and has campaigned furiously for the rights of both the individual and the worker. It would seem his strategy of absorbing the 'New Red' party in his Ruby Group gave many in the Hazel Front the excuse they needed to jump ship onto the winning side, which in turn made many more moderate members switch in favor of the Azure Coalition. The rest, seeing the writing on the wall, conceded the races they were in and many retired or were abruptly ousted from office. A sheer landslide of defeat after defeat has sealed the Hazel Front's fate as a minority party while securing a victory for the socialist campaign.

    "Now, Borin Yeles is expected to give a victory speech once the last votes have been confirmed and tallied in..."




    Flag of the Onyx League-Ruby Group Alliance​

    For the first time in Agnigrads history, a truly free democratic election had come and passed. With the fall of the United Emerald Party, who had kept their grip tight on Agnigrad for nearly eighty years, the slumbering giant of Atlantica found itself taking its first unsteady step on the road of self determination. When the dust settled, it became clear that the Onyx League and Ruby Group alliance of anarcho-socialists would be the ones to lead the Peasants Republic into the future. However, their power was only barely greater than the more conservative but still liberal wing of the Azure Coalition who maintained a powerful presence in the Agni senate. If there was a true loser for this election it undoubtedly falls onto the nationalistic Azure Front who barely scraped together 11% of the vote, just 1% above the ten percent bar that would turn the Azure senators into a group of independent MS'.

    The OL-RG had campaigned on a platform of workers rights and democracy, promising to socialize the unfair system and save the common citizen from the economic depression that was coming, and thanking their voting base of urban proletariat as well as rural peasantry. Aside from the Agni economy immediately tanking from the election of the left-wing party, Agnigrad can finally let go of the breath it had been holding.


    Reds Win! Gror Enraged!

    During the OL-RG leader and candidate Borin Yeles speech to the Senate following his victory Hazel Front leader Eugen Gror, alongside the rest of the Hazel Front Party, led a walkout from the Senate floor. Though dramatic, the nationalists' bitterness in defeat seems to be the only speed bump post-election as both Azure and Independent senators conceded the vote to the OL-RG. When reached for a statement, Murial Notmann congratulated Borin for the victory and made it clear that the moderate Azure's would be willing to work with the left-wing party and to achieve 'equitable compromises'.​


    Borin Promises "Revolutionary Reforms"

    Boris Yeles, face of the OL-RG, has declared in his victory speech to the Senate that he will lead a set of dramatic and necessary reforms to Agnigrad in general and to the Constitution in particular. The anarcho-socialist desire to reform Agnigrad's constitution was not unknown, but having a near majority in the Senate means such reforms can be feasibly achieved if they can secure the assistance of the Azure Coalition who will undoubtedly demand a 'watering down' of the OL-RG's socialist ideals were such amendments to pass the House, and or even the supreme court. His speech has confirmed what many conservative elements in Agnigrad have feared, despite the fact the OL-RG would be fighting an uphill battle to pass such legislation.​


    Three days after the electoral victory, army units passing through Greater Agnigrad towards the Destrian border abruptly left the trains carrying them and began to move into the city. The Greater and Lesser Agnigrad Police departments were stormed and its officers disarmed by Genderarmie Military Police, and all roads into the capital were blocked off by military checkpoints. Soon the headquarters for the OL-RG, Azure Coalition, and Hazel front were also taken by force by military units as other units occupied the Diet Building, the Imperial Palace, and other government buildings. By noon, the cities of Greater and Lesser Agnigrad were firmly in the grip of the Army, the execution of the coup going perfectly and bloodlessly. However, it was in the end a complete failure.

    Aside from the Hazel Front who were deep in strategy after their decisive defeat in the polls, the Azure Coalition had abruptly dispersed across the country due to Murial Notmann suddenly coming down with the Flu and planned to reconvene for strategic talks later, and the OL-RG who had decided to travel to their eastern regional HQ to celebrate the victory before touring the communal villages in what was a celebratory lap. Twelve hours earlier and the operation would've gone off flawlessly, but like all things in life nothing could ever be perfect.

    The Vice President Sullian Downer has been reinstated as President of the Peasants Republic of Agnigrad, though real power is held in the hands of General Nicolis Breven the General Staff. Like most high ranking Generals, Nicolis has strong ties to the old UEP and has justified the seizure of power as an 'act to preserve the moral and structural integrity of the Agni state'. He calls on the Azure's and the OL-RG to surrender peacefully to the 'lawful authority of the land'.




    Lesser Agnigrad, after days of riots and military buildup between naval marines and army units​

    It has been nearly a week since the army seized control of the government, and General Nicolis Breven, on behalf of the president, has condemned the military units that have pledged allegiance to the "Coalition to Restore Democracy for the Agni" (or CRDA) as mutinous traitors. The General has also condemned the Air Corps squadrons who have fled east and the numerous volunteer brigades and reservist divisions who have armed themselves in order to answer the call of President Borin Yeles against the military takeover that threatens their democratic institutions, not to mention the numerous 'International Brigades' that are forming overseas. As of now, it seems the CRDA have command over a majority of the country, especially the eastern half, but General Nicolis' 'clique' has retained the loyalty of at least three quarters of the Grand Armies standing military as well as 90% of its heavy equipment and has a firm control over both the capitol and the industrial heartland of Agnigrad.

    Admiral Svirmnor has firmly declared the navy's neutrality in the matter and maintains that the navy's ships will remain moored. In Lesser Agnigrad, chunks of the city are now separated and divided as army units dig in across from the navy's marines. Also missing at this time is the AXIS, the Agnigrad intelligence service. Many experts believe their silence speaks for themselves and they also await for a clear victor to be evident before pledging their support.

    General Nicolis has also gone on to declare that if the 'treasonous forces' did not stand down within thirty days, he would be forced to bring the rebellious elements of the nation to heel 'with all the force available to our capabilities.' With Murial Notmann's support, as well as the vast populist uproar that has risen in favor of President Borin, it is unlikely this deadline will be taken seriously. The Atlantica holds its breath as Agnigrad once more prepares to delve into a battle of blood and spirit for the second time in its history, and regardless of the victor, the tremors of such a conflict will be felt throughout the continent. Agnigrad, the Sleeping Giant of Atlantica, stirs in its sleep.
     
    As the new decade rolls around, Kuroshio along with friends from ANOBTEI, Outer Haven, Gwrythriad and Sylva have once again has left a lasting impact of the scientific community with many new advances and breakthroughs in the fields of metallurgy, paints, and quantum physics. Indeed out of the several Nobel Prize awards given this year, approximately 65% were given to either Kuronesian, Tish, Haven Gwrthryian or Sylvan scientists. With the new decade coming in, it is likely that this trend will continue on, possibly even to the next decade and beyond

    - Honkai's Impact 3rd Edition A Government-Subsidized Journal


    The Daily Fox Presents:
    Commissioning of the New Aircraft Carrier Zuikaku
    By Tama-no-Soregaki


    KAS Zuikaku currently docked in Kuroshio City Naval Base
    ​
    (TLD) - With the dawn of the new decades comes a new era for the Armed Forces of Kuroshio, Specifically the commissioning of a new Military Airship. The first of her class and a very new kind of ship class altogether.

    The commissioning of KAS Zuikaku marks the first true aircraft carrier in service to the Kuronesian Throne since the defection of Admiral Marcos, and quite possibly the first flying Aircraft Carrier in history. It is an achievement not only in the military sense, but also in the scientific and engineering sense.

    Indeed, it took several decades worth of research and development to modify the Littoria-Type Airship Hull to support a fully capable flight deck, with a full complement of multi-role fighters, but it was one that would finally allow the Kuronesian Air Navy to solve a major gap in their offensive and defensive operations by allowing smaller much more agile fighters to keep up with airships rather than either confining airships to the ranges of these fighters, or allowing airships to go unsupported, Mid-air Refuelling notwithstanding.

    At the commissioning ceremony, the Emperor gave a warm speech about how the Zuikaku would be a massive boost to the crown's military capabilities and at the same time finally ensured that the Air Fleets have finally caught up to the surface navy in terms of power and is a clear sign that Kuroshio is indeed ready to transition to a fully capable air navy.

    In line with this the Navy is set to receive another round of budget cuts in preparation for the disbandment of the surface fleet come 2015. - Tama-no-Soragaki, Daily Fox News


    Kuroshio Tribune Presents:
    Ministry of Defense Orders Additional Tactical Surface Fighters
    By Alfred Hoshigumo


    Tactical Surface Fighters of the Royal Guard in Parade Formation
    ​
    As the New Year and New Decade dawn upon Kuroshio, Another round of budget cuts and the divestment of ships from the Surface Navy have led to a surprisingly prosperous windfall in terms of military spending.

    Because of this, the Ministry of Defense have once again ordered 300 units of Kuroshio's vaunted Tactical Surface Fighters, the special mechs utilized by the Kuronesian Armed Forces and it's Shimojin cousins noted for their speed and agility in the battlefield. While most of the orders will likely be A-15 Cipher or A-16 Fubuki models, a classified amount of units were reserved for the more advanced A-22 Mobius model, used by Squadron leaders and Elite Squadrons or the A-29 Ghost, used by the Royal Guard and the Special Task Force A-01 the Valkyries.

    Ever since their introduction during the Great War, the Tactical Surface Fighters have since been an integral part of the Kuronesian Armed Forces. As it approaches it's 70th Birthday, it is clear that the TSFs are here to stay. - Alfred Hoshigumo, Kuroshio Tribune


    NCD Broadcasting presents:
    Emperor Junichi further reduces funding for the Surface Navy
    By Gavin Sparks


    Former Fleet Carrier KNS Stormbird undergoing scrapping
    ​
    With the launch of the brand new fleet carrier Zuikaku, and her sister ships, Shokaku and Enterprise to be completed soon, the Ministry of Defense led in part by suggestions from Emperor Junichi have once again introduced a set of budget cuts and funding reductions.

    "The Navy has been nothing more than an embarrassment" Said Queen Rosa Littorio-Kuronami in a press conference a few days ago. She further reiterated that Kuroshio has long memories, and as long as they live, they will never forgive the treachery of Admiral Marcos and the rest of the Navy. She then further said that the funding will likely go the Air Fleets, more Tactical Surface Fighters, or bolstering the already powerful submarine fleet.

    When asked about this, Fleet Commander Iku Noritaka of Submarine Command said that "The Surface Navy brought ruin to Kuroshio and forever tarnished their reputation, however, we submariners are immune to such because of our loyalty and prowess." She also then stated that an additional 3 Sea-vixen Submarines have been ordered bringing the total to about 15 Nuclear Attack Submarines, greatly bolstering Kuroshio's already formidable underwater fighting force. - Gavin Sparks, NCD Broadcasting


    The Daily Fox Presents:
    VALKYRIES Dominate in Exercises despite using inferior gear
    By Yuki Sukihara


    The Valkyries during Exercise PROMININCE
    ​
    Last week, one of Kuroshio's famed special operation forces known as the Special Task Force A-01, dubbed the Valkyries, trounced multiple advanced squadrons piloting A-22s while piloting a mix of A-9 Murakumos and A-4 Phantoms

    Of the many squadrons in the Kingdom, A-01, otherwise known as the Valkyries, is undoubtably one of the best squadrons out there. Focusing on quick decisive strikes, long range strategic strike missions, and even stealth reconnaissance.

    "These are the kind of guys that can sneak up on a person despite being in a three-story mech" says Legendary TSF Pilot Yuuka Hayase of the elite Millennium Squadron.

    Yuuka Hayase is a famed TSF Ace Pilot who served in many local and international combat missions with more than 100 kills to her name. She is also the leader of Millennium Squadron, and is one of the elite Squadrons positioned along the border with Welt, and was once even considered a candidate for inclusion into the Valkyries but turned it down to stay with her squad.

    "During the exercise I was flying in my TSF, full specs, no handicaps." Yuuka said in an interview. "Even though I knew the enemy was using retired mechs, the Valkyries were a force that were to be reckoned with. A summation that likely saved my skin that time"

    During the exercise, Yuuka was one of the few survivors of an initial strike using A-4 Phantoms. The strike had wiped out at least two squadrons alone, and severely depleted the last third.

    "From that point, it was pretty hopeless." Yuuka said "After the A-4 strike, they managed to scatter the remaining survivors and then hunted as down using the 'Kumos. The only consolation was that I managed to take 6 of them with me before I went down."

    The pilots of A-01 are of a different breed compared to the normal TSF pilots, being truly one with their mech allows them to make manoeuvres and turns that far more agile and normally impossible for most normal TSF Pilots - Yuki Sukihara, The Daily Fox


    Kuroshio City Gazette Presents:
    The New '10s: The New Decade Awaits
    By Jonas Arkhipov
    ​
    With 2009 coming to a close and brand new decade coming to life, Kuroshio has a lot in store for it's denizens but first let us catch up on some pretty important facts.

    International Relations

    As a member of the Union of Nations, Kuroshio maintains relatively good relations with the other members of the world, owing to Lord Junichi's stance on semi-isolationism and distaste for combat in general.

    In addition, relations between the scientific alliance G-SEA remains relatively excellent with large scale scientific experiments between Kuronesian, Tish, Sylvan, Haven and Gwrythriad Scientists being much more commonplace and is likely to become even more common as the decade continues.

    Food Security continues to be somewhat of a concern as imports from ANOBTEI and Havjfell increase by 5% in the past decade. In addition, imports of iron and other raw materials continue to accelerate as more and more refining plants come online.

    Thanks to Honkai Technology, Kuroshio remains one of the greenest and safest environments around, behind Sylva, ANOBTEI, and Havjfell when it comes to environmental cleanliness.

    Local Developments

    Honkai based Technology continues to be integrated into society at a breakneck pace. Earlier this month, a brand new prototype Honkai Reactor was unveiled to the public. While unlikely to replace Thorium Nuclear Energy as a main power source, Honkai Based Power supply has long since been considered as a cleaner and safer alternative to Nuclear energy, but due to how expensive Honkai Crystals are it is likely it will never be popular with the masses

    Anti-Entropy GmbH reveals the newest model of their general purpose mech. Dubbed the Padrino Model J, the brand new is expected to be a new benchmark in Honkai Robotics and other engineering fields.

    The Mutsu-Ironsides Conglomerate celebrates the completion of a brand new Maglev rail line connecting the southern island of Sorakumo to the eastern main island of Yukijima, a shining achievement that will bring forth more people together and closer than ever before.

    Economic Developments

    As Honkai-Based power-generation become more accessible to the public, Cryptocurrency makes a stunning recovery after the several legislations that banned it in Kuroshio are repealed with Honkai-Based Power Generation and Computing as well as government oversight reducing the overall environmental impact. NFT's however, remain illegal as per UoN resolution #49 on the Legality of Cryptocurrency

    In addition, the stock market continues to flourish as... To be continued on Page E9

    ​
    Interlude: The Gathering Storm:

    Red Sun over Kuroshio Presents:
    The Secret Life of the Immortals: An Untold Tale of Debauchery
    by Suikou
    ​
    It is a common fact, that due to their long lives, both the Immortal Matriarchs of Saakhwia and the Immortal Harem of Kuroshio all have many secrets of their own.

    But today, it will remain a secret no more.

    Last week, The Red Sun interviewed a person, whose identity will remain unknown, about the lurid and erotic details (which were revealed to him in a dream) of how the Immortals are connected and how they became immortal through the powerful Tantric and Satanic Rituals and of their true nature that goes beyond what is human and other mysteries that they hold within their minds....

    <KURO>
    ​

    The Imperial Palace, Kuroshio City
    December 29th, 2009
    1000 Hours

    "What sort of Rubbish is this?!" Admiral John Crawford exclaimed as he continued reading through the article, even as it began to shift from the Immortal's sex lives to other weird and occult stuff one would usually find in these sorts of publications.

    I admit, He thought These tabloids aren't exactly the best, but t-this is just ridiculous!

    "Be honest, did you really think you would find something of substance there?" Said a voice from behind John.

    One that immediately sent the Admiral ramrod straight while turning 180 degrees in less than a millisecond before saluting.

    "Well... Sort of... My lord." John admitted as Emperor Junichi knelt down and picked up the tabloid from within the ground before scanning the article.

    Snorting as he finished reading the article, Junichi smiled mirthfully as he gave the tabloid back to John.

    "The whole 'the immortals are the manifested spirits of ships' has been one of the more popular rumours spreading around." Junichi said, "And a fairly old one too. Been seeing those since the early 1200s"

    "And you aren't bothered by it?!" John asked.

    Junichi laughed, "When 1300 years old, you reach; Learn to ignore things, you tend to do."

    "Besides, If you think the tabloids are bad you should see the fanfics." Junichi continued as he began walking down the hallway towards the gardens

    John's eyes widened in mortification as he followed the Emperor

    "Oh, no"

    "Oh, yes" Junichi replied with a wide grin. "Let me tell you, there are a lot out there, and things they imagine..."

    "I can't believe you would allow the people to do such things." John exclaimed in disbelief while facepalming.

    "Like I said, you can't really stop the people from doing what they want, and frankly enough, I'm too old to care about this shit." Junichi said.

    "Besides some of the stories, especially the ones in Sufficient Vernacular or SpiceBases can be genuinely good and fairly intriguing in the historical sense."

    "I see..." John said, conceding the topic.

    "Anyway, why did you actually buy that tabloid." Junichi asked his tone neutral but firm, "I didn't expect you to have an interest in drivel like that."

    "Yeah, I don't but the headline sort of caught my interest." John said as he held out the tabloid, this time fixated on the front page. "After reading it, I decided to read some of the articles, and I found that..."

    With a raise eyebrow, Junichi took the paper and read the headline.

    '9th War of the Dominion, Astrologists and Shamans say it's closer than you think.'

    With a pensive look, he quickly skimmed through the article, his eyes meticulously reading everything, before giving it back to the slightly confused Admiral, his expression much more serious.

    "So... what do you think?" James asked hesitantly.

    "Mmm... Well, like the rest of the newspaper, the Article is trash" Junichi said. "The headline... not so much..."

    "The 9th War, huh?" Admiral James said. "So I guess the rumours are true... and I guess that's why you accelerated the construction on the Zuikaku and her sister ships"

    "Indeed." Junichi said. "Long United, Rheon must once again divide. Such is the nature of the Dominion, and one just has to know the signs"

    "And you think it's going to happen soon." Admiral John asked

    "Dominator Guerrino is becoming too weak to rule effectively meaning that there is likely going to be a vote of no confidence. The Kazehana are also on the move with some of our agents saying that they have been in talks with Von Lutzow Clan." Junichi said

    "For what specifically, I have no idea, but it can't be good. Not to mention the recent rising tensions between the Dominion and Artemia have all been really troubling" Junichi continued his gaze stoic and voice calm.

    "There's also whispers of Ruvuman involvement and some rumours about Outer Haven as well but those are mostly stereotypes and jokes rather than anything concrete" Junichi added with a slight smile.

    "I see..." James said. "So what do we do?"

    "For now, Nothing." Junichi replied. "At the moment, there shouldn't be anything to worry about, It's only when Dominator Guerrino gets ousted when we should really start to worry."

    "What about your friends?"

    "Lord Kamisato knows more about the situation than I do, and so I trust him to make the right choice. In addition, I've already informed our allied clans in Shimokuni, they aren't moving yet, but they are planning extended vacations should the 9th War really come to pass."

    "As for Tally and Kay... well," Junichi said with a smile on his face "I've told them already a few days ago, but the pair are stubborn as ever."

    "Didn't you say Tally was going to Welt as a diplomat?" James asked, slightly concerned.

    "Yep." Junichi said. "She's also heading there as a guest lecturer for the Rheon Military Academy."

    "She's still planning on going then?" James asked, slightly aghast that a head of state would risk her life like that.

    "Indeed. I advised them against going, but like I said, they are as stubborn as ever." Junichi said, a nostalgic smile forming on his lips. "That said, Kay told me not to worry, as she told she's planned for any eventuality in order to secure Tally's safety. I even offered the assistance of the Valkyries, but she told me that they weren't needed for her plans."

    "What plans?" James asked.

    "No idea." Junichi admitted, shrugging in response "She was vague about it, but I know Kay, and she'll move heaven and earth to keep Tally safe."

    "Fair enough." James said.

    "Make no mistake, Admiral..." Junichi said as they exited the castle and into the palace grounds. The pair then made their way to a balcony overlooking Kuroshio's northern coast, the ocean uninterrupted until the mainland. Looking out onto the horizon, one could see the distinctive tell-tale of a ocean storm coming

    "The 9th War is Coming... with all it's glory, and all it's horror, and we are powerless to stop it..." Junichi said stoically.

    "...All we can do, is ride the storm and hope we come out intact."


    Interlude: All quiet on the Welter Front
    Welt/Kuroshio border, north of Fortress City Zariuthol
    December 30, 2009,
    2100 Hours

    The border between Welt and Kuroshio is a marvellous piece of engineering. Built with the help of Erdean Engineers, the massive mountain fortresses along this border are a symbol of Kuroshio's resilience and steadfastness in the case of an overwhelming opponent. In fact,

    More than two millennia ago, this border served as a bastion against the raids of the ancient Westrans. Protecting the vulnerable populace of Kitakuroshio against the violent hordes

    Nowadays it serves to hold back the Welters, although in this relations are much warmer, In fact it gets regular use from freight trains, trucks, and the occasional tourist.

    Still, that doesn't mean Kuroshio is willing let such excellent fortresses go to waste. Indeed, these fortresses and defenses are manned by some of the best in the Kuronesian Armed Forces.

    And for one of them... one could even say they might be the best in all of Kuroshio

    <WELT>
    ​
    Captain Yuuka Hayase, the legendary eishi, looked skyward and admired the stars above as she perched on the shoulders of her TSF.

    It was a calm night with a cool breeze, the sounds of cicadas and the occasional flickering of fireflies could be seen around them as she perched on top of her mech.

    Over to the left she could see the members of Millennium Squadron chatting with members of the Valkyries by the Campfire, Smiling, she turned her attention over to the Welt Border where she and her squadron along with A-01 were supposed to be on watch.

    Grimacing, the eishi sighed and continued looking towards the border. Even though there was no sign of any sort of invasion, Yuuka couldn't keep her head clear of it. For some reason, she remains vigilant, despite knowing that there is nothing to be afraid of.

    I know there shouldn't be but... She thought silently. Still... I feel like something is coming, something big...

    "You know, I've never taken you for the brooding type." A familiar voice said.

    Smiling, Yuuka closed her eyes as a warm familiar presence sat down beside her, before eventually leaning into his side. His scent and warmth comforting the battle-hardened ace as if she was a mere high-schooler.

    "Sorry, Percy... Just can't help it I guess."

    Captain Percieval Crawford of the A-01 smiled and hugged the purple-haired ace pilot, while softly rubbing and kissing her head.

    "It's not good to brood like that, especially on a night like this... and most definitely not my fiancée"

    "You mean one of your fiancées" Yuuka corrected without any hint of venom.

    "Sorry, Yuuka-chan." Percieval laugh sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. "It guess I'm just popular with the ladies."

    It was pretty clear to everyone that many of the girls in A-01 were becoming enamoured with the Ace Pilot, even girls like the ever loyal Yui Takamura, the red-headed firebrand Asuka Langley Soryuu, and the cold and distant Rei Ayanami, were beginning to warm up to the fighter ace.

    "Hehe, don't worry about it lover boy." Yuuka replied while giving him a small kiss on the cheek. "I don't mind being part of a harem."

    Harems are a relatively common thing nowadays for both commoners and most especially for the nobility of both the Kurojin and the Shimojin. Especially when gender rights and same sex marriages resulted in most harems post-1500 being less traditional and more like one big polycules and polyamorous bisexual blobs.

    And with Percieval being the eldest son of one Kuroshio's Ducal houses, a harem would a symbol of the house's prosperity.

    "You sure about that, Yuuka-chan?" Percieval asked. "Having a harem isn't exactly necessary. I mean, look at the Twinneys. Plus, you are my fiancée, so I defer everything about harems to you."

    "Thank you, Percy, but like I said, I don't mind, and besides..." Yuuka replied before leaning close to his ear.

    "...I don't actually mind being with a girl." She whispered with a giggle before her thoughts wandered to a certain brown-haired fitness-obsessed Eishi who was also a member of her squadron.

    Especially how after she exercised the sweat from her pores would drip down the valley of her breasts down towards her toned midriff, and how she wanted to just lic-

    "OW!" She exclaimed as someone lightly tapped her on the head. Looking up she found herself staring into her lover's amused grin.

    "First, you tell me you're bi, and second I catch you having lewd thoughts." Percieval said, barely trying to keep himself from laughing.

    "Who are you, and what have you done to my beloved calculator?"

    Almost immediately, Yuuka blushed deep crimson and buried her face into his chest while pounding it lightly.

    "Mou..." Yuuka groaned. "I'll have you know that it was your fault for turning me into a pervert so you better take responsibility mister. Otherwise I may never return to my old self"

    "And what if I like the new, perverted. Yuuka?" Percieval asked to which Yuuka responded by pounding him even harder.

    "...Baka." Yuuka said, with a small smile before retreating from his embrace and staring out towards the border with another sigh.

    "...Do you want to talk about it?" Percieval asked.

    "I don't know, Percy..." Yuuka admitted softly. "I know I shouldn't be paranoid, but my instincts have been flaring up these past few days..."

    "About what?"

    Yuuka sat there silently, closing her eyes before gazing out into the night.

    "I feel like something big is about to happen..."

    "...Something we can't stop."

    As soon as she said those words, Junichi's eyes narrowed and her gaze hardened before gazing out into the border like his fiancée, before sighing and bowing his head.

    "Percieval?" Yuuka asked as she noticed his lover in such a state.

    "Well..." Percieval replied, hesitantly. "Nothing's official yet, it's just speculation..."

    "Something wrong?" Yuuka asked to which Percieval replied with a nod.

    "With the failing health of Dominator Guerrino, there's been whispers that..." Percieval began before trailing off, but judging by the way Yuuka's eyes widened as she gasped,

    "The 9th War..." She breathed out.

    "Yes," Percieval confirmed. "Soon, Junichi says that the 9th War will likely happen within this decade, possibly within this year as well."

    "Oh... I see..." Yuuka replied

    For a moment, the pair stared at the border in silence, contemplating on the idea itself. For the two of them, such a thought was unthinkable... That decades of peace would soon be interrupted by another war at their doorstep.

    A war that they simply could not ignore.

    "There's only one answer to the question you're both thinking."

    Suddenly, both Percieval and Yuuka snapped out of their daze as they heard a familiar voice. Looking down, they saw a figure scaling up Yuuka's TSF.

    Percieval then broke out into a smile. "Commander, Good to see you."

    "Don't call me that when we're off duty, Percieval." The person said as she finally managed to reach the Mech's shoulder and sat alongside the pair.

    "Should we be calling you Queen Miho then?" Yuuka asked sweetly, to which Percieval chuckled and Miho responded with a snort

    "Don't call me that, either." Queen Miho Nishizumi-Kuronami, The Fourth Queen of Kuroshio, and the former Commander of A-01 said as she steadied herself. "Makes me feel old."

    "With all due respect, ma'am you are old. Especially considering who you were." Percieval pointed out which got him a smack from the older lady.

    "You're really doing your damned hardest to piss me off, aren't you?" Miho asked before breaking down laughing along with the pair.

    "So... Miho-san, what are you doing out here?" Yuuka asked.

    "Yeah, I thought you'd be cracking open a cold beer and trading stories about your time as the Ghost." Percieval added.

    "Ghost?" Yuuka asked, confused as to what Percieval was referring to.

    "It's supposed to be an A-01 only thing..." Miho said while glaring at Percieval who looked away in embarrassment, "...But you're a Valkyrie in all-but-name anyway so I'll let this slide."

    "Anyway... have you heard of the Ghost of Westrazwahlskia?"

    Yuuka snorted "Who hasn't?"

    The Ghost of Westrazwahlskia was an ancient legend across Kalaharia and the southern islands. Tales of a powerful bandit queen who terrorized the lands and conquered vast swathes of territory before vanishing into the mists of time. Many say she never existed, or that her existence was based of the records of an actual bandit leader whose name, deeds, and gender have been embellished over the years.

    In response, Miho only grinned as Yuuka stared at the Westran-born Queen.

    Wait... Westran... Immortal... Stories... Yuuka thought as she continued to stare at Miho, her face morphing into that of absolute shock.

    "Y-y-you're the..." Yuuka gasped her finger shaking as she pointed it at Miho.

    "Yep, I'm the Ghost. The Living Breathing Ghost in the flesh." Miho confirmed her grin as smug as the cat that caught the canary

    "Holy hell... the living legend herself" Yuuka breathed out.

    "If it helps, most of my squadron had the same reaction as you." Percieval said "To think we're in the presence of the woman, the myth, the legend"

    "Oh, stop it. I'm no legend." Miho said. "I'm just a bandit queen who met the love of her life and got betrayed by my people and cost me my best friend. Just because I'm hailed as powerful legend, doesn't mean I am as good as the stories say."

    "Sorry." Yuuka said "I shouldn't have brought it up."

    "It's fine, youngsters." Miho reassured her.

    "Anyway, going to back my original point, I came out here, because it seemed you two were too depressed for someone your age." Miho said, "So I wanted to know if I could help out."

    "To be fair though, you'd probably be disheartened to know that a major conflict is brewing and is likely to blow up in a few years or maybe even months." Yuuka said.

    Once again, Miho turned to Percieval with a glare, who replied wordless shrug.

    "...You know, If you weren't from a Ducal House and/or Yuuka can't be trusted, I would have you court-martialled for violating OPSEC." Miho muttered before turning back to Yuuka and sighing.

    "Yeah, the 9th War is going to be a bitch and half and it does look like things are headed that way. Hell - it's why decided to go back in the saddle after a long time, but between you and me, I wouldn't worry about it."

    "Didn't you just say that it's headed that way?" Yuuka asked with a confused look on her face.

    "Well yes, but it's mostly just speculation and educated guesses." Miho answered with a shrug "Nothing concrete yet. At this point, we might be just grasping at straws."

    "I see..." Yuuka said. "So, I guess my fears are unfounded then?"

    "No, not really." Percieval said. "The 9th War is definitely going to happen, but as Miho said, there's no use worrying about it until shit really hits the fan. Especially for us grunts."

    "Exactly. Leave the worrying to us adults. We can handle the stress better." Miho said with a proud grin on her face "So here's my advice: Live life freely and as you take it, don't worry about the future, or other little what-if, what-nots, and other sorts of doubts. You got that?"

    "Yes, ma'am." The duo replied to her with a nod.

    "That's good." Miho replied as she stood up and began climbing down the mech.

    "Now, I'm going you two lovebirds alone and spend some time with the other guys." Miho said. "Try not to break anything while you're up there."

    The pair nodded in agreement. "Yes ma'am."

    Miho raised one final thumbs up before leaving the couple to their solitude. Not too long afterward, the couple simply continued their vigil on the Northern border, with Yuuka leaning into Percieval's shoulder.

    After a few minutes, Percieval broke the silence.

    "So... what now?" He asked. "I mean, I all for just staying up here with you but... do you want to do something- WOAH!"

    All of a sudden, Yuuka grabbed his collar and kissed him deeply. Percieval was surprised at first but simply melted into the kiss afterward. A few moments later the pair broke off, but then Yuuka leaned even closer, right into his ear.

    "You know..." She said in between light giggles. "TSFs are quite... roomy"

    Percieval couldn't the shit-eating grin that Yuuka had, but knew she had it anyway.

    Mostly because the expression on his face was likely the same.

    "Yes... they are quite roomy indeed..." Percieval admitted "and considering that we'll be away for a long time, I take it you want to spend the rest of the night with me?"

    Yuuka giggled in response.

    "Good Answer." She replied as she closed the distance between their lips once more.

    Indeed TSF cockpits are indeed quite roomy. Especially by the standards of most mechs.

    but as the pair would later find out that morning, it's not as soundproofed as they had hoped...


    Interlude: The Sand, The Wind, The Stars:
    The New Year in Kuroshio is celebrated in a myriad of ways.

    In most urban areas, the new year celebrations turn into massive block parties and a literal barrage of fireworks. Most especially in the Capital around the Royal Palace grounds where the annual Kuroshio Fireworks Festival is held during the new year.

    Sometimes, people choose to celebrate in a more close-knit manner. Inviting over neighbors, families, and friends to celebrate the coming of the new year whether that be in their apartments, penthouses, condominiums, or simple homes out in the countryside. In fact, some people, especially among the older and more isolated parts of the country take it a step further by celebrating ancient religious rituals. Particularly, the Sukinaya, to ring in the new year.

    Normally, as the Emperor, I would be at the capital right now, giving out a speech to the massive crowds on the Imperial Palace, opening the fireworks festival.

    While I enjoy being a part of such a massive spectacle, I decided that this year; I would spend time with the six people that made and will continue to make my life a blissful one.

    The ones that have alleviated my so-called curse all those years ago.



    <NEWYEAR>​



    A Secret Beach on Sunaookami Island
    December 31st, 2009
    2350 Hours

    The ocean is a beautiful, almost ethereal, otherworldly place.

    As such it is not surprising that the ocean is held in high regard by Kurojin and Shimojin, especially among the elderly. Indeed, there are many legends and tales about the ocean, from across all genre of written and oral arts.

    However, while the ocean is beautiful place during the day, I believe that it's true beauty emerges at night, when the boundary between the sea and sky disappear as the stars melt into the ocean like one big Diamond Crevasse.

    The experience... it's like you are floating out in space.

    Although, if I were to be honest, that's not the biggest reason why I chose this place...

    "Fire in the hole!" Elysia screamed out as she lit another Bottle Rocket firecracker after she embedded it in the sand and lit it with her match as Miho, Sora, Rosa and Mei cheered her on.

    A few moments later, the firework launched itself into the air in a shower of sparks, careening up into the air as if carrying our wishes to the heavens, before exploding with a loud bang over the still ocean.

    "WOOHOO! That never gets old." Elysia exclaimed.

    "Hell yeah! Way to go Elysia!" Miho said as she gave the pink-haired Sylvan Elf a high-five.

    "Not bad. Not bad at all" Rosa said from where she sat on the beach before turning her attention to me and Shiroko.

    Unlike my more active harem members, me and Shiroko elected to enjoy each other's company and warmth, simply sitting by the campfire as I played a tune on my Guitar.

    "Hey, you guys." Rosa called out. "Did you see that?"

    Before I could reply, however Shiroko beat me to the punch.

    "Yes we did, Rosa. It was beautiful." She replied.

    "Hey, C'mon! get over here, you guys" Mei called out with a beer in one hand and a barbeque on the other. "It's ten minutes before the new year, so let's get to it."

    "Coming!" Rosa replied before turning to us once more. "You guys just wanna stay there?"

    "Mmm... Junichi. Warm." Shiroko replied softly which had and me Rosa giggling "Just call us at one minute before the New Year."

    "Hmph... even after a thousand years." Rosa remarked as she stood up and headed over to the others. "Never change, Shiroko. Never change.

    With that, it was just the two of us left as the others continued to party and launch fireworks.

    As I looked down towards Shiroko, I can't help but smile at our circumstances.

    For one, while I was the one to suggest to my harem that we celebrate the holidays alone and away from the public life, I was most certainly not expecting to have a beach party in the middle of winter.

    Nevertheless, it was Shiroko's suggestion that we spend Christmas and the New Years at her old folks place on Sunaookami Island and since the island was fairly isolated and away from people it was perfect for our little get away from the limelight.

    The fact that this island was also my home over a thousand years ago did help things...

    In fact this beach... it holds a lot of memories for me and Shiroko.

    Anyway, despite the inappropriate season, the breeze was still relatively cool, and the water more or less lukewarm, meaning that we spent most of our vacation swimming around the island and enjoying the local hot springs.

    Of course, as New Year arrived, we decided to have a small beachside barbeque in the night. Just the seven of us alone on this beach. Nothing but the stars, the cool wind, the soft sand, and the gentle crash of ocean waves. Granted, the girls can get very loud at times with their celebrations.

    ...And as soon as I think that, I see another firecracker careen upwards before exploding in a rainbow of colors raining down on the dark ocean. As always, Naganohara Pyrotechnics never disappoints

    Meanwhile, I was simply content to listen and watch as my beloved harem enjoy the the last few minutes of this decade with my very first love leaning next to me as I play another tune on my guitar.

    "Hmm, Junichi..." Shiroko said, as she looked up to meet my gaze.

    "Hey, Shiroko." I said while softly rubbing her head and white fox-ears. "What's up."

    "Do you still remember... that night, where we made our promise to each other."

    Ah yes... the night where we promised ourselves to each other, the night on this beach where we were forever bonded, and created pendants from that meteorite as a symbol of our oath. Rather fittingly, it was those same pendants that rendered us immortal.

    Unconsciously, my hand went to my pendant hanging around my neck. Shiroko's was destroyed, rendering it powerless, but mine was still active. Still thrumming with an ancient power from beyond the earth.

    As much, I would like to destroy it, this pendant is my only link with the Kuroshio of old... It's a link I can never let go of...

    Even more fittingly, was the fact that we made the oath under similar conditions. Lack of the Aurora Minami aside, it was almost identical.

    And now... I found myself back here, with the love of my life in my arms... and the other loves of my life enjoying life as we take it.

    "How could I forget?" I replied softly, as I continued to stroke her soft hair.

    "You know, back then... I didn't think that this... all of this would be our future, that we would spend an eternity together along with special few that we have brought along on our journey." Shiroko said. "But you know what... I love this future, and I wish this future would never end."

    "Sure, we've lost a lot people along the way... Andrew, Wilhelmina, Tamamo, Sayoko, Yuki... but..."

    "They wouldn't want us to mourn them for all eternity." I said

    "That's right." Shiroko agreed.

    "And ultimately, Junichi..." She continued. "You've got us, your beloved lovers for all eternity, and you've also got your friends on the other side of the world."

    She then paused before giggling softly. "You know, I should really thank them sometime, probably in the next visit to Saakhwia for what they taught you."

    Yep... She's right. the two elder-immortals had pretty much changed my views as to my new life. It was because of them that I stopped seeing it as a curse, and instead enjoy life as it approaches us.

    Rather than mourn the ones we've lost, instead cherish the memories, and use them to make new ones. A saying that Kay often used.

    "Yeah, those two really did change a lot."

    "And definitely for the better." Shiroko added.

    Suddenly, the two of us perked up as we heard Rosa calling us from a ways over by the shoreline..

    "HEY! SHIROKO!" Sora shouted "Stop hogging him, and get your asses over here, it's time."

    "Mmm... Rosa is just jealous." Shiroko said with slight smile as she straightened herself up and stood up, extending a hand towards me as she raised herself to full height.

    With a slight chuckle, I accepted it and stood up as well. Slowly, we made our way to the assembled group who now had a beer in each hand and were getting ready to light up the big fireworks in preparation for the new year.

    "Hehey! 'Bout time you made it, was wondering if you guys were going to miss out on something like this." Mei said patting Shiroko on the back and giving her an open beer.

    "You must not know me very well if you think I intend to not watch stuff blow up." Shiroko retorted as we chuckled at her comeback.

    Suddenly, Rosa cleared her throat, gaining our attention as we all turned to look at her.

    "Anyway, we've got about 30 seconds left." Rosa said before extending a bottle of beer to me. "Junichi, would you like to lead the toast?"

    Shrugging, I took the bottle of beer and raised it high.

    "A toast, to the future whether it be peace or war."

    "TO THE FUTURE" Everyone replied as our beers met

    "A toast, to our everlasting relationship."

    "TO OUR EVERLASTING POLYCULE!" Rosa shouted ahead of us making us all laugh with her different wording before our bottles met once more.

    "And a toast... to absent friends" I replied with a small melancholic smile.

    "To absent friends." Everyone replied solemnly, our beers meeting in the middle one last time before we all drank from them.

    The beer... well it's not bad, but I've tasted better.

    "You know, next time..." Rosa said as she stared at her bottle.

    "I think I should be the one to buy the beer. This beer tastes likes shit."

    Needless to say, we all laughed at her candor declaration

    "It was the only thing I could find on short notice, alright?" Sora replied indignantly "It's not like there's convenience stores around here."

    "Guys. It's go time" Shiroko suddenly said, her words cutting through Rosa's intended reply as she gestured to her phone.

    Well, time to end this decade with a bang.

    "Alright then let's go," I declared as my lovers gathered around me, as we brought in the new year with a mighty bang.

    "Shiroko, do the honors." I said as I wrapped my shoulder around the others.

    Shiroko nodded, in which she lit a match, and promptly lit the massive rockets fuse. As soon as it was lit, Shiroko joined as we counted down

    "TEN, NINE, EIGHT, SEVEN, SIX..."

    You know what...

    "FIVE, FOUR, THREE..."

    Tally and Kay were right after all...

    "TWO, ONE..."

    I would never trade this for anything else.

    "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" We all shouted as the rocket began ascending towards the air. Carrying with it all our hopes wishes and regrets for the past decade and the new decade beyond.

    For a few seconds it soared through the air like an arrow piercing the night, before it consumed itself in a mighty conflagration of man colors. Green, Red, Blue, Violets and Yellows. All of it contained in one single package...

    ...And just as the main show began running out of steam, several smaller explosions continued the chain reaction as the sky exploded and ocean lit up in colors as the fireworks show continued on.

    As I glanced into the mesmerized and happy faces on my lovers, I couldn't help but smile myself.

    Truly... what a way to end the decade.



    Interlude: The Future
    Location Unknown
    Date Unknown

    "So... are we all clear?" Doctor Mei Raiden asked her fellow scientists and military officials.

    At the moment, the bespectacled scientist was in a dark room alongside like minded officials.

    This room has a very storied story in the legend of Kuroshio. Many decisions and changes that affected the entire country and changed the course of the future were made here.

    Now, this was nothing different. At the middle of the gathered congregation, a single design made themselves known. The first, was a brand new kind of TSF, one that was superior, faster, stronger... better than anything that came before it.

    Not to mention it's likely cheaper too.

    This time, the future of the Tactical Surface Fighter, and by extension, Kuroshio itself, would be decided here.

    "Well, I have no objections for this design." Duke Twinney commented "Does anyone have any?"

    "Nope." Duke Yamashita replied.

    "Not from me." Duke Sunaookami replied

    "Wonderful!" Elysia said

    "So if there's nothing else, I hereby declare the Next Generation Vector Assault, otherwise known as the XFA-01J or Shiranui Program officially approved for funding and to be officially led by yours truly, Elysia Kuronami!" She declared to a round of applause.

    "Now... before we adjourn this meeting, there is one final thing we must discuss..." Mei Raiden said after the applause died down.

    As soon as she said that, a new set of folders appeared on each one of the scientists' and dukes' place. The folders were relatively thick, yet there were know exterior markings as to the nature of this project.

    "It has come to our attention, recently, that we may need to start using heavier ordinance and stronger mechs in order to break through fortified defenses. Particularly ones similar to Erde" Mei explained.

    "Hence why lord Junichi has requested us to begin the preliminary stages of development of a new breakthrough mech, designed for weathering heavy assaults and dishing out similar firepower in return." Elysia continued

    "Do we have a name for this project." Duke Twinney asked.

    "We do. It's on the first page of the folder" Elysia replied as everyone opened their copies. "Officially, it is known as the Highly Maneuverable Aeronautic Fortress, or Project HI-MAERF."

    "But recently, we believe we have a better name, one that is better suited for a mech of such power and strength." Mei added.

    "And that is?" Duke Yamashita asked.

    Mei grinned sadistically in response,

    "Susanoo."


    God, that took me forever.

    Anyway, I think that should be a satisfactory set-up for my nation. Granted, I did make some assumptions, especially with regards to the history of Westrazwahlskia as well as some characters, but I don't think it's too much of an issue.

    If there, is I'll probably just change them and my apologies if I overstep my boundaries.

    Well... here's to the start of the Nation Game, long may Kuroshio live.
     
    Last edited:
    University of Cormoropolis
    Early 2010

    "Now, the Katraz were very much human like most of us. However, until the ancient Saakhwian Empire came to their lands, they had little, if anything, in the way of written records."

    The voice filled the classroom as students listened intently, as pictures of archaeological dig sites were pulled up onto the smart board. The professor took one of the markers and drew a few arrows, pointing to some pottery that clearly showed human figures. Not a sign of the horns and antlers and stranger features that defined their modern-day descendants.

    The professor, a man who had shaved his head, adjusted his glasses as he cleared the arrows and went to the next slide. "The Saakhwians were at the height of their conquests. Their skills on horseback were unmatched and many nations fell under the thundering hooves of their cavalry. When they came to ancient Katrazia, their arrival was most certainly not appreciated. Records on this are still sketchy, but according to their oral tradition, their people were kept as slaves, while the Saakhwian records insist that they were simply unruly subjects."

    Another slide, this time showing the flowing ancient script of the old empire. Most of the students present knew of Saakhwia as an ancient, if somewhat backwards nation that somehow spawned a pair of immortals. Every one of them knew the basic story of Kay Yorktown and Tally Evans, the unaging Matriarch and her consort. The idea that their country once spanned from one coast to the other had heads perking up.

    On the lecture went. The Professor went over the conflicting records, of oral passages from Katraz that were finally penned down after a long game of telephone, versus the written records from Saakhwia.

    "Both sides, however, did mention that there were multiple massacres that occurred in the region. Whether this was punitive or not, it seemed to have sparked a tipping point. In the early-to-mid ninth century, CE, something changed. In Katrazian culture, this is known as the udokadon. To the Saakhwians, it is simply known as the 'Shaping Plague'. Some of you might have heard of this story, for it is even recorded in both the Annals of the Empire of Kislev, as well as the Katrazian Bible."

    Tone even, he pulled up more images, as well as the famous painting from the era, of a vast tail of blue shifting to a foreboding red, surrounding a black center. "In July of that year, a comet appeared in the sky. According to Kislevite records, this comet started out as a shade of familiar blue and white, before turning red as it went east. They considered this a sign from God that his anger had built and would be cast upon somebody. This neatly dovetails with the Katrazian Biblical account of what they call 'God's Eye'."

    A pair of thick books were pulled out, being set onto the lecture table. "The Kislevite account reads as follows: 'A great star appeared, and the people were entranced, for they had never seen a sight such as this in their lives. It appeared as though the star was staring down at us, and many proclaimed that it was sent by God, who wished to more closely inspect his creation. As it passed over us, it was a deep shade of blue, but as it moved east, it turned red, and the people grew fearful. The priests had proclaimed that God had found the peoples of this land to be fine in his eyes, but that they had come upon a great, sinful people, and that they would soon hear reports of his wrath upon whoever it was that drew his ire.'"

    A few students perked up, as more paintings of the comet came up, including an Arcadian piece. "Most feared that Arcadia had done something, but the merchants from there had also seen the comet shift from blue to red. To them, it was a portent of war from Quetya. Many were left wondering just what this comet meant, until many months later, more Arcadian merchants were delivering reports of strange men with features of demons, and that the Saakhwians were in a panic." There was a brief chuckle. "Clearly, those priests were onto something."

    There were a few moments of silence as he let it sink in. "The Saakhwians were facing uprising after uprising throughout the region. All of a sudden, the local population was becoming seemingly inhuman." Another book was brought out, marked with at least a dozen tabs as he cracked it open. "This is from one of the local Saakhwian officials, and it reads as follows: 'Madness seems to have gripped this land. The people here, always restless, seem to have become consumed with a lust for violence. They even show it upon their own bodies. I had sent a thousand troops to one of the cities only for less than 50 to return. They all say the same thing: demons. The people have turned into demons. Our own soldiers seem unaffected by this plague, but the people here are turning. They consume dust and in an orgy of blood, horns and antlers and other things still sprout from them. We have been forced to leave, and we pray that this plague does not follow us home. If it does, it shall be the doom of us all.'"

    More paintings, showing the hulking forms of the newly-born proper Katraz marching against the Saakhwians, whose line infantry were ready to break, and whose fearless horses were trying so desperately to flee. Many of the class stared intently as the images were shown. Some were quite visceral, showing men impaled on the arms of their enemies. A few students began to tremble.

    "The Katraz, of course, have their own account. Their Bible, in the Book of Banishments, tells of an individual named Lukivar appearing from the mountains. The passage reads as follows:" He took out the book in question, opening it about a quarter of the way in before clearing his throat. "At the calends of July, in a year when the days were hot and the rains had not come, the Saakhwians looked to the sky and beheld the omen of their end. Moving across the sky was a comet with a great tail of fire, a body of blackest night, and a core of hateful red. This comet was God's eye, and He beheld the great suffering of His people, and He ordained that it would be no further. Then, from the mountains, came His herald. The Saakhwians looked upon him and beheld a man unlike other men, for he had great horns and a whipping tail and eyes of gold. This was Lukivar, emissary of God, and he spoke to them: 'I am the sword that will bloody, the torch that will burn all, and the light of a new age. Look upon God's wrath, you queens of hubris, and despair.'"

    Looking back up at the class, the professor noted their intent looks. He shook his head, before speaking. "No records exist of such an individual appearing, and if any do, they've yet to either be discovered or were lost long ago. I recommend picking up Henry Overfield's book on the matter, given that he goes into good detail on this." He paused, pushing up his glasses before his tone took a more serious one. "That said, the story is hugely important to many Katraz. To them, this account is their true origin as a distinct people, and even though the evidence says otherwise, many still abide by the story of Lukivar."

    A hand went up. "Then what does the evidence really suggest? Ah, when it comes to how the ancient Katraz became what they are now?" A student asked. The professor looked to her. Young and brunette, with a clear Kislev accent.

    "A good question." He exhaled. "But one we've yet to answer. As far as we know, the mechanism is unknown, and we've yet to even find the comet responsible, even though its appearance is recorded in numerous Kislevite, pre-Orkney, Arcadian, and Saakhwian sources. Though from what I understand, there's going to be an effort from the Astronomy Department to start a more serious search. The most common explanation was that some sort of mutagen was introduced, though whether this was through the comet or mere coincidence…" He threw his hands up. "I've got no idea what to tell you."

    [=]​

    Kerensky Air Force Base
    Verdansk Province, Artemia

    "So, these are the new wonder weapons that'll make arses out of anyone who crosses us?"

    "They're the new weapons alright, but we'll see if 'wonder' factors into this. Kaspersky Aerospace spent a decade working on these. Remote-controlled as per request and costing not even 10 million guilders a unit. We have 2 squadrons ready to deploy with another 10 in production."

    General Roman Horban crossed his arms as he eyed the large automated aircraft, noting its form. A triangle-shaped tail was its most distinctive feature. "Tell me, how will they counter the Jade Falcon defense systems?"

    The other man, younger and slim, gave him a smile. "We've managed to pack some surprisingly decent electronic warfare systems into this platform. It comes equipped with pulse jammers that will make it difficult to pinpoint by enemy air defenses and home-on-jam munitions, and can be kitted with longer-range jammers if need be." He explained, before giving the general a sigh. "However, I must inform you that these things aren't going to be the magic army or fleet-killers that the media hypes things like this up to be. They're meant to distract enemy air defenses and disrupt their logistics."

    "Which, when employed properly, can still do nasty things to an army." Horban replied, eyes narrow.

    The representative bashedly looked away, scratching his head. "Yes, but only if used en masse or if the enemy lacks sufficient SHORAD."

    A deep hum filled the air as the general ran his hand along the cold metal of the drone. "I remember someone saying that if one didn't keep up with technology, it would leave one's arse behind. I wonder…"

    "Other nations have been investing into their own drone programs. Outer Haven is perhaps the biggest outside of us."

    Hoban scowled. "Yes, I'm aware." His fist knocked against the airframe, in the middle of the roundel marking it as part of the Artemian Air Force. "I'm also aware that your company has developed a…" He paused, letting his features rest for a moment. "Shocking model of drone as well?"

    The representative nodded. "Ah, yes. In fact, they'll be arriving in just a few minutes. The Ky.6 is meant to offer a certain kind of tactical flexibility, and we've made sure that the instruction manuals are written in clearly-understandable language…"

    [=]​

    Cold. That was how it was beyond the Redoubts. New Years wasn't celebrated outside, especially in a place where midnight lasted almost a month. In fact, it was still dark, with barely a hint of light on the horizon.

    For Edward Garrick, it was just another day on the job as he hopped out of bed, the other occupant snoring and undisturbed. It was a man last night, figuring he'd shake things up a little. On the one hand, paid help was hard to find out this way. On the other, he didn't have to pay 100 guilders for a professional.

    It was awkward, but it worked out. He wrote a note and a 20-guilder bill so that the other man could grab breakfast from somewhere, before throwing his clothes on and grabbing a torch. Breakfast was a couple of cold protein bars. Normally there'd be eggs and meat involved, but the store was low given the blizzard down south.

    That second line couldn't come soon enough.

    But then again, a simple look at the papers he grabbed on his way out reminded him that his job was to help manage the line that was already here. The gate to Avrora Yard was barely a block away, and even in the bitter cold, it was faster to just walk there rather than start up the truck and wait for it to heat up.

    The guard at the gate gave him a nod before letting him through, and the scent of hot coffee filled Edward's nose.

    Coffee would be nice.

    Stepping into the warmth of the yard office— which was thankfully a permanent structure —he shed his coat and made his way to the break room, pouring a mug before walking over to his own desk. He reviewed the papers, before logging into the network and comparing the train orders on them to what was on his screen. All traffic in the Redoubts was halted due to the snowstorm down south, save a single train with empty ore jennies set to pull in within an hour.

    "Of fucking course…" He muttered to himself.

    Maybe he should've taken the day. He'd certainly be less bored.

    [=]​

    St. Andrew, Artemia
    Early 2010

    "New year, new problems." Admiral Christine Titus sighed, as she read the latest intelligence report coming from the south. More inflammatory statements from House Kazehana during a press conference that featured their scion, who just so happened to be the Dominion Minister of the Navy. "They really hold a grudge for that long, huh?"

    Sipping on her coffee, her eyes narrowed as she studied the report further, noting that even House Guerino could be roped in. They had once run Katrazia, a nation that was now receiving significant investment from Artemian businesses in the wake of their civil war. A news report had, as if on cue, shifted to discussing a round of brutal bombings after mass demonstrations went horribly awry.

    She scowled. The whole world seemed ready to fall apart at the seams. It seemed like it was the leadup to the Great War all over again. People had developed fantastic new weapons systems and seemed to be just simply in the mood to play with their new toys. 80 million died over the course of the 1930s and 1940s. About 1 in 11 were Artemian, though places like Kurushio and the Dominion suffered more heavily.

    Machine guns, dreadnoughts, and piston-driven aircraft had morphed into assault rifles that could carry a wide variety of attachments, aircraft carriers that could strike targets a thousand kilometers away, and stealth bombers that could level cities without being noticed until the whole world turned to fire. That was in addition to the various brand-new types of weapons that had been developed in the shadow of the conflict. A model of the Black Eagle Tactical Surface Fighter, a joke gift from one of her subordinates, graced one of the ends on her bookcase.

    Giant robots, and ones that were somehow able to move faster and fight harder than an entire lance of tanks. Only two countries fielded the TSF, and Artemia was not among them.

    The news shifted to a story about a trade show set to be hosted within the Sunlit Union. Everyone and their grandmother knew about the Dolls. Her own superiors wanted them, too, saying it could free up thousands to fight on the front lines.

    Another glance at the report reminded her why they wanted that manpower freed up. The worst-case scenario suggested full-scale war against the Dominion within 10 years. It was up to her to ensure that the Artemian Navy could stand up against the might of the Dominion fleet and keep them from landing upon the nation's shores.

    10 years. Her gut said it would be far sooner. Everyone and their grandmother saw the signs.

    Her mind went to work as she examined the other intel reports. The Dominion had allies. The closest Artemia had was a co-belligerent in the form of Ruvuma, who were more focused on avenging their humiliating defeat during the Great War. Neither was going to count on the other.

    Victory hinged on one thing: Smash the Dominion fleet before it could properly organize.

    A glance outside the window reminded her that it was very much possible. As far as the reports were concerned, the Dominion believed that Artemia's existing warships were inferior to their own. Jade Falcon, or rather Orobashi, was supposed to be leagues above even the new Phalanx Combat Control System.

    Phalanx, while it certainly used new components and techniques, relied mostly on refining what already was available and worked. That was the general strategy of the Artemian Navy. Innovate where needed, but make sure that everything employed actually works. Systems with issues would inevitably suffer catastrophic failure the moment the shooting started.

    New ships were entering service, most notably the massive supercarrier docked in her berth undergoing maintenance. But many of the ships in harbor were older vessels from the 70s and 80s, refitted to extend their service lives until the new warships were available in sufficient numbers. Among the vessels was her old command, the destroyer Tolstoy. At 8,900 tons, she was heavier than even her newest Dominion counterparts in the form of the Murasheo-class.

    A man named Ovechkin was now in command of her. From what she was aware, he was competent, but competent was good enough.

    But a part of her wondered if 'good enough' was going to cut it. Once the Dominion tipped over, its allies would be an issue. Saakhwia, of course, would eventually ride to the rescue as always. Evans and Yorktown were usually good judges of character and maybe, just maybe they could tip the scales in favor of someone sane. Doggerland would smell the bloodshed and their hordes of mercs would pour in, sensing opportunities for glory and coin. Kurushio would throw in with Shimokuni providing the latter didn't do something stupid. Their airships could be dealt with. The TSFs would be… tricky at best.

    War was set to change once again. But the only thing that didn't would be the fact that once the shooting started, the lives of her sailors would be as much a budget as her actual cash flow. The players changed. The technology changed. The tactics changed. But the general misery and death never will.

    Whoever won the big showdown would pay dearly.

    [=]​

    • We Get an Exclusive Look Inside of Artemia's Newest Aircraft Carrier - Artemia National News
    • Kazehana On Threats of War With Artemia: "We shall impale them upon our spears." - C-CMPS-TV
    • Snowstorm Slowly Lets Up; Rail Service Expected to be Slow to Resume, However. - C-RDBT-TV
    • New Strategy Game "Dominator" May Prove Rather Awkward In Hindsight - The Carrier Pigeon
    • Katrazian Ministry of Transport Strikes Deal For Locomotives and Railcars - Economy Today
    • Courts Order Investigation Into Fertilizer Company for Potential Link to Katrazia New Years Bombings - Cormoropolis Post
    • Interest Grows in Both Kuronese and Shimokuni Animations - Entertainer and Showman

    Author's note: Admiral Titus is borrowed with the kind permission of @Nicholas from a QQ thing him and I worked on. Ironically, she was the least lewd woman in the room.
     
    (Warning: Violence)

    Interlude Part One: Kazehana Delenda Est
    Shirayuki Castle, Shimokuni
    850 AD

    "Kill them all! Let none survive!" the man on horseback shouted as we charged desperately tried to halt his advance.

    "Come on, men!" I shouted raising my Katana over my head "Let's kill these bastards"

    "OOOHRAH!" My men shouted as I led the charge.

    Iron met Iron, Steel met steel, and a thousand men - myself included - faced the enemy and met them head on. Within minutes, I was soaked. Covered the blood of the last 10... maybe 11 people I've killed.

    We had to... there was no other choice... no other alternative... The only other alternative was... annihilation.

    It is an outcome I would never accept.

    Remorselessly, I cut down every single soldier I encountered. They didn't need any... nor did they need any mercy. After all, they were mere animals that needed to be put down.

    "CHARGE! FOR KURONAMI!" I shouted

    "FOR KURONAMI!" Everyone else echoed.

    In the end, my men fought well that night. Despite being outnumbered two-to-one, the enemy force had been routed, running away from the battlefield in a shameful display of cowardice like the dogs they are.

    However, as the dawn broke and we marched towards our home... the smoke billowing from the castle was not a good sign...

    "No!" I said to myself as I began running. "No... No... No..."

    "JUNICHI!" I heard a familiar voice screamed

    "HANG ON! SORA, I'M COMING." I shouted back with my sword drawn and I ran even faster.

    In the end... it wasn't needed, the Kazehana were long gone... in their wake, death and destruction.

    A few minutes later, the rest finally arrived, horrified looks on their faces as well. There were still a few fires that needed putting out, so we did that, and afterwards... we needed to dispose of all the corpses.

    It's hard... seeing the good friend that you had once shared a beer just two nights ago lie there expressionless, or perhaps with a fear in his eyes.

    Perhaps you never his expression to begin with since his head was nowhere to be found.

    And then of course... the women and the children... oh god... the women and the children...

    Of course, every one knew what happened to the women on a raid like this... it's not a very pleasant thing to talk about... but probably the most terrifying concept of all... was the fates of the Children...

    Only a few died, but over a hundred were missing. From month old toddlers to 5 year old sons and daughters. Worst of all, we couldn't find their bodies... nor signs of their death...

    I wonder... if perhaps one day, they would face their parents in battle, believing whatever propaganda and lies those dogs would feed them, and they would look down uncaring as they drove a naginata through their father's chest.

    The only take away from this was that all of my loves survived, otherwise I do not think I would have been able to control myself by launching a suicidal attack on the enemy.

    But nevertheless, the Kazehana... they fooled us all, setting out a bait in the middle of the night, only for it to be a mere diversion. Hitting the nest while the pack was away.

    Honorless dogs... attacking civilians? What sort of barbarian would such a thing...

    I realized soon after with a grim laugh however... the dogs knew that they could never face us in open combat, and they knew very well that they had to strike from the heart.

    I should know that, and I realize that I should've known better than to leave my home to fight against such obvious bait... but alas... hindsight is 20/20

    By the time this was over, more than 2200 of my people had died, and on that day... I swore a single oath...

    Kazehana Delenda Est.


    Interlude Part 2: The Exodus
    A secret cave near Shirayuki Castle
    850 AD
    0200 Hours

    "So... is everyone here?" Junichi asked everyone, as they sat down around the fire.

    "Everyone that's left, at least." Makoto Yamashita, Heiress of the Yamashita Clan said softly. "The Kazehana were brutal bastards."

    "Amen to that." Shiho Twinney of the Twinney Clan agreed.

    Not too long ago, the Kazehana began their purge of the Kuronami Clan, just as they did with numerous other clans that swore allegiance to the Kamisato. Relentlessly, They laid siege to Shirayuki Castle for about a month before eventually trying to break them by massacring the civilians in a surprise attack while Junichi was away fighting another enemy force.

    One final attack later that week, and the castle was lit aflame

    Of the clan and their retainers. Lord Junichi, his 6 wives and some 50 odd members of his clan as well as a few thousand soldiers managed to escape the burning inferno.

    And it seems that the Kazehana think that we have perished in the blaze. Junichi thought

    Good, that ought to make things easier...

    Of the clans that were purged, very few survived, Among those in this meeting, the heads and heiresses of the Yamashita, Twinney, and Tokino Clans, all good allies of the Kuronami, and the Kamisato

    Forgive me, Kallen, Yae, and Otto, but I must take care of my own family first...

    There were a few others but they could not make it to the rendezvous point.

    "Alright, now that we're all here." Shiho declared "I believe it's time we discuss our next course of action."

    "What about the others?" Junichi asked.

    "What about them?" Shiho replied callously. "Unfortunately we do not have the luxury of time, and the longer we stay here, the greater the chance of the Kazehana finding us and finishing the Job."

    "She's right, Jun." Elysia my second "We can't stay here."

    "I know. I was just making sure we're all in agreement to leave them behind." Junichi said before taking out an ancient looking scroll.

    "What's that?" Ei Yamashita, Makoto's aide asked as Junichi set down the map on the table.

    "Alright, this might sound crazy, but I'm telling you, that it's all true." Junichi said while looking at them dead in the eye.

    "What do you mean?" Chiyo Shimada, the head of clan Shimada asked.

    "I know for a fact that it's real..." Junichi said. "I know because I lived there... memories of a forgotten island paradise..."

    "Junichi... you can't possibly be referring to..." Shiho said, her eyes wide and her voiced shocked.

    "I am." Junichi said. "So tell me... how much do you know about Kuroshio..."

    "The mythical islands that were supposed to be our ancestral home, correct" Shiho asked, to which Junichi nodded

    "Surely you can't be serious. There's no evidence that the islands ever existed. No charts, no maps, no trace of it's existence." She continued

    "It's just a myth."

    "Not according to my ancestors." Junichi said before laying out an ancient map. "And most definitely not according to my memories"

    The map had been written in very old, and very dry papyrus. In fact, it looked as if the map was going to fall apart the instant you touched it.

    "I trust you are aware of my immortality?" Junichi asked, to which everyone in the room nodded. "Alright, so let me explain..."

    "We all know how the legend goes, Kuroshio was once our ancient home, but then an ancient strife forced to us leave the island and subsequently erased all our memories of it... with one exception."

    "You?" Sora asked.

    Junichi nodded. "I think it's tied with my immortality, but for some reason, I never forgot my ancient home, especially how I would laze about in a hammock on Sunaookami Island, and spend time with my friend Shiroko." He said as his eyes began to mist

    "But anyway." Junichi said "Going back to our original point of discussion, In addition to having my memories of Kuroshio intact, I also kept maps and old charts about the trade routes of old. Apparently, Shimokuni was a trading stop and rest port before continuing on to Artemia and Arcadia."

    He then gestured to the map on the table

    "This here is a map that they I had brought with me when me and my family first settled into Shimokuni." Junichi explained. "It, along with a few other documents, all pertain to the existence and pre-history of the Shimojin. Including the location of the ancient Kuroshio Islands"

    "Look here." Junichi said, his finger moving down the south of Kalaharia before resting on a group of islands. "If you look just below the Kitakuro Peninsula, you'll find-" Junichi said.

    "Kuroshio!" Chiyo exclaimed. "So it is real..."

    "It's still just a map though." Shiho countered while glaring at Junichi. "For all we know, this could be a falsehood.

    "Like I said, Shiho." Junichi repeated with slight indignation. "I remember those memories very clearly, and I most definitely certain they are not falsehoods."

    "Maybe." Shiho countered "Or perhaps you are becoming senile in your old age."

    Junichi growled and opened his mouth to counter but then Sora beat him to the punch while Rosa softly rubbed his shoulder comfortingly

    "Lady Twinney, you are out of line!"

    "Is it?" She pointedly asked. "As one of the few remaining members of my clan, I am in charge of keeping my house safe, so forgive if I decide not to follow you with your delusions of grandeur!"

    "Shiho, enough!" Makoto suddenly said firmly, cutting of any discussion "You too, Sora. Fighting like this is not going to help anyone."

    "I understand but if my husband says it's real, I believe him." Sora replied.

    "I know." Makoto said before turning to Junichi. "Do you have any other proof?"

    "Here." Junichi said, putting a bag on the table and retrieving an old document and giving it to Makoto.

    "What is this?" Makoto asked upon opening the scroll.

    "It's a secret communique signed by Queen Amagi Sunaookami of Kuroshio to any future people who wish to return to the islands"

    "In addition... I will also enact the pact at the end of the letter there, signed by me personally."

    "Pact?" Makoto asked as she skipped to the bottom "What are you referring... to... oh."

    For a few minutes, Makoto stood in silence, alternating her gaze between Junichi and the document.

    "Makoto?" Chiyo inquired "Something wrong?"

    "...Are you and your wives seriously willing to commit seppuku over this... legend?" Makoto asked her voice hollow and aghast as the others gasped in shock.

    Much to their surprise, Junichi and Sora drew their tantos and pressed the tip over their abdomens.

    "We swear, upon our honor as ancient Kurojin, that the document that you hold in your hands is true, lest our lives and the lives of our clan be forfeit..." The two said in unison

    "...so mote it be."

    For a few minutes, the situation in the room was tense. The air thick as Chiyo, Shiho, and Makoto looked on in shock and horror. Everyone stood their silently, unknowing of what to do next.

    A few tense minutes later, Makoto sighed

    "Well, if you're so insistent on following this folly to the ends of the earth... the I, Makoto Yamashita, offer thine oath of fealty." She declared as Chiyo and Shiho looked on in shock.

    Chiyo then glanced at the two, who still held their tantos to their stomach before closing her eyes and sighing.

    "Well, while your masculinity has never been in question, let it be known that you two have a lot of guts." Chiyo said. "The Tokino Clan stands with you."

    The four then looked towards Shiho expectantly. Much to their surprise, Shiho smiled.

    "Oh what the hell, we've got nothing to lose." Shiho replied. "The Twinney stands with you as well."

    It was only then that the two resheathed their tantos.

    "Thank you." Junichi replied, his tone genuine. "Now, let's start planning..."

    The rest of the night was spent planning their exodus away from Kalaharia, back to their homeland.


    One final set of snips before I stop writing for a bit and focus on reality.

    Hopefully, the brutality isn't too much... I just wanted show why the Shimojin exiles/Kuronesian Nobility hate the Kazehana with a passion. One that lasts for over a thousand years
     




    Opinion: We could have a air fleet, doesn't mean we need one
    By Constance 'Connie' Rickover
    Dec 29


    KNS Zuikaku, Docked in Kuroshio City Naval Base

    OPINION: Two days ago, in the very late evening of December 26, just after Christmas, Twit user Child (@TwinAttorney864) asked a seemingly innocuous question after reading about the Blockade of the Kuroshio Islands during the Great War. "Hey, why doesn't the Republic have its own Air Fleet like Kuroshio?"

    An innocent question, which led to a not-so-innocent response. Come the morning, Twit banned 16 accounts, temporary muted another 35 accounts, and shut down trending topics #LETSFLYNAVY, #STICKTOTHEWATER, #HONKAITOTHESKY, and #CANITREPULSE (A reference to the battlecruiser RNS Repulse, the flagship of the Gwrthyriad Expeditionary Fleet most notable for joining the crew of the RNS Saratoga in their Socialist Revolution in Cadiz mid-way through the war).

    Ever since the creation of Kuroshio's first Air Fleet following the Great War and the subsequent bastardization of its Surface Navy, a long-running debate has periodically come up since then. Should Gwrthyriad ditch its Surface Fleet in favor of Air Fleets from Kuroshio?

    Many times this question has been answered, and numerous forums, online articles, social media posts and newspaper columns have been filled with supposed-'experts' who have all come to put their two cents in. Being on very good terms with Kuroshio, and with numerous offers given to us in the past, there have been a lot of attempts to either buy or trade for these Air Ships to bolster our Navy.

    However, it has been almost 60 years and the answer among the populace, and subsequently the government, has remained the same. We do not need Air Ships. 'But why?' You may ask. 'The Air Ships (and probably the TSFs) are better and can easily outpace our current military in any aspect.'

    Dear reader, you seem to not understand the mindset of Gwrthyriad as a whole. Yes the Air Ships can dive from the clouds and strike with impunity anywhere in the country. Yes, the TSFs can rush over the battlefield like they're a more annoying and hotter looking Zerg Rush. But that doesn't necessarily mean that we need them.

    Centuries of history, ancient and contemporary, and a general disregard for the need of top-of-the-line equipment mean that when topics such as TSFs, nuclear ballistic submarines, airships, and god-forbid, robot troopers (*shudder shudder*) are brought up to the Department of the Armed Forces, they are merely shrugged aside.

    Take the main contenders, the TSFs and the Air Ships of Kuroshio. Of course, if the government wished, we could likely procure a few models of our own. We have been offered a few in the past, in a gesture of support between countries. But in the case of the Air Ships, a long and respected history is held within the Republic's Navy, and the hearts and minds of the populace is dominated by the stories of such ships as Princess Yamashita, Ark Royal, Renown, and Repulse. We have no reason to toss our our navy, unlike those of the Kuroshio who still remember the defection of their main fleet to the Ruvuman cause during the Great War.

    In the case of TSFs, numerous public studies on the mole has have proven their body frames weak to conventional anti-air missiles. Granted, 'weak' means you need to dump several missiles into a single mech, and the frames are often very agile and hard to hit, especially with skilled pilots behind the helm. But that does provide a vulnerability. Which, based off the governments infatuation with missile batteries in recent ships, seems to be a vulnerability they want to exploit if ever the need.

    In summary, short of another coup on our government, the age of water ships will not end so long as the Republic stands (and even then, we're Gwrthyriad. A second coup would be totally fine with us, though we will put it down violently).​



    January 2, 2010

    To:     IlCassanovaD'Ruvuma@hikitsune.com
    From: NOU@ANDUR.MOM

    Attached: 1 file

    *click*

    00:00 - XX:XX - No Video

    "Hey hey heyyyy, your majesty! It's your, h*ic, good frien…frie..fri…mate take over, I think Imma be sick."

    HURK!

    "S-so sorry, ma'am. It's a damn good warzone here in the base after the party last night turned into a slasher this mornin'. Half the agents are still piss dead, the other half wish they were dead.

    I'm one of the latter.

    And, ugh, don't question how we got your *COUGH COUGH COUGH* private address. It's a miracle what you can see when you…you…*mrpfh*...you stick some thumb dr'ivs up some lady mainframes private parts.

    Anyways, it's…*uuuurrrrggggghhhh*...come to our atten-attenti…WE found our you want to defund your fleet down into the shit tunnels. Totally see why…totally…

    Anyways, our peeps down in nromie land don't like that. Talks are making around that…I'm going to get some Advil…can't do this shit with an elephant tap-dancing on my head."

    Rustling in the background is heard, along with some few loud bangs and many swear words. A few moments later, the speaker comes back.

    "Alright, that should kick in inside a few minutes. What was I saying? Oh, yeah. You're defunding your Navy into the abyss and just going deeper. Our civilians, as you may know, like the navies of the world, not least of which those in our country, the Dominion, and yours, as they were the main ships to take a part in the Great War and defense of the archipelago.

    What I'm trying to say is, we're-"

    "We're willing to toss so much money at your navy they'll look like strippers with that much cash!"     The last voice comes back, the tinkling in the background signaling they procured more alcohol.

    "Damnit, man, stop drinking! It's the day after!"

    "Never! Gods bless the country! Hestia bless our men, Poseidon bless the oceans, and Athena bless our commanders! Anchors Away!"     GULP GULP GULP GULP. "You know, it'll almost seem just as easy to steal the ships for ourselfs! Bring them over to the docks and give them a pennant! It ain't like the civvis are going to care!"

    "Mate, you're drunk. Shut up. Hey, wait don't touch the comp-"
     
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    PARAPLUIE INSTITUTE
    KV-5 Genome Soldier Genetic Trial Testing Log    ​

    Testing Log Format:

    DATE:
    SUBJECT:
    CLASSIFICATION:
    INTRODUCED FORMULA:
    RESULTS:
    RECOMMENDATION:

    -

    Test 047

    DATE:     9/09/2009
    SUBJECT: HUMAN MALE 38 YEARS OLD
    CLASSIFICATION: VOLUNTEER
    INTRODUCED FORMULA: SOLDIER GENE FORMULA MEV-05
    RESULTS: SIGNIFICANT MUSCLE AND TUMOR GROWTH, CONTORTED SKIN RASH. SENSORY ORGANS HAVE BEEN RENDERED USELESS. DRASTIC DECREASE IN MENTAL FACULTIES.
    RECOMMENDATION: TERMINATION

    Test 048

    DATE:     9/18/2009
    SUBJECT: HUMAN FEMALE 25 YEARS OLD
    CLASSIFICATION: VOLUNTEER
    INTRODUCED FORMULA: SOLDIER GENE FORMULA MEV-05A (IMPROVED MEV-05 VARIANT)
    RESULTS: MASSIVE TUMOR GROWTH IN STOMACH AND CHEST ORGANS RENDERED SUBJECT IMMOBILE BUT STILL CONSCIOUS. SESSION OF VITAL FUNCTIONS AFTER THREE DAYS.
    RECOMMENDATION: SEND BODY TO HR

    Test 049

    DATE:     10/01/2009
    SUBJECT: HUMAN MALE 32 YEARS OLD
    CLASSIFICATION: INSUBORDINATE EMPLOYEE
    INTRODUCED FORMULA: SOLDIER GENE FORMULA MEV-06
    RESULTS: IMMENSE MUSCLE GROWTH OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE DAYS. GENETIC DEGRADATION CAUSED BY CONTAMINANTS IN FORMULA BEGAN ON THE SIXTH DAY AND RESULTED IN TOTAL LIQUIFICATION OF THE SUBJECT ON THE ELEVENTH DAY.
    RECOMMENDATION: SEND BIOMASS TO HR.

    Test 050/051

    DATE:     10/29/2009
    SUBJECT: HUMAN MALE 32 YEARS OLD, HUMAN FEMALE 29 YEARS OLD
    CLASSIFICATION: OUTSIDERS
    INTRODUCED FORMULA: SOLDIER GENE FORMULA MEV-08
    RESULTS: SATISFACTORY MUSCLE GROWTH OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE DAYS, CORRESPONDENT WITH SKELETAL AND ORGAN READJUSTMENT. SUBJECTS DISPLAYED ENHANCED REFLEXES AND STRENGTH BUT SUFFERED FROM MENTAL FACULTY DEGRADATION. GENOME DEGRADATION RESULTED IN BOTH SUBJECTS SUCCUMBING TO CANCER GROWTHS AFTER TWELVE DAYS.
    RECOMMENDATION: SEND BODIES TO HR. EXTRACT DNA AND USE IN SOLDIER GENE FORMULA MEV-10

    Test 052

    DATE:     10/29/2009
    SUBJECT: HUMAN FEMALE 21 YEARS OLD
    CLASSIFICATION: CHILD OF POLITICAL ENEMY
    INTRODUCED FORMULA: SOLDIER GENE FORMULA MEV-10
    RESULTS: SUBJECT INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, HIGHLY INTELLIGENT. THE SUBJECT WAS TERMINATED DURING AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT THAT RESULTED IN 12 CASUALTIES.
    RECOMMENDATION: SEND BODY TO HR. PAUSE DEVELOPMENT ON MEV-11.

    NOTE: The Genome Soldier Project has been put on indefinite hold due to the absence of acceptable genetic samples. Proposals to obtain samples from Project Strašna Djeca subjects have been denied due to infeasibility. Researchers have been temporarily reassigned to Project G, and the various Soldier Gene Formulas have been placed in cold storage.

    ****

    Hephon Pharmaceuticals Annual Internal Situation Report
    January/February 2010 Issue
    FOR INTERNAL EYES ONLY​

    …While the Outer Haven economy as a whole has begun to emerge from stagnation, internationally legitimate profits as a whole have stayed under the $1.2 billion yearly total. This has resulted in a shift towards increasing activities in the illicit trade of drugs and medicine.

    Yearly totals for last year saw Hephon Pharmaceuticals successfully open up new markets in the nations of Sogdia-Aseania, Fiursant, and Ysia. Annual profits in Sogdia-Aseania and Ysia reached $450 million and $890 million respectively, while Fiursant profits reached an all-time high of $1.1 billion. Operations in Pampia have reported a $320 million increase in yearly profits on a scale that hasn't been seen since 1987.

    Enforcers continued to attempt to impose significant penalties and fines in the illicit drug trade, with profit under-cut being felt most severely in Canaanria. A noted example is the $234 million methamphetamine drug bust in April of 2009 that has severely affected regional profits. Despite this, attempts to enforce local law have not stopped the continual rise of profits in the cocaine, opioid, and meth trades.

    Several internal company rearrangements took place in late January of this year, including the purge and restaffing of the R&D Department after a failed attempt by socialist-sympathizing scientists to immigrate secretly to ANoBTEI. The scientists in question are currently in private custody and are hard at work developing our new line of pharmaceutical antiviral drugs. This internal rearrangement however has resulted in R&D costs increasing to $890 million from the previous total of $810 million.

    Key sectors involving the medical industry- such as gene therapy, bioengineering, medical insurance, the prosthetics and orthotics industry- are likely to become a continued focus for both domestic and foeign companies. It is important that we expand our operations to these new emerging sectors in order to maintain our lead over our competitors.

    New cooperation initiatives were launched this month with the Parapluie Institute. Several new projects that have been announced involve the development of new "combat drugs", alongside continued genetic research.

    A new Director (Makarov Carpathia) recently joined the Federal Directorate this month. Talks are currently underway with him and the Libertarian faction in order to help secure government funding for the continued development of medical technology.

    ****​

    <Contact Log, ██-██- 2009>

    Foreword:     In late 2008, the ASRB made contact with Prince-Emperor von Lutzow through intermediate channels. The resulting negotiations led to a secret face-to-face meeting between Von Lutzow and ASRB operative Mark Tejada in the Republic of Firusant in August of 2009, along with a virtual live-feed meeting with the Federal Directorate and various corporate representatives. Operative Mark Tejada is equipped with a standard Trak ZQC-23 9x19 mm silenced pistol, a voice recorder, and a hidden body camera. The following is a transcript of the visual and audio feed between Operative Tejada and Command. Of note is the fact that Makarov Carpathia, future Director, represented Carpathia Industries at the live conference personally.

    <Begin Log>

    [Body camera is activated and shows Tejeda's face momentarily, before the camera is attached to his chest and hidden behind his shirt.]

    Tejeda: Mic check. Testing, testing, one two three.

    Command: We read you loud and clear, Tejeda. Your camera is broadcasting live.

    Tejeda: Very well. I take it that I should go in, then?

    Command: Stand by- roger. You've got the go-ahead from the Federal Directorate. Remember to give the code phrase before entering.

    [The camera shows Tejeda standing in a blank hallway, with a door in front of him equipped with various security systems. Tejeda activates optical and hand print scans, and takes out and swipes a security card from a suitcase held in his right hand. The maglock door slides open.]

    Tejeda: [clears throat] Who are the Patriots?

    Lutzow: La-li-lu-le-lo; now get your damn arse in the room. I want to get this visit to this sandy hellhole over with as soon as possible.

    [Tejeda steps inside the room. The camera pans around to reveal Prince-Emperor von Lutzow dressed in a business suit sitting in a chair, with his legs propped up on a table in front of him]

    Tejeda: [motions to the table] Do you mind?

    [Lutzow smirks, and takes his legs off the table. Tejeda moves to the table and sets his suitcase on it. The suitcase is opened to reveal a built-in communications system, with a camera, keyboard, and screen attached. Tejeda begins connecting the system to the Outer Haven satellite grid, a process that takes six minutes. Lutzow is seen audibly yawning, and twirling his cane in his hands.]

    Tejeda: The connection's set up; we have direct communications with Command and Outer Haven representatives. Anytime you're ready, von Lutzow.

    Lutzow: (unintelligble) …testing, testing, one two three. Are we live?

    Command: We and the rest of us on this call can hear and see you just fine.

    [The meeting begins. Command and the Federal Directorate communicate through audio only, while the representative businessmen and leaders communicate using both visual and audio representation. Introductory portions have been cut out for brevity; the remainder of the transcript begins approximately thirty minutes into the meeting.]

    Lutzow: …and so I can guarantee that the northern portions of Welt would be willing to accept direct foreign investment from Outer Haven businesses. Welt has always been the largest and most economically productive Domain out of the entire Dominion, and the opening up of local tariffs to Outer Haven investment would allow you to access an entirely new market.

    Federal Directorate Representative: With all due respect, von Lutzow, why should we support you? We can easily gain economic favors from other countries in Pampia. The very country you are currently residing in is an Outer Haven client state. What exactly would we gain from an alliance with you?

    [Tejeda's camera pans back to Lutzow. He has a smirk on his face.]

    Lutzow: What I'm saying, Directors, is that Outer Haven not only stands to get preferential treatment in Welt, but also a free hand in eastern Pampia. You've always wanted to group all those tiny republics into a sphere of influence, haven't you?

    Federal Directorate Representative: Now let's not come to hasty conclusions, herr Lutzo-

    Lutzow: If I win the upcoming war, I'll turn a blind eye to your efforts. I have no need for the northern states anyways, except for Buyan. You can get the economic dominance you've always wanted in Pampia, with the only caveat being that you'll have to share it with us.

    Kuznekler Representative: Speaking frankly here, I would say that the long term benefits from gaining control over the unexploited resources of eastern Pampia would outweigh any potential cons from supporting our distinguished guest here even peripherally. The net profit we stand to gain from is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I say we accept.

    Federal Directorate Representative: Look, you're not the ones negotiating here.

    Carpathia Industries Representative: If so, then why did you bring us onboard this meeting? I wholeheartedly support a Directorate resolution that will provide financial and intelligence support to Lutzow.

    Folder Representative: I concur. And I would like to remind everyone else in this room that the Federal Directorate does not speak for all of Outer Haven.

    Federal Directorate Representative: Just as you don't speak for us, either. [An audible sigh is heard.] Please hold on for a second; the Directorate has to take a vote.

    [Five minutes pass before the representative comes back online.]

    Federal Directorate Representative: The count's in. Very well, von Lutzow. The Federal Directorate has agreed to provisionally provide financial aid and intelligence to you and your allies. Keep in mind that this decision is by no means final; we still have to consult with the CEOs and the General Staff. For now, though, consider us on your side.

    Lutzow: You won't regret this, esteemed Representative. Now, here is the current political situation in the Dominion…

    <End Log>
     
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    The newsroom bustled with activity as the teleprompter cards were checked over one last time. A yellow light flashed briefly at the desk of the recording, prompting the well-dressed pair to situate and compose themselves before the cameras went live in thirty seconds. The camera chief held up five fingers and counted down until the camera lights lit red bulbs.

    "Good evening everyone and Happy New Year. I'm Septimus Julius. " The suited older man spoke.

    "And I'm Aiyana Panther." The younger woman beamed broadly despite the late hour. "And this is the eleven PM news with Floridian News. And today has been a doozy of a first day of 2010. "

    The man nodded to his co-anchor, "That's right, Aiyana." The bulbs briefly flicked off as the control brought up a video of a rocket lifting off from its launch pad with a cluster of distant magnetic accelerator turrets present in the background of the video for keen viewers. "Today, the Destrian, Einherjar, and Floridian space agencies celebrated the successful launch of the latest experiment module from the famous Pad 14 of the Atlanta-Canaveral Spaceport for the joint Iter Pacis space station. As our longtime viewers know, Pad 14 was where the first lunar mission launched in the 1960s."

    The woman tilted her head briefly towards her partner as the bulbs shone red once more. "And in other international news, elections in Agnigrad are approaching, and dedicated observers are focused on how the election's outcome will affect the nation's isolationist stance."

    Septimus briefly brought up his papers and adjusted them, "Going back to our southern neighbors, the yearly pilgrimage to Dei Egressus had thirty-eight Chosen reach the mountain peak, and all of them returned successfully, the most ever in recorded history!"

    "That's quite astounding, Septimus."

    "Indeed it is, Aiyana. The previous record was twenty-eight in 1924, and half of those Chosen did not survive the journey back down. Additionally, the Royal Einherjar Orchestra will be going on tour in the Imperium next month, and there are still tickets left on sale when I checked ten minutes ago. You don't get to hear music of that caliber very often, so you don't want to miss it!"

    The woman smirked. "Have you ever been to one of their concerts before, Septimus? I know you are quite the enjoyer of music."

    The man's face fell dramatically from his previous apparent glee before recovering. "Not yet, but my family and I have tickets for their concert in Tampa on February 19th!"

    Aiyana chuckled lightly. "Well, everyone you heard it here from FN's resident musical enthusiast!" She schooled her expression into a more serious set.

    "In domestic news, the Imperial Advisory Council will be meeting on Monday the 4th after this weekend. We have been told that the Council will be discussing a reduction in the yearly numbers for the mandatory three-year and possibly implementing a seven-cohort cycle instead of the current five-cohort cycle. This could be accompanied by an overall reduction in military spending as the recent shipbuilding program for the Navy, as well as the new armored hovercraft programs for the Army, could wrap up this year."

    "We could be in for quite an interesting year if the Imperium has its first significant reduction in military spending in over three decades." Septimus shuffled his papers briefly as his graying hair shone in the room's lighting. "Now, moving onto local news…"
     
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