That Time I Became A Dictator Of A Small Asian Communist Nation

HeroCooky · Oct 1, 2023

Scheduled vote count started by HeroCooky on Sep 26, 2023 at 1:41 PM, finished with 56 posts and 26 votes.

19 people have voted
[X] Midnight Almost Strikes
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4 people have voted
[X] A Shadow Talks
4 people have voted
[X] The Russian Submariner
3 people have voted
[X] Riverbed Ground Zero

HeroCooky · Oct 1, 2023

[X] Midnight Almost Strikes

[X] Plan: No Train Today, Train Tomorrow
-[X] Commiewood: Love, Death, And Robots; The End Of All
-[X] Infrastructure
--[X] Create New Housing (Helpful)
---[X] Use Large-Scale Energy Efficient Housing (Helpful) (+1 People's Opinion) (+1 Reputation)
-[X] Light Industry
--[X] Democratically Selected Consumer Goods Factory Complex (+2 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Military
--[X] Construct Military Building/Factory Complex (What) (Harmful) (-3 People's Opinion)
---[X] Construct Steel Leopard Factory Complex (-4 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Social
--[X] Refugee Integration (+3 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
--[X] Rationalize the Language (Mega-Project - 5/5 Actions) (+5 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF + 2 Education = +3)
--[X] Expand Adult Education (-2 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF + 2 Education = +3)
--[X] Consumer Goods Bureau (-3 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
--[X] Support the Automation Debate (-1 Reputation, -1 Public Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF +2 Education = +3)
-[X] Political
--[X] China Refugee Outreach (-2 Reputation, +1 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] CyPac
--[X] Military Intervention - South Yemen (Optional: Volunteer Forces) (+2 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
---[X] No Volunteer Forces
--[X] Optional Military Intervention - Mozambique (Optional: Volunteer Forces) (+1 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Wei Jungming - (RP)
--[X] Personal Action: Went with the family for a boat trip; Guangchou being an island, there is a strong marine tradition; it's time to teach your children to fish, dive, and sail
--[X] Personal Action: Tried out these newfangled arcades, incognito
--[X] Lover Action: Passed their airplane pilot and skydiving certificates together

-[X] Commiewood: Love, Death, And Robots; The End Of All
"'Love, Death, And Robots; The End Of All' is a masterstroke of combining deep philosophical thoughts and the underlying worries of the current generation regarding the future and the myriad ways in which humanity could end the world and itself with comedy that mixes black, gallows, and environmental humor alongside sight gags throughout the six movies featuring one thematic issue that dominates the story and the characters that observe its end effects. From a nuclear holocaust to bioengineered plagues, over rampant machine "intelligences" into practical extinction by stagnation and mindless pleasure, each issue shows one fear of the era taken to its extremes and how they could be avoided, as narrated by a trio of robotic tourists visiting an Earth entirely (or practically) devoid of human life. While there is a heavy slant in the solutions commentary toward the Guangchou nuances of communism, it nonetheless remains an enjoyable animated series that can be watched by the whole family."
-Russian Cinema Critic

-[X] Infrastructure
--[X] Create New Housing (Helpful)
---[X] Use Large-Scale Energy Efficient Housing (Helpful) (+1 People's Opinion) (+1 Reputation)
(7 - Optimal)
With the influx of yet more refugees, the growing population demanding more housing spaces to be constructed, and the surge of improvements made in a multitude of small areas that would nonetheless offer significant reductions in the power required to heat homes, budget, and materials are dispatched to the relevant unions and districts of Guangchou, with the ever-present sound of construction in Das Kapital doubling in volume over the months. Thousands of workers begin the long and arduous tasks required of them to insulate already existing LSEEHs. At the same time, yet more are sent to construct the same buildings from the ground up so that those fleeing from the Civil War in China not only have a place to stay but can also live with an adequate standard of living. Thanks to the ground floor being made up of spaces designed to be converted into public services or private economic initiatives, the creation of dead zones where no cultural activity happens has yet to happen.

-[X] Light Industry
--[X] Democratically Selected Consumer Goods Factory Complex (+2 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
(8 + 1 = 9 - Optimal)
Most Popular of Guangchou Toys - 1983:
#1 - Wooden and Magnetic Blocks
It should not be surprising that a nation experiencing a baby boom has a significant demand for toys and playsets that toddlers and small children can safely interact with while stimulating their creative thinking and aiding in learning basic motor skills and problem-solving abilities. Thankfully, the blocks adorned with letters were created after the language was simplified; otherwise, nobody in Guangchou could safely store several thousand blocks or have their children play with them to any degree of intellectual stimulation.

#2 - Play Silks, Props, and Costumes
Children like to dress up, pretend, and run around smacking things with other things. The inherent and inborn human desire to get a good stick works for the parents here, as even without buying or sharing a sword prop, resourceful children can play regardless of their costumed nature after finding one. Additionally, with a myriad of options being presented for dressing up within schools, an uptick in the popularity of theater and acting has been noticed by the teachers guiding and overseeing those circles, ending their constant begging for more costumes and props. Now, they want sound and light systems.

#3 - Dolls and Figurines
Nothing beats picking up a T-Rex and acting like it eats another doll or a giant tiger smashes a city. Fun for everyone.

#4 - Rego
These colorful bricks inspired by the Western LEGO brand have quickly risen in popularity among the young and adult population. Thanks to the multitude of sets offered, ranging from small to large, quite the assortment of bricks and options for free-form building has been created in a relatively short frame of time, sure to grow in the future as new models are already being released and in the works. Military-themed ones depicting Iron Tigers, Steel Leopards, Taos, and Anatas, to soon-to-be-built ship classes such as the Mother Anarchy and For the Tyrants are pretty popular, with recreations of buildings like the fortress monasteries and historical events like the Seven Godess Divorce enjoying their set of fans. Model kits created from popular media have also quickly flown off the shelves repeatedly, as Runic Wars, Universal War, Cosmos, and Red Son In The Morning grow in popularity and fan dedication with every new book, comic, or episode released.

#5 - Art Supplies
Unsurprisingly, children like to draw and create. It is, after all, one of the most fundamental instincts of humanity to create beauty, so giving children the means by which they can enact that desire inherent to them with as many choices as they can be given is not merely natural but a smart choice to enable them to learn to express themselves in myriad ways, from crafts to paints.

-[X] Military
--[X] Construct Military Building/Factory Complex (What) (Harmful) (-3 People's Opinion)
---[X] Construct Steel Leopard Factory Complex (-4 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
(7 + 1 = 8 - Optimal)
>INITIATE START-UP SEQUENCE? [Y]/[N]
>[Y]
>START-UP...SUCCESSFUL
>MINGXIANG 1.0.7...ONLINE
>RUNNING DIAGNOSTICS - PLEASE WAIT
>CONNECTIONS...STABLE
>MANUFACTURING PLANT 1...ONLINE
>MANUFACTURING PLANT 2...ONLINE
>MANUFACTURING PLANT 3...ONLINE
>LOGISTICS CENTER 1...ONLINE
>LOGISTICS CENTER 2...ONLINE
>ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS...ONLINE
>INVENTORY...ONLINE
>CHECKING INVENTORY...NO DISCREPANCY DETECTED
>[5] LINKED HUBS DETECTED
>INITIATING HANDSHAKE PROTOCOLS...SUCCESSFUL
>SHARING DIAGNOSTICS...SUCCESSFUL
>COMPARING INVENTORIES...SUCCESSFUL
>NO DISCREPANCIES DETECTED
>NO FAULTY CONNECTIONS DETECTED
>NO SYSTEM FAILURE DETECTED
>START-UP SEQUENCE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
>WELCOME TO STEEL LEOPARD MANUFACTURING HUB #2
>EFFICIENCY - 100%
>INVENTORY - 100%
>TIME SINCE LAST WORKPLACE INCIDENT - 0:000:00:04:38
>FOR THE GLORY OF THE REVOLUTION - ONE WEAPON AT A TIME
>THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: ARE KITTENS ADORABLY SWEET OR SWEETLY ADORABLE?

-[X] Social
--[X] Refugee Integration (+3 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
(4 + 1 = 5 - Optimal)
"A roof over our head, meals in our bellies, and a job to earn money. There are worse places to live and situations to find ourselves in."
-Anonymous Refugee

--[X] Rationalize the Language (Mega-Project - 5/5 Actions) (+5 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF + 2 Education = +3)
(11 + 10 + 3 + 9 + 6 = 39 + 3 = 42 / 5 = 8,4 - Optimal)
Jungmin was a man with more than a mind tuned to guiding the abilities and greatness of the workers of Guangchou toward united goals for the betterment of all or a body that could survive the passions of one Wei Mai whenever she demanded attention and his time.

He was a man who had been gifted by nature with one incredibly rare change in his brain's biochemistry, allowing him to rapidly acquire and learn languages deep into adulthood while deriving enjoyment from doing so, as evidenced by the books in nearly 46 languages and their dialects from around the globe, from the more widespread such as English and Spanish, to the more obscure minority languages in the Arabic and Indian cultural sphered. He delighted in learning the subtle and stark differences in grammar, the way the words interweaved between sentences, and how entire paragraphs could be changed in their meaning with the addition or removal of a single word or stroke of his pen, with researching the etymology of words a particular private hobby of his when he was free and had no other pressing matters (such as state functions or his family) to attend to.

He was also a man internally screaming when he decided to revise the language of Guangchou.

Or...rather languages. Because, you see, there were three kinds of writing systems in simultaneous use, with a further five cases of grammatical rules applying, each of these fifteen different writing methods used for various means while also being overshadowed by the official rules of ordinary speech that had been largely ignored by everyone that didn't have a non-fun stick up their ass.

To say that this method of written word and speech needed to be overhauled and made worthy of surviving the next day would be to say that a person on fire should be put out. It is superfluous, but things wouldn't get done here if everyone kept staring and doing nothing.

So, with a vengeance, Wei Jungminset upon his native language to clean it up as best as he could, removing and simplifying everything into something that wasn't a massive bloated mess of contradictions, exemptions, rules, divergences, competing clauses, paradoxes, and more.

Two months later, The Most Glorious Democratic People's Republic of Guangchou, Light of All Nations, Defender of all Humanities, and Paradise on Earth, updated its curriculum to teach the updated grammatical rules. It was estimated that around 94% of all previously used characters had been removed, with the remaining 6% further reduced in complexity.

Those making use of braille and the sign language also had their method of communication impacted, with general dissatisfaction noticed by the blind since they no longer had a handy refference book ready to bludgeon "a mf'er that had it coming."

Future etymologists would both decry and praise this change for being artificial and a bold step in reducing the rate of insanity their colleagues suffered when attempting to study Guang.

--[X] Expand Adult Education (-1 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF + 2 Education = +3)
(10 + 3 = 13 - Minor Breakthrough)
Surprisingly, or perhaps not, the change in the grammatical structure went over with barely a single complaint by the workers of Guangchou, as signs could now be actually read without having to stand directly before them, books were reduced in weight by a significant degree, and comics now had a massive surplus of space to draw more comic goodness into their pages. Oh, and those wishing for a change in careers also welcomed the expansion of re-training and education possibilities to acquire new skills for other types of vocations.

--[X] Consumer Goods Bureau (-3 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
(6 + 1 = 7 - Optimal)
"Friends, Enemies, and Those Yet Undeclared," the Enby at the podium began, looking around the room filled with their new colleagues, "we have gathered here today for three things. The first is the creation of our new agency, one tasked with ensuring that the products produced by the factories of Guangchou meet expected standards. The second is that research and development are directed to better serve the desires and needs of the people of Guangchou without sacrificing quality. And the third," they spoke, adding a dramatic pause into their speech as they looked around the room, their eyes alighting at the sight of several cakes set aside on a nearby table, "is to eat cake on the government's pockets! So dig in!"

There was a loud cheer, swiftly followed by the sounds of contented munching.

--[X] Support the Automation Debate (Bonus: +1 PttF +2 Education = +3)
(12 + 3 = 15 - Medium Breakthrough)
"The unions want a...really?" Jungmin asked on the phone, slightly baffled.
"Yes, Great Leader. They were insistent about it, too," the man on the other side replied.
"Ooookay...I'll sign the paperwork then," Jungmin said, still confused.
"As you say."

-[X] Political
--[X] China Refugee Outreach (-1 Reputation, +2 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
(10 + 1 = 11 - Boosted)
The coast of China had never been busier with the sounds of military operations or heavy machinery moving to and fro with abandon on missions and orders since the Civil War had begun, tens of thousands of people being directed by Guangchou generals and local Chinese Officials, the scars of war in the damaged and destroyed cities and houses slowly being erased as ton after ton of food, medicine, bullets, military equipment, construction machinery, and more arrived hourly in the docks and harbors of China. Though the movement of military personnel and equipment was the most strategically important task in the scope of the Civil War, future historians would point to the subversion and subordination of local party elements and political and economic structures to Guangchou norms and models as another cause of the unrest and instability following the then-inevitable conclusion of the Civil War. With economic, and therefore political, power being redistributed to Chinese workers by reconstruction helpers from Guangchou, the South Eastern coast of China would see a relative explosion in prosperity, being spared the economic downturn thanks to the massive availability of foreign investment and export opportunities within CyPac and Europe. The region would also act as a refugee buffer between Guangchou and China after the beginning months of 1984.

-[X] CyPac
--[X] Military Intervention - South Yemen (Optional: Volunteer Forces) (+2 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
---[X] No Volunteer Forces
(10 + 1 = 11 - Boosted)
There is not much to say. CyPac offered and delivered munitions, guns, equipment, volunteers, and intelligence. South Yemen and international troops gave death and destruction to whoever they were pointed at, native troops equipped to a standard far surpassing what they previously had available. In fact, they were given enough to retain stockpiles of military equipment when the last of the strongholds and terrorists found themselves at the wrong end of an artillery barrage or gun. Now, with the pacification of restive regions of the country going ahead with the adequate equipment for the job, the country leadership finds itself in the enviable position of having a gander at how to upgrade their military arsenal with enough experience to choose from the most effective for their situation, aided by practical, real-life experiences. Guangchou soon received several orders for missiles, happily signing the dotted lines in this arms sale.

--[X] Optional Military Intervention - Mozambique (Optional: Volunteer Forces) (+1 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
---[X] No Volunteer Forces
(12 + 1 = 13 - Minor Breakthrough)
There is a monument in Mozambique's capital city showing a kneeling woman cradling her dying child, weeping over their broken and lifeless body. It was donated by a collective of artists commemorating the fifth year after the conflict's conclusion and all the victims that died due to it, be it directly or thanks to the disruption of critical services such as food distribution or medical logistics. It is a common view to consider that the aid of CyPac was crucial in cutting the conflict short, ensuring it ended in the latter half of 1984 rather than continue for at least another five years, claiming thousands of lives in the process.

-[X] Wei Jungming - (RP)
--[X] Personal Action: Went with the family for a boat trip; Guangchou being an island, there is a strong marine tradition; it's time to teach your children to fish, dive, and sail
(91)
Operation Sunken Dreams was one of the many attempts of the CIA on Wei Jungmin's life and one of the many that failed to do more than mildly annoy the man and his security personnel. Thanks to assets smuggled into the country with the refugee waves crashing upon the country's shores, a small network of assassins was established, dedicated to killing Wei Jungmin or other targets of opportunity, as long as they did not risk discovery while doing so. Their first attempt, Operation Sunken Dreams, was thwarted by the teams lacking grammatical expertise. Having gotten hold of a planner showing that the Wei family would take several trips to the sea to swim, dive, sail, and otherwise enjoy the beaches of the island, the assassins bought commonly available poisonous sea urchins used for cooking a traditional dish, painting the confused critters with unusual water-resistant colors before releasing them in the general area of where the Wei family would take their vacation. Jungmin and several of his children would find these sea urchins and interact with them, mostly to try and figure out their species before realizing that they had been painted, and then leave unharmed once the vacation was over. The only result of this attempted assassination was a minor revision to the nation's anti-animal cruelty law, as the sea urchins were only poisonous to humans if improperly prepared while cooking.

--[X] Personal Action: Tried out these newfangled arcades, incognito
(87)
The second attempt at Jungmin's life happened in an impromptu spur-of-the-moment decision when one of the group members recognized Wei Mai in a newly constructed arcade, reasoning that her husband must be with her in the building or nearby; the man attempted to stalk her to get to Wei Jungmin. Unfortunately, said husband had just exited the restrooms and seen a man staring at his wife while moving to always have her in sight. Believing him to be an ordinary creep, he signaled to his disguised bodyguards to discreetly escort him away from the pair before continuing on with enjoying his day trying out the electronic games on offer, smugly hearing his wife complain in good cheer that he did look better in a dress than she.

--[X] Lover Action: Passed their airplane pilot ~~and skydiving~~ certificates together
(95 - Skydiving does not exist as a sport in Guangchou.)
The seventh attempt happened during Operation Sky Castle when Jungmin had been badgered into passing the civilian piloting license with his wife by his wife, arguing that knowing how to pilot one could be helpful for publicity stunts or emergency situations. The group's plan had been to sabotage the plane, the emergency parachutes, and the control tower's equipment, plant two bombs, and diffuse drugs throughout the small pilot cabin to ensure that nobody aboard could have the mental awareness to act to save their lives. Due to a scheduling error, the plane sabotaged was not the one the couple would use to become certified pilots, instead drugging an innocent pilot who had been chartered to disperse insecticide over a field, giving them several hours of high and a missed payday.

-[] NATO - Expansion of 1983 - H2
The creation of CyPac and the reveal of the technological capabilities of Guangchou had deeply unsettled the political balance of the world, not helped in the least by Guangchous expansion and technological upgrading of its military forces and capabilities, alongside the severe unrest and sometimes open communist rebellions rocking South America and the political line-drawing many nations in Africa now engaged in, utterly unable to declare themselves a neutral country to either the Third or First World, both sides having a vested interest in carving what they could out of the continent once more, be it by those native seeking to guard them and theirs, or those foreign seeking to impede the spread of ideologies they saw as profoundly undesirable.

One of the consequences of Guangchous rapid military armament was not merely the reveal of a Japanese engineering program to close the gap in military capability regarding Mecha, resulting in the construction of five Monarchs and the announcement of a study on the future roles of native Mech designs by the EU under the EDP with the Weberknecht, but also the courting of alliances previously held as non-viable due to ideological, realpolitik or security reasons. As such, Japan, South Korea, and Morocco were, after no small amount of debate, added to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A discussion regarding any changes in the name is currently ongoing. Still, the world remains set in a new military arms race that will only be rivaled by the political battles fought in South America and Africa now that lines are drawn, and people pray no arrows are added to the end of them.

-[] The World Revolutions
South America burns in the fires of Holy unrest. After years of subversion by Guangchou agents, many churches and religious movements within the continent had been slowly, steadily, inevitably converted to take on the hallmarks and pillars of Liberation Theology, the Church of Christ the Carpenter rising from the shadows of history like a blazing banner for the oppressed, the hungry, the sick, the enslaved, and the hopeless. Fueled by wildly exaggerated news about the continent seeing mass revolutions of communists flowing the Red Cross of Christ, the Red Banner or Star flying just as high, tens of thousands of men and women take up arms and cause, governments declaring emergencies one after the other as the military of each either begins to sally out to turn the people into the enslaved masses they once were once more or rip itself apart as units defect, priests and nuns preaching to gatherings of the willing about the righteousness of their cause and the inevitableness of their success, for they fight in the name of the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, even as they wonder if the South American Communist Committee that controls the risings everywhere is real, or merely fiction, praying that they will soon be able to coordinate with their allies everywhere to free the people from repression.

And not only there, but in Oman, the United Arab Empire, Yemen Arab Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and even the Republic of Ireland have their interiors explode in street fighting and demonstrations of the brave or suicidal with those seeking a better life under a different banner, their fight and causes indeed those worthy of victory and aid?

And while Molotovs fly on Irish streets, Niger and Chad find themselves embroiled in ever-increasing unrest between those fighting for the communist cause and those seeking to destroy it and preserve their way of life and station by any means possible, all the while their governments aim to ensure stability and non-interference from CyPac to the North and allies of the US to the South.

But what all know, what those with the right information are cruelly aware of, is that the world hangs on a knife's edge. If one push were to occur to either side, the other would not be able to regain this position again for years, if not decades, to come.

History was about to be written, and it stood to question what color it would give primacy.

{-6 People's Opinion per Turn due to increased demands for QoL and Civilian Goods. Decreases by 2 next Turn.
+2 to Mingxiang CyberSyn System 1.1.0
+1 to all Actions (1x Professionals To The Fore!)
Awed Ambition: +2 to Space Actions (Electronics, Metallurgy, Education), +1 to All Automation Projects
Automated-Communism Manifesto: +1 to all Automation Projects (Global)}

+2 to any Meat-Based Project
+6 to your first Civilian Rocket Project
+2 to Designing a Torpedo

Reputation - (54/100 Reputation - Steepled Hands)
People's Opinion - (70/100 Reputation - A Happy People Are Eager To Build A Better Future.)
History Page - (A name, several pages of your life, the Iwo Jima Crisis of 1974, links to dissertations of the Thai-Brain Drain, Iron Tiger, and Supercomputer Programs, alongside the Guang Healthcare Collapse of 1980. Several dozen pages and links to dissertations are dedicated to your advancement of multiple technologies. A dozen links and pages devoted to your influence on the Automatic Technocratic Movement (ATM). Three dozen pages and several dozen links to more regarding the Cybernetic Pact and its effects on Politics, History, and African Unity. Several dates of important milestones in your life, political and private. Some (horny) memes due to your big family.)

[Statistics Bureau]
Housing: -1 (Lacking) / +/-
Food: -1 (Lacking) / -----
Healthcare: -3 (Severe Shortage) / ++
Fuel: -1 (Lacking) / -----
Available Recruits: +1 (Surplus) / -

Light Industry - Adequate - (Slight Upwards Trend)
Heavy Industry - Good - (Slight Downwards Trend)
Military Industry - Good - (Upwards Trend)
Agriculture - Good - (Slight Downwards Trend)

[] (Optional: Write-In Commiewood Project) (No Plan)

[] Infrastructure

-[] Automate Factory/Facility/Project (What) (Various Reputation Gains)
-[] Das Kapital Planned City (Mega-Project) (Trigger Sub-Vote)
-[] Build A Monument Within The Capital
--[] A Natural Park/Space/Building (Sub-Turns) (+/-??? Reputation/People's Opinion)
---[] Permaculture Gardens - Mixed-use agricultural/recreational spaces that yield both local produce for the city's population and pleasant spaces to relax and take in nature.
--[] A Statue/Art Installation (Sub-Turns) (+/-??? Reputation/People's Opinion)
-[] Improve Roads (Helpful)
-[] Expand Your Public Transit Bus System (Extremely Helpful) (-2 Reputation)
-[] Create New Housing (Helpful)
--[] Use Energy-Efficient Housing (Helpful)
--[] Use Large-Scale Energy Efficient Housing (Helpful) (+1 People's Opinion) (+1 Reputation)
-[] Design New Housing Concept (Design)
--[] The Universal Building (-8 Reputation)
-[] Improve Medical Infrastructure (Helpful) (-3 Reputation)
-[] Build New Police Stations (Helpful)
-[] Durable Goods Libraries (-2 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion)
(A good way of improving quality of life without needing to produce too many consumer goods is to implement a program where people can borrow more infrequently used goods from a central storehouse - things like vacuum cleaners, specialized cookware, hand tools, etc. The libraries can also double as social and entertainment spaces by including television or radio, depending on the size of the library and the number of people served. These activities draw people to the library, increasing their familiarity.)
-[] Public Radio/Televisions (-2 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion)
(Add TVs/Radios to specific public venues where people can get entertained and informed in a social setting. Once again, it lets you have some access to these sorts of luxury goods without needing to make a lot of radios and TVs.)
-[] Develop a Tourism Sector
-[] Increase the allotted number of Restaurants (+4 People's Opinion)
-[] (WRITE-IN)

[] Light Industry

-[] Increase Electrification (Helpful) (0/2 to Full Coverage) (+1 People's Opinion)
-[] Expand Your Train Network (Helpful)
-[] Construct Consumer Goods Factory Complex (What) (Helpful) (-1 Reputation)
-[] Construct a food processing factory for frozen and flash-frozen foods. (Very Helpful)
(Primarily meats and vegetables. Keep expansion in mind for either biodegradable boxes for frozen meals that can be thrown away or nonbiodegradable boxes. You'll pay your people a tiny amount of the price to return those to the factory.)
-[] Build Vitamin Supplement Factory (Helpful) (-1 Reputation)
[] Develop Solar Cauldron (-1 Reputation)
-[] Develop Thermal Battery (+1 Reputation)
-[] Water Desalination (-1 Reputation)
-[] Oil Processing (+1 Reputation)
-[] Food Processing (-3 Reputation)
-[] Ammonia Production (-2 Reputation)
-[] Mineral Processing (-1 Reputation)
-[] Papermaking (-2 Reputation)
-[] Electrical Generation
[] Implement Just in Time Logistics (-1 Reputation)
[] Implement Continuous Improvement Programs (-3 People's Opinion)
[] Develop Lights-Out Manufacturing (+2 Reputation)
[] Generic Appliance Factory Complex (+2 Reputation)
[] Generic Furniture Factory Complex (+2 Reputation)
[] Generic Household Hardware Factory Complex (+2 Reputation)
[] Establish Ateliers (-5 Reputation)
-[] Tailors & Cobblers
-[] Woodworkers
-[] Metalworkers
[] Establish Rubber Plantations (-4 People's Opinion) (Harmful)
[] Bulk Textiles Mill (-3 People's Opinion)
[] Generic Bulk Clothing Factory Complex (+1 People's Opinion)
[] Establish More Publishing Houses (+3 People's Opinion)
[] Build Breweries (+4 People's Opinion) (Harmful)
[] Bottled Drinks Factory Complex (+2 People's Opinion)
[] Food Dehydration Plant Complex (-1 Reputation)
[] Petrochemical Plant Complex (+3 Reputation)
[] Pharmaceuticals Plant Complex (+2 Reputation)
[] Chemical Commodities Plant Complex (+2 Reputation)
-[] Ammonia (Fertilizer)
[] Fine Chemicals Plant Complex (+1 Reputation)
-[] Agrochemicals (Pesticides)
[] Specialty Chemicals Plant Complex (+2 Reputation)
[] Inorganic Chemicals Plant Complex (+1 Reputation)
[] Polymer Plant Complex (+2 Reputation)
[] Consumer Chemical Plant Complex (-1 Reputation)
-[] (WRITE-IN)

[] Heavy Industry (+2/+2 to Geothermal Power (Trade/Omake))

-[X] Cosmodrome (Mega-Project - 4/8 Actions) (Automatic - No Cost)
-[X] Native Space Industrial Complex (Mega-Project - 4/8 Actions) (Automatic - No Cost)
-[] Cyberdize Heavy Industry Sector (Mega-Project - 1/12 Actions)
--[] Twin Hammer Heavy Industry Expansion
(Heavy Industry Cyberization projects complete over time on their own due to increased interest from workers and political pressure from the military who want to be able to afford to build cool boats)
-[] Automate Factory/Facility/Project (What) (Various Reputation Gains)
-[] Guangchou Semiconductor Manufacturing Cooperative (Mega-Project - 0/6 Actions) (-6 Reputation)
(With this project, we will be able to build...everything relating to electronics not merely cheaper but also in far less time than before!)
-[] Build A Superconductor Foundry (Mega-Project - 0/4 Actions) (-1 Reputation)
(Must build Superconductor Foundry before the Nuclear Attack Submarine Type 9 can be finished.)
-[] Construct Housing Factory Complex - (Design) (+1 Reputation) (Automated)
-[] Build Structural Insulated Panel Factory Complex (-10 Reputation)
(Steel Mill, Glass Factory, and Bamboo Mill for durable, lightweight panels that reduce the need for heating/cooling during summer and winter.)
-[] Construct A Tractor Factory Complex
-[] Construct A Steel Foundry Complex (Harmful) (+2 Reputation)
-[] Construct A Heavy Machinery Plant Complex (Harmful) (+3 Reputation)
-[] Build Rolling Stock And Rail Factory Complex (Harmful) (+1 Reputation) (Reduced Actions For The Dragon Rail)
-[] Construct Power Plants (Helpful)
-[] Construct Geothermal Power Plants (Helpful)
-[] Improve Your Metallurgical Institute (Harmful) (+1 Reputation)
-[] Research The "Incidental Star Blood Development Process" (???) (Requires Improved Metallurgical Institute)
-[] Develop Hydrothermal Carbonization (-3 Reputation)
-[] Construct Electronics Factories Complex (+4 Reputation)
-[] Crack the 600 nm Process (Mega Project - 0/6 Actions) (-6 Reputation) (-2 People's Opinion)
-[] Expand Your Mines (Harmful)
-[] Construct Additional Harbors (Helpful)
-[] Construct Merchant Marine Vessels
-[] Design A Civilian Vehicle (Describe) (-2 Reputation)
--[] Industrial IT-Skeleton (+5 Reputation) (Helpful)
-[] Design A Civilian Ship (Describe) (-2 Reputation)
--[] New Fishing Trawler
-[] Design A Civilian Aircraft (Describe)
-[] Design Cauldrons (Geothermal) (Mega Project - 0/8 Actions) (-3 Reputation)
(Mega-industrial parks that use geothermal power for thermal processes and electricity generation. Self-sufficient in terms of power needs and capable of exporting power to the grid while heating nearby greenhouses and homes.)
-[] Rail Development Design Project (Mega-project - 0/3) (+1 Reputation) (Reduced Actions For The Dragon Rail)
(Automated Track Laying Machinery, Electric Trains, and Streetcars will be heavily needed in your future projects to tie the people and their work closer together.)
-[] The Dragon Rail (Mega-project - 0/64) (Harmful)
(Lay The Dragon's Spine, The central trunk line running the island's length, the Dragon's Limbs, branching rail lines headed to major and middling cities, and the Dragon's Claws - Streetcars for the larger cities. With this, your nation will finally be able to fully utilize its breadth and width of all available industrial might!)
-[] (WRITE-IN)

[] Agri-, And Aquaculture

-[] Cyberdize Agricultural Sector (Mega-Project - 0/7 Actions) (-9 Reputation)
-[] Automate Factory/Facility/Project (What) (Various Reputation Gains)
-[] Guangchou Gyre Deep Water Fertilization (Mega-Project - 0/9 Actions) (-8 Reputation) (Extremely Helpful)
(The Bay of Guangchou has a nice enormous ocean gyre spun up by the Taiwan current as it passes by the mouth of the bay, keeping the water relatively contained. If you had enough power, you could sink pumps to the bottom of the bay and pump cool, nutrient-rich water to the surface, where phytoplankton could thrive and become food for larger fish. In addition, nutrient-rich water would help kelp grow in the shallows and regulate the temperature to extend its growing season.)
-[] Construct A Fertilizer Factory Complex (Helpful) (-2 Reputation)
-[] Build a Herbicide & Pesticide Plant Complex (Helpful) (-2 Reputation)
-[] Increase Farming Space (Helpful) (-3 Reputation)
-[] Increase Herd Space (Helpful) (-4 Reputation)
-[] Assemble A Fishing Fleet
-[] Construct A Cannery Factory Complex
-[] Construct A Pre-Made Food Factory Complex (Helpful) (+1 People's Opinion)
-[] Expand The Sea-Forest Project (Mega-Project - 0/6 Actions) (-3 Reputation) (Extremely Helpful)
(A massive area for cultivating food, resources, and scientific data, primarily used to gain and harvest kelp, fish, oysters, and mother of pearl.)
-[] Expand Marine Farming (-3 Reputation)
(While naturally occurring kelp forests are an excellent food source, You can also improve the yield of a kelp farm by cultivating mussels, scallops, and oysters in predator-proof containers and laying traps for shellfish along the bottom.)
-[] Solar Dehydrator Plant (Experimental) (-3 Reputation)
(Due to the low-temperature drying, solar-powered food dehydrators are simple and cheap to construct and preserve more nutrients than canning.)
-[] Develop And Test Novel Food Production Methods (Mega-Project - 0/8 Actions) (-3 Reputation)
(You can create further ways to make use of your available farming space to boost production with Industrial Mycoculture, Urban Permaculture Initiatives, Forest Farming (though you'll take full credit for that since IJ stole that idea from you!), Silvopasture, and Agroforestry)
-[] Create Insect Farm Complexes (-1 Reputation) (Helpful)
(Cricket and Mealworm Protein Cultivation are a cheap, plentiful, and versatile way to increase protein in people's diets.)
-[] Construct an Experimental Vertical Hydroponics Test-Building (+1 Reputation)
-[] Pemican Production Factory Complex (-2 Reputation) (Helpful)
(An ancient recipe from the Americas, made of powdered meat and fat that can be stored for years in a sealed container. Maintaining a stockpile will be full insurance against a poor harvest.)
-[] Seed Treatment Factory Complex (-2 Reputation)
(Seeds can be treated with various compounds to increase their germination chances and resistance to sickness.)
[] Expand Crop Breeding Programs (+1 Reputation) (Helpful)
[] Fund Agricultural Veterinary Care (-3 Reputation)
[] Develop Fish Ranching (-1 Reputation)
-[] (WRITE-IN)

[] Military

-[] Automate Factory/Facility/Project (What) (Various Reputation Gains)
-[] Soldier's Councils (Triggers Sub-Vote)
(Bring communism to the barracks! And the cockpits! And the decks!)
-[] Create A Dedicated Coast Guard
-[] Design Two Iron Tiger Systems/A New Iron Tiger (Describe) (+5 Reputation)

--[] The Fateful Seal IT (Iron Tiger Revolver)
(The FS-IT is a Fateful Seal redesigned for iron tiger use, developed to use 130x800mmR shells. The FS-IT, just like the FS, uses a 6-or-7-round cylinder and can shoot HE, SAP, and AP shells.)

-[] Design A Native Tank (Describe) (+2 Reputation)

--[] The Credit Where It's Due (Light Scout Tank)
(Taking inspiration from the FT-17 (shape) and T-55A (armor and suspension), the CWID is the first native LST produced in Guangchou. Weighing 28 tons, this LST is armed with a light cannon, four missiles, a coaxial machine gun, and a heavy machine gun mounted on a pintle on the turret top; it is crewed by four crew and possesses a top speed of 48km/h. Though, it is notably light on the armor for a tank.)

-[] Design A Native Plane (Describe) (+3 Reputation)

--[] MiS-27 (Multi-Role Jet)
(The MiS-27 is a Multi-Role jet aircraft, its shape inspired by the MiG-21, with the J37 providing its radical delta wing configuration. Flown by one pilot and armed with 2 Modified 25mm M/71 autocannons, this Jet also sports eight modular hardpoints to add rockets, bombs, fuel tanks, and supplies as needed or wanted.)

-[] Design A Native Vehicle (Describe) (+2 Reputation)

--[] The Police Carrier (Light Assault APC)
(The PC is a simple armored personnel carrier taking inspiration from the BTR-152 (appearance/shape), the BTR-60 (turret), and the M3 half-track (tracks). At 20 tons with a top speed of 75 km/h on-road and 50 km/h off-road, this vehicle can transport its four crew and six passengers where needed. With only light armor protecting its passengers, it utilizes an imported Soviet 2A28 Grom, eight missiles, and a coaxial machine gun for offensive operations.)
--[] The BTR-71 (Light Amphibious APC)
(The BTR-71 has the general shape and appearance of the BTR-60 but has just about nothing in common. Weighing 20 tons, this LST is armed with a light cannon, four missiles, a coaxial machine gun, and a hull machine gun. It is crewed by four crew with a place for eight additional passengers and possesses a top speed of 80 km/h on-road and 12 km/h in water.)

-[] Design A Native Ship (Describe) (+3 Reputation)

--[] The Gunagch (Destroyer Escort)
(Weighing at nearly 3kt and 100m long, the Gunagch is propelled by two electric drives/propellers, enabling a maximum speed/range of 25knots/20.000km (12knots). Armed with four 100m BS-4 guns in 2 twin turrets, eight modified 25mm M/71 autocannons in 4 twin mounts, sixteen 15x115mmR KPVT heavy machine guns in 4 quad mounts, and 80 depth charges.)

--[] Develop a Submarine (+3 Reputation)
---[] (Write-In)
-[] Design A Native Artillery/AA/AT Piece (Describe) (+1 Reputation)

--[] The BS-4 (Crewed Anti-Tank)
(The BS-4 is a field and anti-tank gun, taking inspiration from the BS-3. Its primary use is for coastal defense forces with a six-meter barrel and 11-meter length overall.)
--[] The Police Carrier Anti-Tank (Self-Propelled AT)
(The PC is a simple armored personnel carrier taking inspiration from the BTR-152 (appearance/shape), the BTR-60 (turret), and the M3 half-track (tracks). At 20 tons with a top speed of 75 km/h on-road and 50 km/h off-road, this vehicle can transport its five crew where needed. With only light armor protecting its passengers, it utilizes an imported Soviet KPVT HMG, a rocket-deliver platform, and a coaxial machine gun for offensive operations. Additionally, the passenger compartment of the PC has been removed in favor of an AT Cannon with a gun shield.)

-[] Design A Native Sidearm (Describe) (Choose Any/All)

--[] Fateful Seal (Revolver)
(The Fateful Seal is designed as a top-break gas-seal revolver, using the Webley and the Nagant M1895 for inspiration. Research shows that as much as 26% of propellant gas escapes through the barrel and cylinder gap. Like more or less all gas-seal revolvers, the FS uses the cartridge case to seal the gap between the cylinder and the barrel. It uses a 13.2x55mmSR cartridge; the flat nose boattail bullet is 13.2 millimeters wide and 15 millimeters tall. It has a level on the right side, like the Webley revolver, and is used for the same purpose. Additionally, with the proposed 4.7-inch to 12-inch long barrels, the FS combines detachable shoulder stock, holster, and a 6-or-7-round cylinder.)
--[] Conscript's Friend (Cheap Pistol)
(The CF is a dead-simple integral box magazine pistol taking inspiration from the Steyr Hahn, the FN 1903, the Browning Hi-Power, and the TT-33. The FN 1903 provided the CF with its general shape and appearance, the Steyr Hahn, integral magazine and stripper clip guide, the Browning Hi-Power knowledge on double-stack magazines, and more modern safety features, and last but not least, the TT-33 gave the CF knowledge on simplicity. Cambered in an 8x40mmSR cartridge, the CF is designed to be as simple as possible while safely chambering its integral 10-round box fed with stripper clips. The handgun is supposed to be so simple that anyone who can rifle the barrel should be able to make the rest of the pistol with hand tools.)
--[] Spook's Squeak (Agent Pistol)
(The SQ is more or less a full copy of the Welrod except for its size and particular cartridge. With a total of 203mm in length, the SQ is chambered in the particular 6.5x30mmSR cartridge using a removable 8-shot magazine.)
--[] The Soldiers Pistol (Army Pistol)
The SP is a Browning Hi-Power chambered in 10x37mmSR and fed from a 10 to 20-round detachable double-stack magazine with a barrel length of 12 cm and an overall length of 20 cm, not counting the detachable combination stock.
--[] Name Pending (Flaregun)
(The NP is a small, light, single-shot break-action flare gun inspired by the Sturmpistole.)

-[] Design A Native Service Weapon (Rifle, SMG, Heavy Machine Gun, Rocket launcher, Etc.) (Describe) (Choose Any/All) (+1 Reputation)

--[] The Police's Friend (Bolt-Action Rifle with shotgun+grenade capabilities)
(The PF, just like FS, is meant to be used by police and rear line units and is a bolt-action rifle design taking inspiration from the Lee-Enfield, the Swedish Mauser, and the Fateful Seal. The Swedish Mauser provided the PF with its general shape, appearance, and stripper clip guide, the Lee-Enfield magazine and sling mounts, and the Fateful Seal gave the PF the base for its unique 12 g under-barrel revolver shotgun. The PF is meant to be able to use 40mm rifle grenades such as HEAT, HE, and Smoke, with the under-barrel shotgun supposed to be primarily used for riot control in police use and rear line units. Chambered in the same 13.2x55mmSR cartridge as the Fateful Seal, the PF is fed from a 10-round detachable magazine with a 25-inch barrel length and a 40-inch overall length.)
--[] The Militia's Friend (Cheap SMG)
(The MF is a crude SMG, taking inspiration from the Sten, PPS, Swedish m/45 SMG, MP 40, and MP 3008. The MF, just like the CF, is meant to be used not by the military but by the militia forces of Guangchou. The Swedish m/45 gave the MF its general shape and appearance; the MP 3008 gave the shoulder stock; the PPS, its knowledge of curved magazines; the MP 40, the safety features and sling mounts; and the Sten, its simplicity. With a fire rate of 570 rounds per minute, it is chambering the 8x40mmSR cartridge from a 20 to 30-round detachable box magazine or a 50-round drum with a 20-inch barrel and a 28-inch overall length. The MF is designed to be as simple as possible while still safely chambering its cartridge, and it's supposed to be so simple that anyone who can rifle the barrel should be able to make the rest of the "submachine" gun using hand tools.)
--[] The Soldiers Friend (Mainstay Select-Fire Rifle)
(The SF is a relatively simple select-fire rifle taking inspiration from the AVS-36, the Fedorov Avtomat, the BAR, and the FG 42. It is meant to be used by professional forces, not police or militia. The BAR provided the SF with its general shape and appearance, the FG 42, the operational and gas system, the Fedorov Avtomat, the magazine, the dust cover, the AVS-36, and the muzzle brake and sling mounts. The SF has a fire rate of 406 to 610 rounds per minute, chambering the 6.5x57mmSR cartridge fed from a 20 or 25-round detachable box magazine while possessing a 28-inch barrel and a 40-inch overall length. The SF is designed to be a reasonably uncomplicated weapon yet modern and meant to be the main arm of the military while still being cheap to produce.)
--[] The Guard's Arm (Costly High-Magazine SMG)
(The GA is a costly high-quality submachine gun taking inspiration from the Browning Hi-Power, the MP 40, MP 5, and the Conscripts Friend and is meant to be used by the secret service and the guards of various military-industrial and laboratory installations. The conscript's friend gave the GA its general shape and appearance, the MP 5 its action, the MP 40 the detachable muzzle ring, and the Browning Hi-Power the detachable double-stack magazine alongside modern safety features. The weapon has a fire rate of 457 to 800 rounds per minute, chambered in a 6.5x30mmSR cartridge from a 10 to 30-round detachable double-stack magazine or 48-round detachable double-stack drum. The GA is 457mm long, not counting the detachable shoulder stock, and has a detachable muzzle ring that can be unscrewed to attach a suppressor.)
--[] The Workers Might (Crewed Anti-Tank System)
The WM is a recoilless rifle design inspired by the Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle and the German 10.5 cm Leichtgeschütz 40. It is an anti-tank weapon meant for service with professional forces. The LG 40 gave the WM its general shape and appearance; the Carl Gustaf gave it its hinged breech. The WM uses unique 152x305mmR shells capable of firing HE and HEAT ammunition.
--[] The Soldiers Arm (Mainstay SMG)
The SA is a simple submachine gun taking inspiration from the United Defense M42 and the M50 Reising, meant to be used by professional forces. The UD M42 provided the SA its general shape, appearance, and wooden foregrip, and the M50 Reising gave the sights and sling mounts. The SA has a rate of fire of 570 to 800 rounds per minute, chambering the 10x37mmSR cartridge from a 20 to 30-round detachable double-stack box magazine or a 50-round detachable double-stack drum with a 35.6 cm long barrel and an overall length of 61 cm.

-[] Design Native Equipment (Describe)
--[] Develop Naval Rockets (Mega-Project - 0/2 Actions)
--[] Develop a Rocket Engine (+1 Reputation)
--[] Develop a Rocket (+2 Reputation)
--[] Develop an Orbital Satellite (Mega-Project - 0/3 Actions) (+8 Reputation)
-[] Import (What) (-1 Reputation)
-[] Construct A Submarine Yard (Submarine) (+1 Reputation)
-[] Construct A Torpedo Factory Complex
-[] Construct A Dedicated Naval Slipway (Ship)
-[] Construct Coastal Defences (+2 Reputation)
-[] Construct Interior Defences
-[] Construct An Airfield
-[] Construct Military Building/Factory Complex (What) (Harmful) (-3 People's Opinion)
--[] Construct Military Electronics Factory Complex (-4 Reputation)
-[] Naval Shipbuilding Expansion (Mega-Project - 0/9 Actions) (+4 Reputation)
(We need to train more people and expand our heavy shipbuilding industry; once taken, this project will be completed independently due to military interest and popular buy-in.
Must be completed to build Small Carriers.)
-[] Mingxiang Astronautics Expansion (+3 Reputation)
-[] Mingxiang Rocketry Expansion (+5 Reputation)
-[] Navy Modernization (+2 Reputation)
-[] Expand The Military Academy (+2 Reputation) (-4 People's Opinion)
-[] Raise A New Military Formation (What) (Harmful) (+1 Reputation) (-4 People's Opinion)
--[] Raise a (Mechanized Combat Engineer) Formation
-[] Raise An Iron Tiger Formation (Generation+Purpose)
--[] Write-In Chosen Purpose
-[] Intimidate Taiwan (+5 Reputation)
-[] Commit Exercises (+3 Reputation)
-[] Secure Trade Routes
-[] (WRITE-IN)

[] Social

-[] Expand Your Television Station (New Channel Name And/Or Focus)
--[] The Social Revolution TV Channel (-1 Chinese Opinion)
(Focuses on the social aspects of communism, why they're essential, and how they tie into the broader communist project. It covers things like gender equality, the importance of contraception, why you shouldn't discriminate against queer people, readings and debates about Marx's later works where he refutes many of his earlier theories about stages, etc. (Head to Head is a popular segment where they bring the PRC and USSR ambassadors on the show to have them debate over their differing orthodoxies - people have started betting on which one will 'win.'))
-[] Arrest Dissidents (Harmful) (-5 People's Opinion)
-[] Purge Undesirable Citizens (Who) (Harmful) (+1 Reputation) (-5 People's Opinion)
-[] Search And Destroy Rebels (Harmful) (-5 People's Opinion) (+2 Reputation)
-[] Increase Surveillance (Harmful) (-5 People's Opinion)
-[] Reduce Surveillance (Helpful) (+1 People's Opinion) (-3 Reputation)
-[] Increase Social Control (How) (Helpful) (Harmful) (-3 People's Opinion) (+5 Reputation)
-[] Propagandize An Achievement (Helpful) (+2 People's Opinion)
-[] Praise Workers From (Industry) (Helpful/Harmful) (+2 People's Opinion)
-[] Boost (Social Statistic, example: Birthrates) (Helpful) (+2 People's Opinion)
-[] Propagandize Worker's Conditions (Helpful)
-[] Implement A Social Policy (Write-In) (Helpful/Harmful) (+3 People's Opinion) (-2 Reputation)
--[] Labour Reforms (Triggers Sub-Turns) (Helpful/Harmful) (+/-? People's Opinion) (+/-? Reputation)
-[] Reduce Social Control (How) (Helpful) (+2 People's Opinion) (-7 Reputation)
-[] Expand Medical Education (-4 Reputation) (+3 People's Opinion) (Helpful)
-[] Vaccination Campaign (Disease - Specifics Required) (Extremely Helpful)
--[] Native Production And Doctors (-5 Reputation)
--[] International Production And Doctors (Helpful) (-11 Reputation) (-9 People's Opinion)
-[] Improve Foreign Intelligence Service
--[] Industrial Espionage in Japan (-5 Reputation) (Suspicious)
(Right now, there's a wide variance in the effectiveness of your foreign intelligence agents, which suggests a need for more effective mentorship and information transfer from the more successful ones to the less successful ones. Formalizing a training program means institutionalizing the knowledge of your best agents (with a focus on industrial espionage in Japan) should go a long way toward delivering more reliable results. Of course, industrial espionage may not be as glamorous as the political and military games the CIA and KGB played. Still, it's easier and has a better long-term payoff for the nation. Furthermore, narrowing the focus to Japan due to proximity, an abundance of high-tech industry, and ease of letting your agents blend into the population allows us to get the most optimal results for the effort invested.)
--[] Western Heavy Machinery For Reverse Engineering
--[] (Write-In Target/Activity)
-[] (WRITE-IN)

[] Political

-[] Leader Pushed Developments
--[Y] Healthcare Reform (Mega-Project - 18/47 Actions) (Automatic +6 Actions per Turn)
--[] Reform Government Structure (Mega-Project - 0/10 Actions) (Triggers Sub-Vote) (-60 Reputation)
--[] Create a Commission for the Upkeep and Conservation of Guangchou's Natural Spaces and Habitats for the Worker's Health and Enjoyment (Helpful) (-1 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion)
-[] The Dragon's Den - The Dragon Rail Network is looking ever more like a thing that can be put off "for now" every time you seek to begin work, and with a year already having passed, you'd rather begin work now, than have to force a shock labor order later. By wrangling everyone behind the project, you'd be able to complete not only it but expand the urban and agricultural spaces of Guangchou by using convenient sites on the way, further increasing its positive impact on the people of Guangchou. (Mega-Project 0/99 Actions) (-17 Reputation) (+1 Automatic Progress per Turn once taken.)
--[] Continued Spreading of The People's Theology (+4 Reputation) (+5% CyPac Cohesion)
-[] Populists & Internationalists
--[] Have our glorified paparazzi help the Nationalists by seeing the value of ad campaigning abroad to increase the desire for our trade goods to increase their market value. (-3 Reputation)
--[] Medical Student Exchange with Cuba (Helpful) (-4 Reputation) (-5 People's Opinion)
--[] (Gay) Immigration Propaganda (-3 Reputation) (-1 Chinese Opinion)
("In Guangchou, you will be free to be and love as your truest self, free from bigotry and oppression based on gender, sexual orientation, or race. If you want to help build a better world, come to Guangchou." The Internationalists will spread the word through their contacts abroad that Guangchou LACKS engineers and scientists, accountants, doctors, and other highly educated workers needed to fulfill the Great Leader's ambitious plans and that Guangchou ALSO has more Gay Liberation than you can shake a stick at. We can attract quite a few learned professionals fleeing persecution in their home countries.)
--[] Brain Drain Time! (+4 Reputation)
(A lot of nations are currently facing unrest or ethnic cleansing. We could exploit the fleeing populations and persecuted intellectuals to boost our native capabilities. Oh, and help the refugees, too.
---[] (Write-In)
--[] Southeast Asian Communist Kinship Programm (+3 Reputation)
-[] National Consulting Services (+2 Reputation)
-[] Progressives
--[] Have their experts focus on the economic issues and suggest how to increase food supply and ideas for a healthier economy. (-5 Reputation)
-[] International
--[] (Write-In)
-[] Technologists
--[] Improve the Statistics Bureau (Focus) (-3 Reputation) (Political Consequences For Their Findings)
--[] Vocational Shock Effort (Helpful) (-4 People's Opinion)
-[] Militarists
--[] Create a dedicated branch of Military Engineers (+Allies)
-[] (WRITE-IN)

[] Cybernetic Pact (1 Action Free)

-[] NK promised Supercomputer (Promised Next 5-Year-Plan)
-[] Mozambique - Promised Native Mingxiang (Within this Plan - Required for continued Membership)
-[] Military Intervention (Country) (+2 Reputation)
-[] Fuck The US of Middle North A - Cuba (Trade and Aid) (+4 Reputation)
-[] Fuck The US of Middle North A - Nicaragua (Show the world what the US is sponsoring) (+7 Reputation)
-[] Economic Cooperation - Egypt (Infrastructure and Housing)
-[] Economic Cooperation - Libya (Electronics)
-[] Economic Cooperation - Togo (Show 'Em We Ain't Bad)
-[] Economic Cooperation - Guinea (Industrial Aid)
-[] Economic Cooperation - Tanzania (Promised Industrial Aid)
-[] Economic Cooperation - Ethiopia (Generic)
-[] IMF Bailout - Madagascar, Sudan, Yugoslavia (Bailout) (+1 Reputation)
-[] The Red Dew (+8 Reputation)
Ireland is in deep trouble, wracked by unrest, strife, and economic despair. While technically in the camp of the EU, dangling very generous Economic and Industrial Aid in front of them could bring them over to us...and if that doesn't do it? Well, they have a revolutionary front fermenting within their nation...and one going ever more active. If we wish to help or tie them to ourselves before Ireland seeks help from Europe, we should act now.
-[] Freedom's Cry (+5 Reputation)
South Africa has long been under the yoke of imperialists, capitalists, tyrants, and the West. It is time that those who fight against their tyrannical regime are armed and trained as befitting a people yearning to be free.
-[] A Red Rising (+11 Reputation) (+4 People's Opinion) (+10% CyPac Cohesion)
Our efforts in South America are paying off, with Liberation Theology spreading ever faster in the fires of revolution. If some pushes were applied, some countries wouldn't be experiencing massive unrest...but open civil wars for the workers' freedom. The current turmoil is beginning to boil over all over the continent. With a relatively cheap effort and military supplies shipped over, the various movements and fronts could be brought into contact to increase their chances to successfully rise against the oppressors of the working class!
-[] Inter-Alliance Culinary Exchange (+2 Reputation) (+2 People's Opinion)
-[] (Write-In)

[] Secret And High-Security Projects

-[] Investigate Applications For WEISOFT Again
-[] Mingxiang CyberSyn System 1.1.0 (Mega-Project - 2/10 Actions) (-6 Reputation)
-[] Develop Native Supercomputer (Mega-Project - 0/3 Actions) (-6 Reputation) (-7 People's Opinion)
-[] Nuclear Reactor Factory (Mega-Project - 0/4 Actions) (???)

[] Wei Jungming - (RP)
-[] Personal Action (Write-In two things he does within the next six months.)
-[] Lover Action (Write-In one thing Wei Jungmin and Wei Mai do together in the next six months.)

cryptoam · Oct 3, 2023

SCL protocol design effort snapshot 1

My first omake here and the first bits of work in story on the secure protocol.
Goal is that at the end of the first arc of this series(There will be four) the NSA will be bashing their heads against the wall trying to break the security of the protocol.

BUILDING THE GUANGCHOU OF TOMORROW

====================================

Welcome to WeiSoft(TM)
OS version 1.01b

USER ID: kryptos
PASSWORD: ***********

====================================

> MESSAGES
> VIRTUAL FORUM
> DATABASE
> DATA READER
> SETTINGS
> CONTROLLED AREA <<<<<
> EXIT

====================================

WARNING
YOU ARE ACCESSING CONTROLLED INFORMATION
ALL INTERACTION IS LOGGED
ALL UNAUTHORIZED ACTIVITY WILL BE PROSECUTED
ACCESS KEY REQUIRED

ACCESS KEY: ********

====================================

> CONTROLLED AREA
>> WELCOME
>> WEISOFT SECURITY ENHANCEMENTS
>> LONG TERM ENCRYPTED PROTOCOL DESIGN <<<<<
>> WEISOFT AUTHENTICATION DESIGN
>> NETWORK MONITORING

====================================

> SUBJECT >> LONG TERM ENCRYPTED PROTOCOL DESIGN
>
> We have been assembled here to work on a long term secure network protocol for long term use in our networks. This protocol must be secure against highly capable attackers and flexible enough for multiple use cases now and in the future.
> PROJECT LEAD
>
> That's a tall task for us. We can do secure in the near term but we don't have that much experience in designing protocols against a highly capable attacker. The flexibility requirement will be a pain to. Do we have an idea of what's needed in that regard?
PS: Do we need to handle network instability or can we assume that is dealt with already
> LEAD DESIGNER 1
>
> Well, at minium we have to be able to support our current use cases. We have the need handle fixed deployments where we can preload data for bootstrapping the connection. We do have scenarios where we need to establish a secure connection between two nodes without them being preloaded before hand with data for that connection. Right now we are using a somewhat convuluted method in where the two hosts communicate with trusted servers to establish their connection.
> PROTOCOL DESIGNER 1
>
> You can assume that the underlying layer to the protocol will handle network stability and delivery assurance.
> PROJECT LEAD
>
> The first use case is fairly easy. We just preload enough key material to both encrypt and add an authentication code to each packet onto both nodes. The cryptography for that is fairly simple and the security would only rely on the cryptographic algorithms we use. The second is a pain however. While our current method allow us to create secure connections between two nodes that were not aware of each other before hand, it requires a complex architecture that has to be available at the time of the handshake and takes a while to complete. Good luck if the infrastructure breaks doing that process.
> CRYPTOGRAPHY DESIGNER 1
>
> You don't have to tell me how painful that is. I had to deal with that situation when troubleshooting some problems with a site's secure computer's connection problems. It's a pain to get all the servers needed working. I've heard some stuff about key exchange algorithms. Couldn't those be used to establish the needed secret key material that would then be used to secure connections in the second scenario?
> PROTOCOL DESIGNER 2
>
> If we assume the attacker won't tamper with the connection at the time of the handshake yes. Key exchange algorithms do protect the generated key material from passive eavesdroppers but the moment the attacker can inject themselves into the entire connection the security breaks. If the attacker can intercept and pose as the other node for both nodes, they can perform the key exchange themselves and gain access to all the secret key material used. The problem there is that we failed to successful authenticate the node we are communicating to.
> CRYPTOGRAPHY DESIGNER 1
>
> Aw shucks. There goes that idea. Are we stuck with having to handle complex infrastructure just to achieve that? It's a pain still and having to manage an ever increasing amount of continuously online trusted servers is a pain in the ass. There should be a way to authenticate the nodes.
> PROTOCOL DESIGNER 2
>
> To my knowledge so far, no. All methods to authenticate entities that I know of require us to use symmetric cryptography which requires a preshared secret. We can do a lot to minimize the size of the preshared secret but it's still needs to be present one way or another.
> CRYPTOGRAPHY DESIGNER 1
>
> You are a bit behind the times though. We do have the RSA cryptosystem which allows us to create signatures using a private key that can be authenticated with knowledge of the public key. The system essentially works like this:
Gen(r)-> K_pub, K_priv
Sign(m, K_priv)->Sig
Verify(m, Sig, K_public)-> True/False
Most notably, the public key can remain public for all to see. So long as the associated private key to the public key remains secure, the signatures can be trusted to come from the holder of the private key. If you trust the public key(and by proxy the signer), you can trust the signatures. Most notably, no one else can forge the signatures and verification does not required a preshared secret.
> CRYPTOGRAPHY DESIGNER 2
>
> Great, so we can make use of that then? I'm thinking a general handshake like:
Node 1:
Connect request
Key exchange
Signature

Node 2:
Key exchange
Signature

Node 1:
Check connection(use a MAC with the generated key)

Node 2:
Check connection(use a MAC with the generated key)

Does this look okay as a starting point?
> PROTOCOL DESIGNER 2
>
> Looks good to me so far. We will need to work on the actual specifications more before we can say it's secure though. And we need to work on getting the needed public keys and handling public/private key pairs. I think I can reuse some of my previous work on this from another project though.
> CRYPTOGRAPHY DESIGNER 2
>
> I've asked the higher ups about this and they require us to also support cryptographic algorithm negotiation. They need it due to concerns on the computational burden of some of the cryptosystems that you all have proposed for the protocol and some of them want to be able to use preshared keys anyways.
> PROJECT LEAD
>
> That shouldn't be too hard right? Worst case scenario we need two more packets before the original handshake design. One for the intiating node's proposed cryptosuite, the other for the responding node's selection. We then just use the selected cryptosuite in the handshake. We can also help support the preshared key mode by creating dummy versions of the signature and key exchange portions of the handshake packet, making it easy to integrate into the overall protocol.
> PROTOCOL DESIGNER 2
>
> Already working on integrating that into the preliminary spec for the protocol. BTW, what are we calling it?
> PROTOCOL DESIGNER 1
>
> Secure connection layer? That's basically what we are making here. We don't need to worry about network problems and only handle the security of the connection.
Also can you guys take a look at the current spec? File name is PRELIM_DRAFT_SCL_SPEC_01. If this looks good so far I'll send them over to the validation team to take a look.
> LEAD DESIGNER 1
>
> Looks good to me
> PROTOCOL DESIGNER 1
>
> Same here as well
> CRYPTOGRAPHY DESIGNER 1
>
> Good. Time for us to go through this and look for problems. There has to be some somewhere.
> VALIDATION 1
NARRATOR: There were problems

It turns out there are problems. Comment if you can figure it out. My hint will be to look at real life problems with protocols like TLS 1 and SSLv2/SSLv3. Ignore the ones about cryptographic algorithms though, that'll come up later.

HeroCooky · Oct 9, 2023

Scheduled vote count started by HeroCooky on Oct 1, 2023 at 7:50 AM, finished with 53 posts and 13 votes.

10 people have voted
[X] Plan: It's (Not) The End Of the World (Yet)
-[X] Infrastructure
--[X] Durable Goods Libraries (-2 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Light Industry
--[X] Democratically Selected Consumer Goods Factory Complex (+2 Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Heavy Industry
--[X] Construct Geothermal Power Plants (Helpful) (Bonus: +1 PttF + 2 Omake = 3)
--[X] Rail Development Design Project (Mega-project - 3/3) (+1 Reputation) (Reduced Actions For The Dragon Rail) (Sub Vote) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Social
--[X] National Zoning Plan (+0 Reputation) (Sub Vote) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
--[X] Counterintelligence Sweep (-5 Reputation, -5 People's Opinion) (Sub Vote) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Political
--[X] Brace for The Worst (Mega-project - 3/3) (??? Reputation) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] CyPac
--[X] IMF Bailout - Madagascar, Sudan, Yugoslavia (Bailout) (+1 Reputation)
--[X] A Red Rising (+11 Reputation) (+4 People's Opinion) (+10% CyPac Cohesion)
-[X] Wei Jungming - (RP)
--[X] Personal Action: The children have asked you for one or more pet animals and you and your loved one agree with the idea, adopt one or more pets and spend time as a family teaching your child to take care of them, played with them and trained them if possible.
---[X] Adopt the 3G chicken
--[X] Personal Action: From time to time you have explanations, a conversation, received projects and reports from your scientific, medical and other departments of which you barely understood what they were saying. Take advantage of the new options for adult education to study a little to so you can at least follow along.
--[X] Lover Action: Time at the shooting range, your love really likes to use heavy military equipment, and used things that go bang and boom, learned to use them and spent time together doing that.
- CyberFemme
- FoxInASuit
- Oseanman
- zezia
- Drahcir
- Manowl
- abominable
- AndrewPandrew27
- Barondoctor
- Solarstream
4 people have voted
[x] [COMMIEWOOD] Animated Series: Cats in Mausengrad: The secret agents of the Cats International Agency have a collar-tag to kill, as they pursue the destabilization of Mausengrad through various harebrained schemes, but most commonly through their ridiculous attempts on the life of Comrade-Leader Maose. Wholly Tom-and-Jerry level shenanigans, very little tension, with the cats being portrayed as a mixture of menacing as they plot and pitiable as they get lambasted for their comical failure by their intransigent superiors, General Smilodon and Senator McCathy. Any resemblance to actual attempts on the life of Wei Jungmin or Fidel Castro are coincidental, honest.
2 people have voted
[X] Wei Jungming - (RP)
-[X] Personal Action (Write-In two things he does within the next six months.)
--[X] The children have asked you for one or more pet animals and you and your loved one agree with the idea, adopt one or more pets and spend time as a family teaching your child to take care of them, played with them and trained them if possible
--[X] a time at university: from time to time you have explanations, a conversation, received projects and reports from your scientific, medical and other departments of which you barely understood what they were saying, go study a little to be att least capable of knowing what they are talking about
-[X] Lover Action (Write-In one thing Wei Jungmin and Wei Mai do together in the next six months.)
--[X] time at the shooting range, your love really likes to use heavy military equipment, and used things that go bang and boom, learned to use them and spent time together doing that
- Carcer
- BoSPaladin
1 people have voted
-[X] Commiewood:creation of the greatest and shiniest re-dubbing institute of world media of the most prestigious and best smelling nation of guangchou, there are hundreds of thousands of books, films, comics , video games and others (the music does not need to be re-dubbed) which are created around the world every year, the purpose of this institute would be to re-dubb them in guang and other languages to make them accessible to the citizen of Guangchou and his allied nations and reversly traduce media from guangchou and allied nation to spred them to the world.
- Carcer
1 people have voted
[X] otter are so cute that you want to hug them
-[X] Infrastructure
--[X] Durable Goods Libraries (-2 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] prepare for nucleare apocalypse x3
-[X] Light Industry
-[X] Construct a food processing factory for frozen and flash-frozen foods. (Very Helpful)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) construct a factory that will make biodegradable boxes,bags, packaging, bottles, etc that can be thrown away and nonbiodegradable boxes,bottles,etc. You'll pay your people a tiny amount of the price to return those to the factory or a deposit point,or edible packaging for food.
-[X] Heavy Industry
--[X] Rail Development Design Project (Mega-project - 3/3) (+1 Reputation) (Reduced Actions For The Dragon Rail) (Sub Vote) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
--[X] Build Rolling Stock And Rail Factory Complex (Harmful) (+1 Reputation) (Reduced Actions For The Dragon Rail) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Social
--[X] (WRITE-IN)"creation of the refugee, emigration and immigration department, to continuously deal with integrating refugees and immigrants without having to take action for that (and perhaps to reduce the amount of action needed to manage people in the event of a crisis/disaster)"-8 Rep, -2 PO.
-[X] (WRITE-IN) Social Espionage in Japan: the disappearance of the 13500 citizens of guangchou at the hand of the japan during the war has always been like a wound in the mind of the country unable to mourn without certainty of their fate since the japan refuse to say anithing about them, it being worsened by suspicion when the involvement of unit 735 when at their end, it's time to try to put an end to this, find out exactly what happened to them and according to the result, grieve, file a complaint for a crime of war / against the humanity on the Japanese and if you are very lucky bring home any survivors.(if they can find evidence of other war crime the japan comited on us then denied it would be nicetoo).cost :-7 Rep for all the costs involved, takes 2 turns (still one Action), and may not yield anything.
--[X] National Zoning Plan (???) (Sub Vote) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Political
-[X] Leader Pushed Developments
--[X] Create a Commission for the Upkeep and Conservation of Guangchou's Natural Spaces and Habitats for the Worker's Health and Enjoyment (Helpful) (-1 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion)
-[X] Populists & Internationalists
--[X] (Gay) Immigration Propaganda (-3 Reputation) (-1 Chinese Opinion)
--[X] China Refugee Outreach (-2 Repuation, +1 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Cybernetic Pact
--[X] A Red Rising (+11 Reputation) (+4 People's Opinion) (+10% CyPac Cohesion)
- Carcer
1 people have voted
[x] [COMMIEWOOD] Animated Series: Cats in Mausengrad: The secret agents of the Cats International Agency have a collar-tag to kill, as they pursue the destabilization of Mausengrad through various harebrained schemes, but most commonly through their ridiculous attempts on the life of Comrade-Leader Maose. Wholly Tom-and-Jerry level shenanigans, very little tension, with the cats being portrayed as a mixture of menacing as they plot and pitiable as they get lambasted for their comical failure by their intransigent superiors, General Smilodon and Senator McCathy. Any resemblance to actual attempts on the life of Wei Jungmin or Fidel Castro are coincidental, honest.
-[X] Infrastructure
--[X] Durable Goods Libraries (-2 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X]X3-Write in: Nuclear disaster preparing.
-[X] Light Industry
-[X] Construct a food processing factory for frozen and flash-frozen foods. (Very Helpful)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) construct a factory that will make biodegradable boxes,bags, packaging, bottles, etc that can be thrown away and nonbiodegradable boxes,bottles,etc. You'll pay your people a tiny amount of the price to return those to the factory or a deposit point,or edible packaging for food.
-[X] Agri-, And Aquaculture
-[X] Seed Treatment Factory Complex (-2 Reputation)
-[X] Expand Crop Breeding Programs (+1 Reputation) (Helpful)
-[X] Develop Fish Ranching (-1 Reputation)
-[X] Social
--[X] (WRITE-IN)"creation of the refugee, emigration and immigration department, to continuously deal with integrating refugees and immigrants without having to take action for that (and perhaps to reduce the amount of action needed to manage people in the event of a crisis/disaster)"-8 Rep, -2 PO.
-[X] Political
-[X] Leader Pushed Developments
--[X] Create a Commission for the Upkeep and Conservation of Guangchou's Natural Spaces and Habitats for the Worker's Health and Enjoyment (Helpful) (-1 Reputation) (+1 People's Opinion)
-[X] Cybernetic Pact
-[X] Mozambique - Promised Native Mingxiang (Within this Plan - Required for continued Membership)
-[X] Economic Cooperation - Tanzania (Promised Industrial Aid)
-[X] The Red Dew (+8 Reputation)
- BoSPaladin

HeroCooky · Oct 14, 2023

-[X] Heavy Industry
--[X] Rail Development Design Project (Mega-project - 3/3) (+1 Reputation) (Reduced Actions For The Dragon Rail) (Sub Vote) (Bonus: +1 PttF)
-[X] Social
--[X] National Zoning Plan (+0 Reputation) (Sub Vote) (Bonus: +1 PttF)

The time...has finally come.

The stars are right.

The constellations have aligned.

The pieces are in their places.

And the Most Glorious Democratic People's Republic of Guangchou, Light of All Nations, Defender of all Humanities, and Paradise on Earth, begins a work that has always been started, always been done in the background, but has never received any amount of funding or attention it needed to properly function and fulfill its purpose.

The talk is, naturally, about the construction of a national railway system.

And yet, while there is a stupendous amount of work to be done in its creation, from the factories that will produce the tracks and locomotives to the assignment of the workers and deference to the Unions to ensure local conditions are correctly utilized and circumvented, another, far more important, work is to be done.

The talk is, of course, about how the locomotives, train cars, and railway stations will look!

Unfortunately, some things of lesser concern must be prepared for, like the requirements for your trains, if you will use different locomotives for goods and people, and all that, but that can be pushed aside for the important things. Fashion.

Dragon Rail Vote:
(2-Day Moratorium. Plan Vote for each Bracket [] required.)
[] [Dragon Rail] Train Car Design (Write-In)
[] [Dragon Rail] Railway Station Architecture (Write-In)
[] [Dragon Rail] Railway Station Artworks (Write-In)

[] [Dragon Rail] Unified Locomotives (Write-In One-Fits-All Design)
OR
[] [Dragon Rail] Separated Locomotives (Write-In Designs for industrial, military, and/or public transport uses. Increases Dragon Rail to 17 Actions.)

National Zoning Plan:
(QM here: I have literally no idea what I should do with this, nor do I have a shimmer of an idea why this should be a sub-vote, but here you have it. Go wild, kids.)
[] [National Zoning] (Write-In)

HeroCooky · Nov 2, 2023

Scheduled vote count started by HeroCooky on Oct 14, 2023 at 5:34 PM, finished with 38 posts and 9 votes.

6 people have voted
[X] [Dragon Rail] A Good Rail
2 people have voted
[X] [National Zoning] Welcome to the Grid
- CyberFemme
- Carcer
1 people have voted
[X] [Dragon Rail] A Good Rail
-[X] High Speed Rail Car Design: Cyber's
--[X] Urban Metro Car Design: Cyber's
--[X] Urban Tram Car Design: Cyber's
-[X] Freight Car Design: Cyber's
-[X] Utility Car Design: Cyber's
-[X] High Speed Rail Track Design: Cyber's
-[X] Urban Metro Track Design: Cyber's
-[X] Urban Tram Track Design: Cyber's
--[X] Freight Track Design: Cyber's
-[X] Signalling System Design: Cyber's
-[X] HSR Railway Station Architecture: Cyber's
-[X] Metro Station Architecture: Cyber's
-[X] Tram Stop Architecture: Cyber's
-[X] Freight Station Architecture: Cyber's
-[X] Urban Environment-Metro Integration: Cyber's
--[X] [Additional Action] Design A Civilian Vehicle (Describe) (-2 Reputation)
---[X] Urban Transport Vehicle Fleet (Modular Skateboard Chassis)
-[X] Misc Railway Stuff: Cyber's
-[X] Railway Station Artworks: Democratically Selected On Local Basis
- CyberFemme
1 people have voted
[X] Plan I guess
-[X] [Dragon Rail] Train Car Design (Write-In)
-[X] [Dragon Rail] Railway Station Architecture (Write-In)
-[X] [Dragon Rail] Railway Station Artworks (Write-In)
-[X] [Dragon Rail] Unified Locomotives (Write-In One-Fits-All Design)
- SegaCD

HeroCooky · Nov 2, 2023

Everything is white.

There is nothing to be seen besides pure white like snow freshly fallen upon a canvas of nothingness.

And yet, a sound begins to toll out.

Steps.

Steps of shoes upon the ground, falling one after the other like a slow staccato.

Coming closer.

They sound out, one after the other, unto the ground, until...a heavyset man appears from the left, hands behind his back, wearing a black and white suit with a red tie. Dressed like one would to a funeral, or perhaps an important meeting.

Dressed like someone expecting to be heard.

And listened to.

The man unfolds his hands from behind his back and gestures slightly behind him with a minute twist of his torso, and his mouth opens.

A voice made from honeyed gravel, deep yet melodious and confident, emerges from his broad chest, and he speaks.

"The day is 1983," he says, and black numbers appear behind him in the white void. "The 8th September. Around the world, people begin waking up or going to bed on a Thursday like so many others, like so many to come."

The white void and black numbers are switched, with scenes of a rising sun casting its dazzling brilliance in hues of red, orange, and yellow, replaced by a setting sun crossing the horizon, casting the world into a black abyss.

Until lights appear, twinkling and warm, as a city is shown, the distant rumbling of thunder intermixed with the glimmer of tracers in the far distance, near enough to be worrisome, far enough to allow the people here to ignore the sounds with little willpower.

The faint shadow of a clock appears in the image, hanging over everything like a pale noose, ticking onward its endless circular path.

"It is 4:13 in the city of Baotou, and two weeks ago, the forces of the Democratic Chinese Republic left in a hurried evacuation, harrassed overhead by the soaring jets of both the People's Republic of China and Guangchou. They left behind a city of nearly a million people, fearful of their future and the forces marching in their direction."

Images of tanks and soldiers driving through streets deserted by civilians play in the background as the clock ticks on. One truck slows down and halts before disgorging soldiers by the dozens, many beginning to enter a large government building. In contrast, others fan out, the patches of the Guangchou Volunteer Battalion visible upon their uniforms, if the presence of armed women did not already hint at their allegiance. Then, the camera shifts abruptly from filming the soldiers a story below to the hulking forms of a quartet of Iron Tigers being driven down the street on a truck, oversized weaponry as visible as the scars of battle they bear proudly. Two of them hold a massive block of metal shaped like a shield, ugly craters pockmarking their surfaces, while another, equipped with an oversized rifle, looks straight at the person filming them.

They move on, and the video ends.

"The PRC and Guangchou took the city without a single fight a week after the DCR left, leaving nothing more than the bare minimum of a garrison to ensure public order and act as a tripwire if their enemy had set their retreat up as a feint."

A photo of a group of smiling men faded into existence over the void, each holding up a bowl filled with food as the flag of the PRC hung on the wall.

"They did not need to fight; the retreat was genuine. But they let through a truck, allowing it to enter the city, after being bribed not to look closer and ignore the vehicle's cargo. They likely had assumed these were looters rather than foreign agents, as they did not see any people other than the duo of driver and guard. A sensible precaution in these times, in these lands, they assumed. No need to be alarmed."

A CGI of the city began to appear, zooming out from the middle of Baotou, and a red dot began to bloom near the Yellow River.

"The task force of agents, soldiers, tanks, and Mecha racing after this truck was alarmed. They had finally found one of the missing nukes, and they were not willing to allow those who held it to do what they wished with it."

The red dot blooming near the river expanded, beginning to encompass a large portion of the city, rings appearing within and without. The words: 'Surface Detonation' are large and prominent above the image.

"They were here to stop them or die trying."

One after the other, the rings were marked.

2.02 Km - Fireball Radius – Nothing Remains.

3.24 Km - Heavy Blast Radius – Concrete Buildings are shattered. Nearly 100% Fatalities.

6.82 Km - Moderate Blast Radius – Most Residential Buildings Collapse.

17.5 Km - Light Blast Radius – Glass Windows Break, Causing Further Injuries.

17.9 Km - Thermal Pulse – 100% 3rd Degree Burns

19.2 Km - Thermal Pulse – 50% 3rd Degree Burns

23.5 Km - Thermal Pulse – 50% 2nd Degree Burns

31.5 Km - Thermal Pulse – 50% 1st Degree Burns

39.3 Km - Thermal Pulse – No Harm

"Nearly 400.000 People would die if that weapon detonated as planned. A further 230.000 would survive the coming days with grave injuries...if they were treated in a timely fashion. It is an unlikely event, as even the best possible outcome would have the fleeing survivors clogging any attempts to relieve the affected city. Hospitals would run over with patients screaming, whimpering, and dying. Tent cities would be erected anywhere they could fit, merely to contain the flood of injured, scared, and traumatized trying to leave a city dying of radiation and from a complete collapse of all services."

"A horror known only twice in the history of humanity would visit the people of Baotou, showing once more the destructive capability of all mankind when science is put in subservience to death and war."

The clock, always visible in the background, continued, nearly at midnight, and the soft tick of the clock grew louder, louder, louder until it was like a falling hammer unto an anvil.

And a second before midnight...it stopped.

"Yet, for Baotou, that future would not come to pass."

The scene changed, no longer a rendition of a burning and destroyed city but that of another morning sun rising above the city to the song of birds and the waking of nearly a million souls.

"Those who had tried to set this nuclear conflagration ablaze would meet a violent end, one from the task force sent after them, another by their hand. Baotou would not see the heart of a newborn sun bloom in its midst."

The scene, once showing a waking city, began to fall away slowly, then ever faster, until a large portion of China could be seen as if from orbit, browns, greens, and grey staring back indifferently to its silent observers.

And four lights glinted across the lands below.

Slowly, four black lines krept to the blooming balls of fire and smoke, drawing clinical estimations to each spot, names appearing as numbers rose.

Yinchuan - Surface Burst – ~78.000 Dead, ~120.000 Injured

Lanzhou - Surface Burst – ~480.000 Dead, ~230.000 Injured

Zhengzhou - Surface Burst – ~130.000 Dead, ~650.000 Injured

Beijing - Air Burst – ~700.000 Dead, ~1.000.000 Injured

The man appears again, hands once more folded behind their back.

"In the span of one hour, 1.4 million people were murdered. Two million more would follow in the next two years alone as radiation began to descend in the shape of a black rain falling across the nation, carrying the hidden, quiet, cruel horrors of radiation with it. Were it not for the political and humanitarian efforts spearheaded by Guangchou, distributing medical aid, opening corridors of evacuation, sending what medical personnel could be spared, and volunteers in the tens of thousands amidst an active civil war in the nation they were trying to aid, then the numbers would be fivefold, and the lives of those dying would have been hell on earth."

The man pauses as scenes of utter misery and torment begin to play behind him, some static pictures taken by reporters trying to immortalize the situation, others videos depicting scenes of medical personnel and helpers rushing everywhere in hospitals slowly emptying themselves as soldiers carried bodybags from rooms and hallways.

"And although it is unconfirmed, tales of triage were no stranger in those horrific days after the atrocities committed upon the Chinese peoples. And if they are real, then a painless death was perhaps the only mercy these men, women, and others could give their patients."

The man takes a breath as all these scenes begin to fade into the void once more, white beginning to creep into the world until all but the man was devoid of color once more.

"And were it not for the actions of one man aboard a submarine of the USSR, that mercy would have been given to far more if any at all. Vasily Aleksandrovich Arkhipov was all that stood between two naval officers serving on the same submarine as he and the launch of its nuclear complement. Upgraded with new electronic components, overhauled, and left to prowl the oceans once more a mere three months back, the submarine had not been in a position to inform its crew of the frantic scrambling of Guangchou's diplomats and politicians trying to ensure that what they were about to do would not come to pass. The work of these men, women, and others ensured that while millions of soldiers around the globe were readied as heads of state were ripped from their sleep or daily lives scrambled for answers; de-escalation would commence within a mere hour after the detonations. Blindingly fast in the political scene, glacial for those military commanders and pilots sitting at consoles and ready to sally out, leaving behind all to deliver retribution for assumed nuclear devastation on their homes."

"He stood there, key in hand, and argued that it made no sense for China to be nuked alone, that there were no more launches than one in retaliation from the nation, and that the computer had to, must be, wrong in its assessment. There was no nuclear war about to happen. Only a bug in the machine, faulty and seeing ghosts. Perhaps it was the arguments he used; maybe it was the lingering doubts of the other two officers loud enough to be convinced if only one spoke up, but the result was the same. There would be no nuclear armageddon for the rest of the world. The submarine would break the silence and confirm that there was no nuclear war between the First, Second, or Third World."

"Only the deaths of four cities from artificial suns."

Carcer · Nov 5, 2023

Fur,Feather,Fin

All of us are kin

A zoological edutainment book for ages 12 and up about Guangchou fauna.

A book writen by Chiao Meong.
Ilustrated by Juanas Mari.

The Fortress Turtles

Description:
With an average length of 2.5 meters for males and 2.8 m for females, a height of 1.75 m for males, 1.95 for females and with exceptions of both sexes reaching up to 3 meters in length and 2 meters high the fortress turtle it the largest in the world.

Its enormous mass of 1000 to 2300 kg is supported by four elephantine feet, themselves accompanied by a tail (larger in males) and a head at the top of a muscular neck accompanied by a powerful beak,all these appendages are capable of retracting into an extremely thick and solid shell that can be up to 4 cm thick.
Life cycle:
Mating occurs at any time of the year, although it does have seasonal peaks between February and June in the humid uplands during the rainy season. When mature males meet in the mating season, they face each other in a ritualised dominance display, rise up on their legs, and stretch up their necks with their mouths gaping open. Occasionally, head-biting occurs, but usually the shorter tortoise backs off, conceding mating rights to the victor,it is strongly advised to stay away before during and after the mating process.

The prelude to mating can be very aggressive, as the male forcefully rams the female's shell with his own and nips her legs.Mounting is an awkward process and the male must stretch and tense to maintain equilibrium in a slanting position. The concave underside of the male's shell helps him to balance when straddled over the female's shell, and brings his cloacal vent (which houses the penis) closer to the female's dilated cloaca. During mating, the male vocalises with hoarse bellows and grunts, described as "rhythmic groans". This is one of the few vocalisations the tortoise makes; other noises are made during aggressive encounters, when struggling to right themselves, and hissing as they withdraw into their shells due to the forceful expulsion of air.

Females journey up to nesting areas of dry, sandy coast. Nest digging is a tiring and elaborate task which may take the female several hours a day over many days to complete. It is carried out blindly using only the hind legs to dig a 80 cm deep cylindrical hole, in which the tortoise then lays up to 16 spherical, hard-shelled eggs ranging from 1 to 1.8 kg in mass,and the size of a voleyball.The female makes a muddy plug for the nest hole out of soil mixed with urine, seals the nest by pressing down firmly with her plastron, and leaves them to be incubated by the sun. Females may lay one to four clutches per season. Temperature plays a role in the sex of the hatchlings, with lower-temperature nests producing more males and higher-temperature nests producing more females. This is related closely to incubation time, since clutches laid early incubate during the cool season and have longer incubation periods (producing more males), while eggs laid later incubate for a shorter period in the hot season (producing more females).

Young animals emerge from the nest after four to eight months and may weigh only 400 g and measure 10 cm.When the young tortoises emerge from their shells, they must dig their way to the surface, which can take several weeks, though their yolk sac can sustain them up to seven months.In particularly dry conditions, the hatchlings may die underground if they are encased by hardened soil, while flooding of the nest area can drown them. The young stay in warmer lowland areas for their first 10–15 years,encountering hazards such as falling into cracks, being crushed by falling rocks,being eaten or excessive heat stress.

Sexual maturity is reached at around 40 years. Life expectancy in the wild is thought to be over 300 years,making it one of the longest-lived subspecies in the animal kingdom.
Senses:
They make use of vision to find food and mates, avoid predators, and orient themselves. The retina's light-sensitive cells include both rods for vision in low light, and cones with three different photopigments for bright light, where they have full-color vision. There is possibly a fourth type of cone that detects ultraviolets, as hatchling sea turtles respond experimentally to ultraviolet light, but it is unknown if they can distinguish this from longer wavelengths.

Turtles have no ear openings; the eardrum is covered with scales and encircled by a bony otic capsule, which is absent in other reptiles. Their hearing thresholds are high in comparison to other reptiles, reaching up to 500 Hz in air, but underwater they are more attuned to lower frequencies.

They have olfactory (smell) and vomeronasal receptors along the nasal cavity, the latter of which are used to detect chemical signals. Experiments showed they could learn to respond to a selection of different odorant chemicals such as triethylamine and cinnamaldehyde, which were detected by olfaction in the nose. Such signals could be used in navigation
Habitats/routine:
The tortoises are ectothermic (cold-blooded), so they bask for 1–2 hours after dawn to absorb the sun's heat through their dark shells before actively foraging for 8–9 hours a day.They travel mostly in the early morning or late afternoon between resting and grazing areas.

On the larger and more humid islands, the tortoises seasonally migrate between low elevations, which become grassy plains in the wet season, and meadowed areas of higher elevation 650 m in the dry season. The same routes have been used for many generations, creating well-defined paths through the undergrowth known as "tortoise highways". On these wetter islands, the domed tortoises are gregarious and often found in large herds,disturbing said herds is not recommended.

Tortoises sometimes rest in mud wallows or rain-formed pools, which may be both a thermoregulatory response during cool nights, and a protection from parasites such as mosquitoes and ticks. Parasites are countered by taking dust baths in loose soil. Some tortoises have been noted to shelter at night under overhanging rocks. Others have been observed sleeping in a snug depression in the earth or brush called a "pallet". Local tortoises using the same pallet sites, such as on Volcán Alcedo, results in the formation of small, sandy pits.

Predators:
Apart from man, the only real predators of theadult fortress tortoise are parasites, some marine animals quick enough to surprise and decapitate a turtle before it can return to its shell and possible large predators and packs of hunters in despair,the largest cause of mortality in adults beyond normal healt problems are accidents mostly falling down precipices.
For the young a variety of animals too large to be named (mostly birds) consider them as preys.
Food:
They are herbivores feeding on cacti, grasses, leaves,coconuts, lichens, algae, berries, melons, oranges and milkweed. They have been documented feeding on a surprising variety of poisonous and poisonous plants. Juveniles eat an average of 16.7% of their own weight in dry matter per day, with digestive efficiency roughly equal to that of hindgut-fermenting herbivorous mammals such as horses and rhinoceroses,however, they will not say no to a carcass if they find one.

They get most of their humidity from dew and sap from vegetation, so they can survive more than 6 months without water. They can survive for up to a year when deprived of all food and water, surviving by breaking down their body fat to produce water as a byproduct. They also have a very slow metabolism. When thirsty, they can drink large quantities of water very quickly, storing it in their bladder and the "root of the neck" (the pericardium). In arid times, turtles lick the morning dew off the rocks, and the repeated action over several generations has formed half-spherical depressions in the rock.
Interesting anecdotes:
They share a mutualistic relationship with some subspecies of birds. The birds benefit from the food source and the tortoises get rid of irritating ectoparasites.
Small groups initiate the process by hopping on the ground in an exaggerated fashion facing the tortoise. The tortoise signals it is ready by rising up and extending its neck and legs, enabling the birds to reach otherwise inaccessible spots on the tortoise's body such as the neck, rear legs, cloacal opening, and skin between plastron and carapace.

They love coconuts, it's their favorite treat gnawing the outer flesh before cracking the nut in their beak to devour the sweet flesh inside.

The bite of the fortress turtle is one of the most powerful in existence, whether per square centimeter or in total.

They owe their affectionate name "nutcraker of heroes" because of their appearances in the legend of Hwa Guo The Virile, it is said that after winning the annual aquatic quadriathlon competition of his tribe for the twelfth time Hwa decided to rested naked in the breeze of a beach in the shade of a pandanus tree, while he slept an old fortress turtle washed up on the beach and came in search of food, Hwa's tanned skin melted well with the shell added to the poor eyesight of the elderly turtle made it price its genitals for a pair of coconuts (the name of "The virile" did not come from nowhere), it is said that the howl of Hwa was heard across the entire Chinese sea and beyond, since that day Hwa distrusted the turtles, began to headbutt those who called him "half manly" and protected his remaining nut with a langot in all time.
Geologists believe that a particularly violent volcanic tremor took place at this time in the life of the historic Hwa, which would explain the exaggeration of the cries.

It descends from Megalochelys ("great turtle") a giant turtle specie which lived in western India and Pakistan (possibly even as far west as southern and eastern Europe) to as far east as Sulawesi and Timor in Indonesia, during the Miocene to Pleistocene is suspected to have migrated to Guangzhou from Indonesia during the end of the Pleitocene.

Every year it is a tradition in the villages located near turtles to apate fortresses, some with coconuts before covering them with wreaths of flowers and painting them with various symbols representing stories, the local villages, the people who painted it, their ancestors, etc.
Although nothing other than non-harmful dyes made from flowers and soils has been used for milainaires a recent amendment to the law against cruelty to animals has been put in place prohibiting the use of anything other than said natural dye put an end to the beginning of certain unhealthy drifts with industrial paint sprays.

There have been some attempts throughout history to mount the Fortress Turtles but they have been abandoned for anything beyond stupid and often drunken bets due to the dangerousness of the thing, the slowness of the animal and the obvious discomfort and distress caused to the turtles much loved by the residents of Guangchou.

During the period of the British embassy a certain number of English people thought of hunting the animals for trophies, exhibition animals and other nonsense, the thing was very quickly banned given the extreme hostility caused among the local inhabitants and the high mortality among the "hunters" in fact those who were very often mortally surprised to learn that the threatened fortress turtle can charge over a short period of time and that it can extend its neck to bite in less than a second,the most interesting skulls have been preserved at the Guangchou Museum of Natural History and serve as a warning to potential adventurous turtle riders and hunters by showing how many of a skull a fortress turtle can cut in one bite.

Also known by its Latin name "Saxum movens" which translates to "moving rock", so named because of the naturalist scientist Edmond Woodward who accompanied the first British expedition to Guangchou, Edmond while resting on the beach was very surprised when the rock on which he was leaning decided to get up and walk towards the sea.

One done three to go before the next set,as i said more work than i thought but i think it's at least not too bad.
I would be happy to hear any constructive critisism or modification suggestion if i missed something or got it wrong.
Hope you like it.

edit:any thoughts ?

Carcer · Nov 11, 2023

Glaucous macaw

Description:
The glaucous macaw is (with a few exceptions due to diseases or genetic and statistical anomalies) between 66 and 72 cm long with an average of 70 cm for a weight of around 800 grams on average. To the human eye male and female look similar with mostly pale turquoise-blue with a large, greyish head but for them and any other species capable of seeing ultraviolet they have sexually dimorphic plumage in the UV spectrum with broad stripes on the wings and chest of males and long but thin stripes on the tail and back of females. The term glaucous describes its colouration. It has a long tail and a large bill. It has a yellow, bare eye ring and half moon-shaped lappets bordering the mandible.

The skin of a glaucous macaw is seemingly translucent and thin, it is covered by their feathers. Their skin cells help make up the beak,cere,scales of the legs and feet and claws.

They have between 2400 to 2500 feathers wich assist them in flight, keep them warm, attract potential mates and scare away predators. Small, subtle contour feathers cover the body. These help to insulatethe macaw.They will fluff up their body feathers to intensify insulation and smooth them down to cool off. They will also lift and lower patches of their feathers to show off.

The glaucous macaws has a body consisting of:

Two Zygodactyly (two toes facing forward and two back) clawed legs wich are sufficiently dexterous to be able to use their feet to manipulate food and other objects with a high degree of dexterity,they exhibit "handedness", a distinct preference with regards to the foot used to pick up food, with adult parrots being almost exclusively "left-footed" or "right-footed",the preference between left and right differs from one species to another, in the case of the glaucous macaw it's left which predominates.

A long, pointed feather tail.

A pair of elliptical wings which, thanks to their rounded and shortness, allow for tight maneuvering in confined spaces such as dense vegetation,The wings are also extensions that assist with flight. The wings are compounded for strength. They act as the arm and hand bones of a human, if you will.

And one head comprising:

A curved, broad bill. The upper mandible is prominent, curves downward, and comes to a point. It is not fused to the skull, which allows it to move independently, and contributes to the high biting pressure they are able to exert. A healty glaucous macaw, has an average bite force of 28 kg/cm2 which is needed for breaking into hard seeds and nuts and for excavating their nesting holes in trees and soft rocks. Though rarely used in serious fighting, the beak can be a formidable weapon if a bird feels threatened, and they are capable of killing other birds.The lower mandible is shorter, with a sharp, upward-facing cutting edge, which moves against the flat part of the upper mandible in an anvil-like fashion. Touch receptors occur along the inner edges of the keratinised bill, which are collectively known as the "bill tip organ", allowing for highly dexterous manipulations. They have a strong tongue (containing similar touch receptors to those in the bill tip organ), which helps to manipulate seeds or position nuts in the bill so that the mandibles can apply an appropriate cracking force.

Of two ears holes located below and behind each eye under feathers

And of two eyes positioned high and laterally in the skull, allowing a visual field unique to them and other parrots among the birds. Without turning its head, a glaucous macaw can see from just below its bill tip, all above its head, and quite far behind its head. They also have quite a wide frontal binocular field for a bird, although this is nowhere near as large as primate binocular visual fields. Unlike humans, they are also sensitive to ultraviolet light,the eye is one of their largest organs in size.To aid their survival, bird eyelids were designed so that their vision is not impaired even when they blink!! They have 3 eyelids with the upper and lower eyelids lined with small bristle feathers. The 3rd eyelid, called the nictitating membrane, is used for blinking keeping the eyeball moist and clean. Lying beneath the eyelids on the nostril side, it is transparent and allows them to see when blinking. It has been noted that some birds use this eyelid as safety glasses while flying. They can close this 3rd eyelid while flying!

Life cycle:
The mating season starts at the beginning of the summer rains,at the start of the year with nests constructed in tree cavities or cliff faces depending on the habitat,hollows of sufficient size are only found in trees around 60 years of age or older, and competition is fierce. Existing holes are enlarged and then partially filled with wood chips,then mating season extends up to May, when the young begin to fledge and leave the nest. A pair of glaucous macaw lay two to four eggs per year.The eggs are incubated for approximately 27 days,the male tends to his mate whilst she incubates. Althougt some pairs produce four chicks, the average survival rate is three per pair. However,even if most do ther is pairs of birds in the wild population who don't mate often or at all. The young remain with their parents for up to a year. Juveniles reach sexual maturity around 3–4 years of age.The average lifespan is 46 to 49 years.

A female bones become denser during breeding time. This is to enable her to store the calcium needed to create eggshells. A female's skeleton can weigh up to 20 percent more during breeding season due to calcium storage, then the rest of the time.
Senses:

They have a keen sense of sight,with eyes having all of the cones that allow them to see the colors of the spectrum. In addition, they have a fourth cone making them able to see in the UV range, they can recognize details and to tell the difference in colors.

They also have an acute sense of touch. Parrots will use their feet and their mouths to touch their surroundings, to play, and to determine what is safe to perch on or chew on or eat. You will notice this behavior quite frequently if you watch them. They are discovering and examining objects just as a human would use their hands.

The glaucous ears are located below and behind each eye.Their ears appear as holes. Parrots in general are known to have the capability to recognize sound waves and determine where the sound is coming from. However, birds seem to be less receptive to higher and lower pitch.

The heare holes of the macaw are protected under special fine feathers wich cut down on wind noise These feathers deaden the howl of the wind as it rushes past their ears and allows them to hear other sounds that might be more important. These special feathers work just like the black foam you see covering a microphone. The end result is that Parrots and most other birds can hear just about as well (or even better) than we can.
A parrot's hearing is not so much more sensitive than ours as it is more detailed. They hear things differently than we do. For instance, where we might only perceive a single tone of sound, they will hear several.

The glaucous macaw sense of smell is theorized to be limited since they don't have a lot of receptors for scent. but their taste buds are also limited compared to ours. However we certainly see Parrots respond eagerly to foods they appear to like, so it is possible that the few ones they have are very effective or that we have not yet found all of them, this is something that is still being studied by the zoologists.

Habitats/routine:
It prefers semi-open, somewhat wooded habitats. It usually avoids dense, humid forest, and in regions dominated by such habitats, it is generally restricted to the edge or relatively open sections (e.g. along major rivers). In different areas of their range, these parrots are found in savannah grasslands, in dry thorn forests known as caatinga, and in palm stands or swamps,areas including seasonally inundated savannas, wetlands and anthropogenic areas habitats interspersed with a mosaic of savannas, are good indicators for the presence of the macaws.

Predators:
Beyond the poachers, the predators of the glaucous macaw are numerous, the false vampire bats, certain felines and raptors are the most common with more rarely monkeys and snakes.

Food:
The primary diet of Glaucous macaw are the nuts but seeds are also eaten, as well as flowers and fruits.

The macaw usually forages in groups. They preferentially feed on the palms and trees who grow in groves, mixed together with taller trees. A tall tree is selected by the flock as base to carefully inspect the feeding area. First a pair descends to the level of the palms to assess the suitability, the pair then returns to base, and then the entire flock descends to decide if it is worth staying around. If it is, then the macaws generally feed directly at the site, tearing the fibrous pulp off the fruit to obtain the extremely hard and thick-shelled nut. The pulp is often discarded while trying to get the cores as fast as possible. The heavy bills appear to have evolved specifically to crack open the palm nuts with a chisel-shaped edge, being precisely of the correct size and shape. Upon occasion the birds maw fly off to a better perch to consume the nut, sometimes even carrying a branchlet with a few fruit. Such perches are generally a branch of a tall tree or a cliff face, and the ground below such a perch will become littered with piles of cracked palm nut shells, and are thus easily spotted.

The glauous macaw serve as pollinators for several species of large-fruited trees.Indeed macaws are very messy eaters,and this species is no different. A study found a significant number of undamaged palm nuts on the ground below the branches or rocks where the birds occasionally carry their harvest.

A method by which the birds may secondarily disperse the nuts is by their habit of coming down to the ground to search out the nuts regurgitated by cattle, which eat the fruit, but usually cough up the large seeds, cleaned of pulp, which often aggregate in areas where the ruminants rest, and some also appear to be viable after this ordeal. Flocks of Lear's macaws will congregate at cattle corrals and walk around on the bare ground of rumination sites. After finding one, the regurgitated nut is often eaten on a high perch elsewhere.

Interesting anecdotes:
Their latin name is "Anodorhynchus glaucus"

They cannot sweat because they do not have sweat glands. For this reason they must find a way to keep themselves cool. If you notice them holding their wings away from their body with mouth open, curling their tongue, this is a normal behavior to help keep cool.

They are greatly appreciated by the inhabitants of Guangchou for their endearing habit of reproducing sounds,their love of cuddling and their beauty,poacher learned that the hard way.

They have pneumatic bones. These particular bones contain air sacs and in certain cavities of the body. Pneumatic bones help lighten the body and cool them more proficiently. You must always handle a bird carefully because some bones in the bird are hollow. These hollow bones are much lighter making it easier for flight but because they are hollow it makes them more vulnerable to break.

These birds are said to have inspired the japanese poet Kobayashi Issa to write a haiku about them:
"Calm break of the day
before blue glaucous macaw
betrayed by the tea"
the haiku is said to have been inspired by a visit he made to guagchou in his youth when he worked for a shipping company in tokyo, while he was having morning tea he was surprised to find in his cup a leftover droppings by one of the glaucous macaws who were sitting above the terrace.

They have ten neck vertebrae,this makes a parrot's neck more mobile. A parrot can turn its head almost 180 degrees, looking over its shoulder. In the wild this gives the bird an advantage in spotting food and/or predators and to scare peoples who are not used to it.

Glaucous macaws were introduced into Guangzhou in 1832 from northern Argentina by a South American trader, the second daughter of the British diplomat of the time Ada Aworth had fallen in love with them, finding them magnificent and amusing, the trader smelled a good potential deal and successfully negotiated with the father after that during the following trips he brought several cages, enough for a viable breeding population, over time enough escaped to create a thriving breeding population in the Guang Islands to the point that it was decided that there was no real reason to keep them in an aviary when the trees in the garden (which produced nuts that birds are very fond of) had a handful each on their branches.
They were released in an event now remembered as "the great blue wind" which was immortalized in painting by the artist Haru Dae

The respiratory system is extremely efficient and sensitive. Although it is capable at exchanging gases in the system, two complete breaths are required to do the same work that a single breath does in people; because of this you may observe your parrot breathing quickly, this is normal behavior.

Currently considered extinct or almost extinct in their native South America, the Guangchou population is the last known with certainty in the world. Repopulation projects in South America with breeding pairs of Guangchou are being studied at the diplomatic level.

I would be happy to hear any constructive critisism or modification suggestion if i missed something or got it wrong.
Hope you like it.

Any thoughts ?

Carcer · Nov 14, 2023

East Asian Goshawk

Description:
This raptor has short broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring through trees. It is 28–37 cm in length and 70-78 cm of windspan for the males and 30-40 cm/75-82 cm for the female making it a small-sized raptor. The larger size and a crest, clearly visible in profile, are the best distinctions from its relative, the Besra.

The male has a dark brown crown, grey head sides and black moustachial and throat stripes. The pale underparts are patterned with rufous streaks on the breast and bars on the belly. The larger female has a browner head and brown underpart streaks and bars. The juvenile has pale fringes to its head feathers, and the underpart background colour is buff rather than white.Individuals that live a long life may gradually become paler as they age, manifesting in mottling and a lightening of the back from a darker shade to a parchment pale color,juveniles have pale-yellow eyes while adults typically develop orange-colored eyes, though some may have only brighter yellow or occasionally ochre or brownish eye color.

The flight is a characteristic "slow flap, slow flap, straight glide", similar to other Accipiter species such as the northern goshawk.

Life cycle:
Adult goshawks return to their breeding grounds usually between March and April.Courtship flights typical are above the canopy on sunny, relatively windless days in early spring. Display flights not infrequently escalate into an undulating flight, similar to a wood pigeon but with sharper turns and descents, and are sometimes embellished with sky-dives that can cover over 200 m . One study found undulating display flights more than three times more often done by males than females. After display flights have concluded, the male typically brings a prepared fresh prey item to the female as part of the courtship. In general, these displays are presumably to show (or reinforce) to the potential mate their health and prowess as breeding partner. Copulation is brief and frequent, ranging up to nearly 520 times per clutch (on average about 10 times a day or 100-300 throughout the season), and may be the male's way of ensuring paternity since he is frequently away gathering food by the time of egg-laying, although extra-pair copulation is extremely rare. Female solicits copulations by facing away from male with drooped wings and flared tail-coverts. The male, wings drooped and tail-coverts flared, drops from a branch to gain momentum, then swoops upward and mounts her back. Both birds usually call while mating. Fidelity studies show that about 80–90% of adult females breed with the same male in consecutive years, whereas up to 96% of males mate with the same female in consecutive years.Males intruding are in some cases not evicted and ended up mating with the female, with the male of the pair not stopping it

Nesting areas are indefinite, a nest may be used for several years, also a nest built years prior may be used or an entirely new nest may be constructed. When nest constructing, the pair will often roost together. Males construct most new nests but females may assist somewhat if reinforcing old nests. While the male is building, the female perches in the vicinity, occasionally screaming, sometimes flying to inspect the nest. At other times, the female may take a more active role, or even the primary one, in new nest construction and this is subject to considerable individual variation. For the nesting tree, more than 200 species of conifer have been used leading to believe that any tree with well placed strong branches will be judged as usable. In some areas, the nests may be lined with hard pieces of bark and also with green sprigs of conifers. Often the tallest tree in a given stand is selected as the nest tree and this is often the dominant tree species within the given region and forest. Most nests are constructed under the canopy or near the main fork of a tree , averaging nest height ranged from 5.8 m to 25 m . In the dwarf trees , nests have been found at only 1 to 2 m off the ground, and very rarely on felled trees, stumps or on the ground. In some studies up to 15% of nests are in dead trees. More significant than species is the maturity and height of the nesting tree, its structure (which should have ample surface around the main fork) and, perhaps most significantly, little to no understory below it.

Nests, especially after initial construction, may average between 80 and 120 cm in length and 50 to 70 cm in width, and are around 20 to 25 cm deep. After many uses, a nest can range up to 160 cm across and 120 cm in depth and can weigh up to a ton when wet. They may also adopt nests of other species,but 93% of the nests are built by the goshawks themselves. One particular nest on the southeast coast of guangchou was used continuously by different pairs for a period of 17 years and named "the nest that has been there for a while" by local villager. A single pair may maintain up to several nests, usually up to two will occur in an area of no more than a few hundred meters. One nest may be used in sequential years, but often an alternate is selected. During an study , many alternate nests were used, 27 pairs had two, 10 had 3, 5 had 4, one had five and one pair had as many as 11. The extent of use of alternate nests is unknown as well as their benefit, but they may reduce significant levels of parasites and diseases within the nest.The goshawk's nest area can be as small 1 to 2 ha of woods and less than 10 hectares are commonplace. Nests are not typically found near forest edges, and usually only one active nest occurs per 100 ha , with active nests from different breeding pairs being seldom less than 600 m apart. The most closely spaced active nests by a separate pair on record was 400 m , another case of two active nests 200 m apart in was a possible case of polygamy.

The eggs are laid at 2- to 3-day intervals on average , taking up to 9 days for a clutch of 3–4 and 11 days for a clutch of 5. The eggs are rough, unmarked pale bluish or dirty white.The average dimensions of the eggs are reported at 57.76 to 59.2 mm in height by 44.7 to 45.1 mm in width,weight of the eggs average 59 g with extreme weights of 365 to 75 g. Clutch size almost always averages between 2 and 4 eggs, with a median around 3, rarely as few as 1 or as many 5–6 will be laid. In combination spring weather and prey population levels seem to drive both egg laying dates and clutch size.If an entire clutch is lost, a replacement can be laid within 15 to 30 days.

During incubation, females tend to become quieter and more inconspicuous. The mother can develop a brooding patch of up to 15 by 5 cm on her underside. She may turn the eggs as frequently as every 30 to 60 minutes. Males may incubate as many as 1 to 3 hours, but usually less than an hour, early in incubation but rarely do so later on. During daylight females can do as much as 96% of the observed incubation. The incubation stage last for any time between 28 and 37 days (rarely up to 41 days in exceptionally big clutches), varying in different parts of the range. After hatching occurs, the male does not come directly to the nest but instead just delivers food (usually already plucked, beheaded or otherwise dismembered) to a branch near the nest which the female tears apart and shares between herself and the nestlings. Food deliveries by the male can be daily or as infrequent as every 3 to 5 days. In turn, the female must feed the young about twice a day in order for the chicks to avoid starvation. Caching of food has been recorded near the nest, but only before the young start feeding themselves. Food deliveries must average about 250 to 320 g per young goshawk per day for them to successfully fledge, or 700 to 950 g total daily and 60 to 100 kg throughout the season for an average sized clutch of around three. Females will also start capturing prey later on, but usually only after the young have already fledged. Goshawks often vigorously defend their territories fiercely from all intruders, including passing humans. When the nest is approached (especially soon after hatching) the goshawk will engage in their defensive kakking vocal display accompanied by exaggerated swooping in flight which quickly phases into a violent attack, potentially causing painful (but usually minor,with the exeption of a few people stupid enough for ignoring the warnings and who suffered damage to the skull and sometimes shock due to the sending of rock on their skull, cases of human death are very rare) injuries and blood loss. Research has indicated that attacks on humans are mostly done by adult females (more than 80% of the time) and are rarely pressed unless a person is by themselves. However, large groups and loud noise can appear to irritate the female and may cause her to attack the next lone person who comes near the nest. Occasionally, both males and females have been recorded abandoning the nest and their mates. There are a few rare cases where males successfully reared up to 4 young after the female abandoned the nest or was killed between the 2 and 3rd week. Otherwise male will continue delivering prey but without the female all the nestlings will starve to death and the food simply rots. In cases where the male abandons the female and the brood, she may be able to successfully brood but usually only one nestling is likely to survive to fledge without the male's contribution of prey. At other times the mother may be replaced, sometimes forcefully, by another female, usually an older mature one. Exceptional cases of polygamy, with a male mating with two females, have been reported these breeding attempts fail in 57% of the cases.

Hatching is asynchronous but not completely, usually an average sized clutch takes only 2 to 3 days to hatch, although it may take up to 6 days to hatch a clutch of more than 4 eggs. Hatchlings start calling from within the shell as much as 38 hours before hatching, as a faint chep, chep, chack, peep, peep, peep may be heard. The young are covered with down and altricial (as are all raptors) at first but develop rapidly. Hatchlings measure about 10 cm long at first and grow about 5 to 9 cm in length each week until they fledge. The mothers typically brood the nestlings intensively for about two weeks, around the time grayer feathers start to develop through the nestlings' down. The most key time for development may be at three weeks when the nestlings can stand a bit and start to develop their flight feathers. Also at the three-week stage, they can reach about half the adults' weight and females start to noticeably outgrow the males. However, this growth requires increased food delivery so frequently results in lower nest attendance and, in turn, higher predation rates. Also rates of starvation at this stage can exceed 50% especially in the youngest of large clutches of 4 to 5. Nestlings at four weeks are starting to develop strong flight feathers, which they frequently flap; also they can start to pull on food but are still mainly fed by female and begin to make a whistling scream when she goes to fetch food from the male. More active feeding behavior by nestlings may increase their aggression towards each other. By the 5th week, they have developed many typical goshawk behaviors, sometimes mantling over food, testing balance by extending one leg and one wing at edge of nest (called "warbling" by falconers) and can wag their tails vigorously. Starvation risk also increases at this point due to their growing demands and, due to their incessant begging calls, vocal activity may court predators. In 6th week, they become "branchers", although still spend much of the time by the nest, especially by the edge. The young goshawks "play" by seizing and striking violent at a perch or by yanking off leaves and tossing them over their back. Wing feathers do not develop highly dimorphically, but male branchers are better developed than females who have more growing to do and can leave the nest up to 1–3 days sooner. The young rarely return to the nest after being 35 to 46 days of age and start their first flight another 10 days later, thus becoming full fledglings. Goshawk nestlings frequently engage in "runting", wherein the older siblings push aside and call more loudly and are thus are feed more often at food deliveries, until the younger siblings may either starve to death, be trampled or killed by their siblings (referred to as siblicide or "cainism"). There is some evidence that mother goshawks may lessen the effects of runting by delaying incubation until their last eggs are laid. Food supply may be linked to higher rates of siblicides and, in many locations with consistent prey levels, runting and siblicide can occur somewhat seldom (meaning they are "facultative" rather than "obligate cainist"). Nonetheless, either by predation, starvation or siblicide, few nests produce more than 2 to 3 fledglings.

At about 50 days old, the young goshawks may start hunting on their own but more often eat carrion either provided by parents or biologists. Most fledglings stay within 300 m of the nest at 65 days of age but can wander up to 1 km,it's at this point that they will begin to search fo their own rock, before dispersal at between 65 and 80 days old in sync with the full development of their flight feathers. Between 65 and 90 days after hatching, more or less all young goshawks become independent. There is no evidence that parents aggressively displace the young in the fall (as other raptorial birds have sometimes been reported to do), therefore the young birds seek independence on their own. Goshawk siblings are not cohesive together past 65 days, except for some lingering young females.5% of radio-tagged young (entirely males) were found to disperse to another breeding area and join a different brood as soon as their flight feathers were developed enough. These seem to be cases of moving to a better food area. Parents and adoptive young seem to tolerate this, although parents do not seem to be able to tell the difference between their own and other young. It is only after dispersal that goshawks typically start to hunt and seem to drink more often than older birds, sometimes spend up to an hour bathing.

The lifespan in the wild is variable. It is known that in captivity, northern goshawks may live up to 27 years of age. Wild birds that survive their first two years can expect a lifespan of up to 11 years.There is one record of a 16-year, 4-month-old goshawk.Starvation was found to account for 8-9% of deaths were from starvation,28% of mortality was from disease.Variable numbers of goshawks are killed by flying into man-made objects such as power lines and buildings and by automobiles, although lesser numbers are affected by powerline collisions than larger types of raptor.

Senses:
They,like most birds, are tetrachromats having four types of colour receptors in the eyeallowing them to perceive ultraviolet light. Other adaptations allow for the detection of polarised light or magnetic fields. This is due to the large number of photoreceptors in the retina (up to 1,000,000 per square mm , compared to 200,000 in humans), a high number of nerves connecting these receptors to the brain, and an indented fovea, which magnifies the central portion of the visual field.

Habitats/routine:
The vast majority of the species lives on Guangchou with a small population in Taiwan, on the disputed islands and along the Chinese coast facing Guangchou.
It is primarily a a coastal forest bird bird, and an all-year resident ousite of breeding season when he will leave his personal nest to go to his breeding ground.

Predators:
They get attacked and can be eaten by hawks that are larger, eagles, owls, raccoons, foxes, and snakes. Their position on the food chain keeps them out of reach of most predators. However, hawk eggs and younger hawks who haven't developed full strength can still be gobbled up.

Food:
Like most hawk's their diet is predictable and includes a variety of smaller animals. Some of these small animals include snakes, lizards, fish, mice, rabbits, squirrels,bugs,smaller birds and any other type of small game that is found on the ground,but unlike the other hawks, this one is extremely fond of shellfish and crustaceans.

Like most birds of prey, they are also opportunistic predators and scavengers.

Interesting anecdotes:
The most unique feature of this beautiful bird is undoubtedly its companion stone.
In fact, as soon as the animal has started to move outside the maternal nest it will begin to look for its own companion pebbles, the first companion pebbles of a young one generally do not weigh more than a few tens of grams but that of a adult varies between 0.68-1.58 kg, this practice seems to have been developed as a method for opening shellfish (in the manner of otters) and shells of seafood as well as a means of defence, in fact when in front of a closed shell or a shell that is too solid, the companion pebbles will be used to open it by hitting it (although testimonies of the use of sharp companion pebbles used for slicing remain to be verified).

The companion pebbles can be used for defense by dropping it from a great height or by sending it violently at the skull of any threat, which for a stone companion of an adult can be a significant danger for most animals,fortunately, unless during the brooding period they are more likely to ignore large animals such as humans and even if they decide to attack it will only be after a certain amount of clear warning.

The stone mainly stays in the nest when it is not brought for a hunting or defense trip, when it is carried will most often be carried in a claw although the use of the beak is not too uncommon, rarely the stone will be temporarily left in a hidden area that is difficult to access when the bird thinks that it will need its claws and beak at the same time, often in this type of case it will prefer to bring it back to the nest before returning to its affairs.

Their mating calls have been described by some ornithologists as a painful discordance reminiscent of a subtle blend between the sound of someone scratching a blackboard and that of a domestic accident involving an in-sink food garbage grinder and genitals.

If the target has been stunned by the stone, the bird will try either if it is mad, defending its breeding nest or hungry to shred the weak points of the enemy (throat, eyes, lower abdomen) or if it estimates its chances as bad or is not particularly angry it will try to recover its stone and leave, if it cannot immediately recover its stone it will wait in the surroundings to recover it, some birds have been seen waiting months for an opportunity to recover it their stone because of animals having established their den too close to the stone for him to retrieve it, even establishing a temporary nest.

His scientific name is Lapis omissis avibus and his common name is stone bird.

Once it has become large enough to move on to the next companion stone, the previous one which has become too small will be delicately stored in the raptor's personal nest, in fact a strong affection on the part of these birds seems to exist towards these stones gently shaped over the years of use, given that depressive behavior seems to appear in the event of loss of said stones, this has led to the qualification of the theft of said stones as cruelty towards animals.

Attempts at militarization have taken place throughout history with mixed success, it has proven possible to train the animal to drop metal spikes on a particular target but the training is extremely difficult and it is necessary that the target is dressed in a different way from those around it and that this way corresponds very closely to what the training dummy was wearing, meaning that each bird could only be trained for one type of outfit, after a few decades any attempt at anything other than VIP assassinations was abandoned.

I would be happy to hear any constructive critisism or modification suggestion if i missed something or got it wrong.
Hope you like it.

Any thoughts ?

Qm what are the inhabitants of Guangchou called?, Guang? Guangian?,and i would have a few question wich answer would help me with the next animal.

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Ilustrated by Juanas Mari.

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