thread policyDiscussion of politics that does not directly relate to the Quest or to Quest votes are banned from hereon out. This thread policy will be enforced by the Moderation team. Do not ignore it.
Even so, I think it would be hilarious if we could play the great game well enough that Alexander announces Alena as his heir and Victoria destroys the bridge with their own greatest ally because muh 'ebul wimmenz can't get power' mentality the Victoria was founded on. It would carry a certain irony in my opinion.
Younger, although that's incidental to her place in the line of succession. For all his manifold faults, Alexander is personally quite the equal-opportunity bastard. Russian succession these days is absolute cognatic heir designation, defaulting to primogeniture in absence of a designee.
Granted, with all of the problems aforementioned by myself and others, but that's the theory.
I wonder what nuclear proliferation looks like. Probably all the usual suspects - Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Israel. I bet the EU are sharing nukes jointly. If Iran ever got nukes they probably lobbed them at the Saudis. But in this uncertain world, I wonder if anyone else has armed up.
America...oof. I would hope they were all mothballed during the collapse and are useless by now, but the idea of some spare nukes floating around is...not pleasant.
How did the swiss government collapse? States are entirely imaginary, and the swiss have a very strong national identity. It should manage to limp on even if its finances get shot to shit. Especially if the cantons managed to keep together, their first order of business should be to reestablish the federal government.
Also, I thought the swiss were net food exporters? Although I don't remember where I read that.
I wonder what nuclear proliferation looks like. Probably all the usual suspects - Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Israel. I bet the EU are sharing nukes jointly. If Iran ever got nukes they probably lobbed them at the Saudis. But in this uncertain world, I wonder if anyone else has armed up.
America...oof. I would hope they were all mothballed during the collapse and are useless by now, but the idea of some spare nukes floating around is...not pleasant.
We know there's at least one loose, and that the Victorians somehow found and detonated at least two. The NCR has more.
From the text description of both the NCR and the way Russia/Victoria "scoured the continent" in the aftermath of the Victorians' wars against all the other American successor states, it seems likely that the bulk of the American nuclear arsenal was rounded up and decommissioned by the Russians, who had every reason to minimize the risk of American successor states (especially their own puppet) indulging in nuclear terrorism after Shanghai.
Younger, although that's incidental to her place in the line of succession. For all his manifold faults, Alexander is personally quite the equal-opportunity bastard. Russian succession these days is absolute cognatic heir designation, defaulting to primogeniture in absence of a designee.
Granted, with all of the problems aforementioned by myself and others, but that's the theory.
He decided to claim descent from the Romanovs and refound that dynasty.
Legitimate? No. Wise, given the average Russian's (lack of) fond feelings for their former royal house? Probably not, no.
Did he have enough guns that people let him do it anyway? Oh, yes.
This is a big part of why I'm expecting any attempt on his part to name a biological heir to fail miserably.
If he took the Roman approach of adopting someone who was already one of the strongest political figures within the state, and further reinforcing their power and prestige so they'd have a good chance of winning any ensuing civil wars, then he might be able to pull it off.
As it stands, I'm expecting his empire to fall apart.
How did the swiss government collapse? States are entirely imaginary, and the swiss have a very strong national identity. It should manage to limp on even if its finances get shot to shit. Especially if the cantons managed to keep together, their first order of business should be to reestablish the federal government.
Also, I thought the swiss were net food exporters? Although I don't remember where I read that.
They're net exporters overall, as far as food goes in a pinch they could probably make do but any scenario where their capacity to trade is completely collapsing is one where Germany, France, Italy AND Austria are getting wrecked on the same scale the US did. This is the country that pretty much waltzed through both World Wars unscathed and bluffed Nazi Germany by military force into backing down from Operation Tennanbaum. You'd need total apocalypse in Europe for Switzerland to completely fragment.
If he's even half as competent as Vasily, Russia would rule the world with no issues. That there are issues at all means he's not Vasily Aristov, and that I refuse to even consider him even remotely related the Aristov Bloodline.
If Potpart says he is of the Aristov Bloodline, I will be both shocked and saddened by the Development. And a little impressed that they managed to take over the world in a lifetime.
[X] Plan Security, Established, and Economy
-[x] Brown-Water Navy (-2 CP)
-[x] Established (-2 CP)
-[X] Good Security (-1CP)
-[X] Independent Merchants (-2CP)
-[X] Widespread Vaccinations (-3CP)
-[X] The Greatest Sin (3CP)
-[X] Victorian Sympathizers (2CP)
-[x] Population Boom (2 CP)
-[X] Hostile Neighborhood (1CP)
-[x] Libraries (-2 CP)
Revival
January 1st, 2074
The document is written on a stack of yellowed old printer paper.
The choice of paper wasn't deliberate, really, in that it wasn't planned. It just turned out that way over a series of revisions. The bulk of the Congress has been devoted to hammering out the provisions on this stack of papers, with delegate after delegate adding their own ideas to the pile. The final version is something cobbled together from a dozen different ideas of how to make a functioning state, and the version now to be signed was just the draft that everybody could agree on. Once that happened, the Moderator practically whipped them through the motion to get it signed and in effect.
In many ways, it is the perfect legacy to the document whose symbolic legacy permeates it. The product of compromise after compromise between factions that would in any other setting be violently opposed to one another. In time, you expect that people will look on it with every bit as much contempt as you've seen for the old Constitution from many of the delegates present today.
But for now, for this moment, for this state, for this people...it is the right document. The right constitution. The right accord.
As the motion comes to a conclusion and the Moderator settles back in their seat, you come to your feet. The Moderator sees this out of the corner of their eye and gestures to you. "The Chair recognizes Colonel Burns."
The chamber falls silent as you step up to the microphone at the base of the stage. You gaze out at the delegates, unconsciously standing at attention. You clear your throat. "This is the first time in this Congress I've had anything to say," you begin. "I'm sure that a lot of you are wondering why." You fold your arms behind your back. "This isn't my kind of place. I'm no politician. I'm a soldier. I've spent my life as a soldier. I'll probably die a soldier. I'm not suited to this kind of discussion. And besides, given what we're here to do, it wouldn't be proper for a warlord like me to be speaking here."
A mutter goes around the chamber at that, and you smirk. "Of course, I'm hardly the only warlord present, am I? It's not like everybody here today came to power by the democratic will of the people. There's been precious little of that going around, lately. So I suppose you'll all forgive me for speaking anyway." You fold your arms behind your back. "We're not here because we're legitimate governments. We're here because we happened to be in charge. We haven't come to power by consulting our people. We came into power by wresting something out of the chaos in this area. We did what was necessary and effective, not what was right. But that can't continue forever. We're here today because we recognize that. We're here today to seek the consent of the people."
You pause, looking down. "I have fought across this Country ever since the Country fell. I've faced the Victorians and the Russians across every kind of battlefield this continent has to offer. The whole time, it's just been me and my soldiers, living on our strength and our wits. We've come a long way." You sigh. "It's not worth it."
You look back up at the gathered faces. "I look out at you, and I see a bunch of people who've had to make the same kind of choice I have. Survive. Whatever else, survive. We've had to choose survival again and again. I'm not saying that was wrong, but it's not worth it." You pause. "It is not worth it. There's more to life than just survival. I've faced down the life of a warlord. I have power, but my life is brutal, and if I were an ounce less lucky, it would've been short. But I've also known what it's like to serve a government. I know that a lot of people are worried about what I'll do, now that I'm in charge of this place. I've heard a lot of folks saying that they think I'll just...never let go of power."
Your fists clench behind your back. "No. I'll remind you all that you chose me. I did not pursue this position. I did not ask for it. I will serve at your direction, but don't expect me to stay around long. I am not a politician. I'm a soldier. I've seen what it looks like when I'm running things myself, and I'm tired of it. I'll serve. I'll serve as little as I can. Maybe I'll only serve for as long as it takes for you all to organize proper elections, but even if I serve past then, it'll be by those elections. I've seen what it's like to be a military unaccountable to a civilian government, and I have had enough of that."
You take a deep breath to calm yourself down. "Ultimately, we're here today because we recognize that it is a government's duty to serve the people. We have our share of warlords here. If we wanted to, we have the power to make sure that the people's voice just never comes into it. But we haven't done that. We're here to ensure that whatever else happens, this is a government of, by, and for the people. We are the heirs to a legacy centuries old. That legacy was tarnished many times, but when people thought of what America was supposed to mean, that is what it came back to. Rule by the people. Land of the free."
You step over to the desk on which the final document rests. "This isn't perfect. Nothing is. But it's new, and it makes an honest attempt at fixing the mistakes of the past. We've had enough failures. It's time to honor the legacy that this Country chose for itself over centuries of living. If our ancestors failed to live up to that legacy, then that is their business." You pick up a pen. "It's not our job to copy every mistake this Country ever made. It's our job to ensure that nobody ever has to make them again." With little nonsense or further ceremony, you sign your name to the Chicago Accords and step back. You turn to the podium once again. "I don't know that I'm the right person for the job, I'll admit. I have my weaknesses. Until we have elections, I suppose we'll see how I handle them. In whatever capacity I serve, however, I will work to keep this new republic safe from Victoria. That said, I could use some help."
Your eyes track across the auditorium and rest on a pair of women in their fifties sitting together towards the middle of the congregation. You point to one. "Sara Johnson. I'm not done with you yet."
Johnson snorts, and Goldblum, next to her, rolls her eyes.
You beckon to Johnson. "Get up here and sign this damn thing. If I'm Acting President, you're my Vice. I can't handle this on my own."
Johnson comes to her feet, and the Congress breaks out into applause as she crosses to the Accords, picks up the pen, and signs her name below yours. Then, she comes to stand at your shoulder. "Admitting weakness, old man?" she remarks out of the side of her mouth, holding a polite smile for the benefit of the audience.
"Sure am," you reply in an undertone. "Hell, I just admitted that it'd be my dream to get out of this job in the first election. What's left?"
"Fair enough," she replies. "Gonna wrap this thing up?"
"Patience, patience," you chide, smirking slightly. You then clear your throat and speak to the chamber at large. "Thank you. Now, I'll thank the Moderator for giving me the floor, but it's time to give it back. This paper needs more names on it." You smile. "It's been a long road up until this moment. It'll be a long road left ahead. But with these Accords, we'll face it together, united and ready. With the signing of the Chicago Accords, we usher in a new era of American democracy, an era of the people, by the people, and for the people, as was promised so long ago!"
You then nod to the Moderator, who nods back. "Thank you, Colonel Burns. Now!" They clap their hands together. "From my left to my right, people! I want everybody's signatures on this paper before it wastes away. Let's go!"
* * *
CHICAGO ACCORDS SIGNED! COMMONWEALTH OF FREE CITIES FORMED IN CHICAGO BY DELEGATES FROM ACROSS OLD CHICAGOLAND! HELLFIRE BURNS SWORN IN AS ACTING PRESIDENT; CHICAGO MAYOR SARA M. JOHNSON TO BE VICE PRESIDENT!
-New Chicago Tribune, Page 1, Headline, January 1st, 2073 Special Evening Edition
* * *
You stare out over a field of men and women, training in lines. It's a god-awful mess, honestly. It's about as good as most get in this time and place, but still a mess. If you could afford to, you'd have the Brigade out and working these recruits into the ground.
But you can't, and that'll just have to be that. The Brigade needs to be ready for action at all times. You don't know what Victoria's response to your provocation will be, but you know that it's coming.
Your focus breaks as Johnson nudges you in the side. You blink, looking at her. "What?"
She points to the door. Looking through it, you see one of her staffers approaching. You turn to the door as it opens. The man steps inside. "Mister President. The representative from the New California Republic is on his way in."
You nod. "Thank you, we're ready."
It had come as a shock to you when the NCR made discreet contact with you in the aftermath of the signing of the Accords, asking if you would receive a representative from them, but you were more than willing to accept. Their representative has been through a dozen kinds of security checks before seeing you, and the wait has made you impatient. You're desperately curious to see what Russia's second-most-prominent American client has to say to you.
You stand, waiting in your office as the sound of footsteps draws swiftly closer. Then, the representative comes into view.
Your jaw drops.
The woman representing the NCR stalks into your office as though she expects the doorway to bite her. She spares Johnson barely a glance before fixing her gaze on you. Her eyes flick up and down your body for a moment before boring into your eyes. She is old, like you, albeit not quite as old. Her hair is iron grey, done up in a tight bun. She is very familiar.
"...Sandra," you say, mouth suddenly dry.
"Ron," she replies, giving you a bare nod. She glances around your office for a moment. "You've done well for yourself."
You wince at that but don't contest it. She's earned the jab.
Johnson looks between the two of you. "...pleasure to meet you. You would be...?"
"Sandra Steele," she replies, glancing at Johnson. "I am the representative from the NCR."
Johnson nods. "Welcome to Chicago. I take it that you and the President have met before?"
"We have," replies Sandra.
"You look well," you murmur, still shaken.
Her eyes flick back to you. "I was never in occupied territory. I made it through fine enough."
You wince again. Ouch.
Johnson glances between the two of you again but doesn't speak.
Sandra straightens her shoulders. "Well, isn't this delightful. I'm not here to renew acquaintances. I'm here to deliver my government's official greeting." She clears her throat. "'The New California Republic would like to express its deep concerns about the Chicagoland region's eagerness to place itself under the rule of a notorious outlaw and warlord, and condemns in the strongest possible terms Ron Burns's massacre of Victorian aid workers in the region over the last year.' And now that that's out of the way..." She pulls a file folder out of her briefcase and tosses it your way. "You have a problem."
You catch the folder and open it, snapping out of your daze. You examine it for a moment before looking up. "You're building F-16s for Victoria."
"We're always building F-16s for Victoria," she says in a bitter voice. "Russia pays us to build them and then ships them over. Not just planes, either; we build most of their most advanced equipment. That we're doing it isn't the important thing, though. The important thing is how much we build for Victoria. Usually, it's just equipment they need to keep up their forces and maintain an air force. Now they've ordered three new squadrons of F-16s and enough materiel to sustain a full-scale offensive." She folds her arms. "We don't know everything they have planned, but they're coming for you."
You clench your jaw, shutting the folder. Air is your weakest military branch, to be honest. Your air force is a hodgepodge collection of up-gunned civilian craft, ancient museum pieces somehow repaired to functionality again, and the odd proper jet fighter kept running with prayers and scavenged parts. It's no match for F-16s, any more than Victoria's F-16s were any match for the Pacific Republic's F-35s. You let out a breath. "We appreciate the NCR's warning."
"Yeah, well that part's free," she snorts. "We're telling you for a reason. We're willing to sabotage the shipments."
You perk up, immediately evaluating the possibilities. Victorians already have a fairly shaky grasp of logistics and their own materiel, and it's been ages since they've had a proper deployment. If there were outright sabotage, it'd be worse still, and the Victorians might not even know enough to catch on...
Johnson breaks in, a shrewd look in her face. "What's the catch? You wouldn't risk that for free."
Sandra chuckles. "Smart woman. Good choice, Ron. No, Mrs. Johnson, it's not free. We'd be sticking our necks out for you. If you want Victoria's stuff to break down even more than usual, we want something from you." She holds up a finger. "The NCR wants out from under Russia's thumb. We figure you can help with that this time."
And there it is. You sigh, but don't interrupt.
"The NCR has a timetable of three years to independence," says Sandra. "When we declare independence, we want you to recognize us as an independent and legitimate state, and come to the table to agree on territorial claims. In exchange, we sabotage the Vicks' war effort as best we can. We produce a lot of their materiel. We can hurt them."
You raise your eyebrows, considering the deal. It's not a bad deal, to be honest. Of course, there's the unspoken part of things wherein the NCR would benefit as much from the recognition of a state which beat Victoria as you would from their assistance. They're a power on the west coast, and they've been a Russian client for ages. You fought for their precursor state, and as Sandra's presence attests, you still have contacts in their government -- but can you trust them?
In the aftermath of the Congress, the New California Republic has sent you a covert offer: recognition for sabotage. In addition, you have confirmed that their response to your actions at least includes a full-scale military response. Your first substantive act as President will be whether or not to accept this deal. As public elections are still being organized and emergency powers are fully in effect given Victoria's close attention, this choice is wholly your own.
[ ] Deny the offer. You frankly do not feel ready to trust the NCR. They've changed since you last were there, and you've heard some foreboding things about how militaristic they were in expanding into Arizona and Nevada. Plus, separated from you as they are by the Rockies, they would make a poor ally. Obviously, the NCR will be far cooler towards you, and you would have no help with resisting the Victorians' attack.
[ ] Accept the offer. Victoria will have air superiority in the upcoming battle; you can merely hope to cut down on the damage. This is one way, and it'll hurt their other forces as well. The NCR is a power on the continent; their good intentions are a valuable thing to court. Of course, despite how believable mass equipment breakdowns would be among Victorian forces, there's always the chance that the NCR's duplicity could be discovered. A Russian crackdown on the NCR would mean that your prospective friend on the West Coast would be permanently turned into a bitter enemy.
[ ] Extend the offer. Counter-offer with a better deal. In exchange for open NCR assistance in defeating the Victorian incursion, you will commit to an alliance with the NCR and assist them in openly throwing off Russia rule ahead of their current schedule. Aside from the obvious downside of immediately provoking a full-scale Russian response, this is a tough ask of the NCR given your current size and worth. Roll a d100 with a DC of 60; if you fail, default to, "Accept the offer."
MANUAL MORATORIUM. APPROVAL VOTING.
All right, folks, we're into it! For your first choice, you have an offer from perhaps the only faction on the continent other than you desperate enough to ask for your help! Enjoy debating!
EDIT: Wow, there's a lot more interest in fine-tuning this one than I expected! Here, have rules for doing that:
The NCR is offering to sabotage Victorian equipment and shall do so in any finalized deal. Anything else is bounded heavily by what the NCR can practically provide without tipping the Russians. Take note that any addition to the presented deal increases the chances of Russia discovering the NCR's betrayal.
In exchange for Commonwealth recognition of an independent NCR state in three years' time, the NCR is willing to provide one point of:
One-point options:
Advisors in a given field (industry, military, intelligence, etc.).
Designs and schematics for various technologies to which they retain access of one type (industrial equipment, modern military technologies, etc.).
In exchange for the Commonwealth offering to join the NCR in any war the NCR wages against Russian or Russian-aligned forces (this would mostly consist of interfering with Victorian efforts to open an eastern front on NCR soil, but realistically you'd send at least token forces to their territory, as would they for you), the NCR is willing to provide two points of:
One-point options:
Advisors in a given field (industry, military, intelligence, etc.).
Designs and schematics for various technologies to which they retain access of one type (industrial equipment, modern military technologies, etc.).
Two-point options:
Direct, if covert, material support in one specific manner (anti-aircraft weapons, modernized farming equipment, etc.)
A deniable special operations group at quality 3/5 (Victoria's troops train at 2/5) and wielding Victorian-quality weapons. Deployable on the same scale as the Devil Brigade.
In exchange for an immediate and full military alliance and with a DC 60 check on a d100 (on a failure, they get spooked and reiterate original terms, locking you into Accept or Refuse), the NCR is willing to risk Russian notice by providing three points of:
One-point options:
Advisors in a given field (industry, military, intelligence, etc.).
Designs and schematics for various technologies to which they retain access of one type (industrial equipment, modern military technologies, etc.).
Two-point options:
Direct, if covert, material support in one specific manner (anti-aircraft weapons, funding, modernized farming equipment, etc.)
A deniable special operations group at quality 3/5 (Victoria's troops train at 2/5) and wielding Victorian-quality weapons. Deployable on the same scale as the Devil Brigade.
(Technically, the text of the Extend vote goes here as a three-point option, but if you want that you can just vote for it.)
Writing Burns is such an interesting experience for me. He's such a different person from me, it's honestly a challenge to get into his head space. I'm sure I'll pick up the knack with time.
[ ] Accept the offer. Victoria will have air superiority in the upcoming battle; you can merely hope to cut down on the damage. This is one way, and it'll hurt their other forces as well. The NCR is a power on the continent; their good intentions are a valuable thing to court. Of course, despite how believable mass equipment breakdowns would be among Victorian forces, there's always the chance that the NCR's duplicity could be discovered. A Russian crackdown on the NCR would mean that your prospective friend on the West Coast would be permanently turned into a bitter enemy.
[ ] Accept the offer. Victoria will have air superiority in the upcoming battle; you can merely hope to cut down on the damage. This is one way, and it'll hurt their other forces as well. The NCR is a power on the continent; their good intentions are a valuable thing to court. Of course, despite how believable mass equipment breakdowns would be among Victorian forces, there's always the chance that the NCR's duplicity could be discovered. A Russian crackdown on the NCR would mean that your prospective friend on the West Coast would be permanently turned into a bitter enemy.
I'm not fond of provoking Russia against us, but I'm willing to risk pissing off California if it gives us time to prepare for Victoria. Also, I'm pretty sure our anti-air capabilities are somewhere between "insufficient" and "Lind's writing quality."
Interesting. On one hand, the immediate issue, but if we go with their route, we risk Russian attention in 6 turns. Are we really getting a beneficial deal here?
EDIT: And given our intelligence weaknesses, Russia and Victoria have high chances of hearing about this deal.
So, is the tension between Burns and Ms. Steele because of a past relationship, or does he see himself as a failure for the fact his unit couldn't win that war?
I'm ok with grudging accepting this deal, if we decide to renege on it when the time comes. In 3 years, when the NCR declares, we'll have far more bargaining power over time. I don't appreciate this blatantly lopsided agreement now.
So, is the tension between Burns and Ms. Steele because of a past relationship, or does he see himself as a failure for the fact his unit couldn't win that war?
As part of my duty bringing Discord quotes in:
The NCR's government:
" Essentially a beefy executive branch with a subordinate legislature. Elected, but Russia has an unlimited veto on policy. Currently split between Revivalists in the spirit of your own traditionalists, militarists who advocate for a Californian dominion over the unclaimed parts of the Pacific Seaboard, and loyalists who want to keep Russia happy for the time being while waiting for their grip to slacken."
[X] Accept the offer. Victoria will have air superiority in the upcoming battle; you can merely hope to cut down on the damage. This is one way, and it'll hurt their other forces as well. The NCR is a power on the continent; their good intentions are a valuable thing to court. Of course, despite how believable mass equipment breakdowns would be among Victorian forces, there's always the chance that the NCR's duplicity could be discovered. A Russian crackdown on the NCR would mean that your prospective friend on the West Coast would be permanently turned into a bitter enemy.
As part of my duty bringing Discord quotes in:
The NCR's government:
" Essentially a beefy executive branch with a subordinate legislature. Elected, but Russia has an unlimited veto on policy. Currently split between Revivalists in the spirit of your own traditionalists, militarists who advocate for a Californian dominion over the unclaimed parts of the Pacific Seaboard, and loyalists who want to keep Russia happy for the time being while waiting for their grip to slacken."
Like I said there, I'm not even sure if I how that's valuable information right now, but there it is. And thank you for your continued information transfer services.
[ ] Extend the offer. Counter-offer with a better deal. In exchange for open NCR assistance in defeating the Victorian incursion, you will commit to an alliance with the NCR and assist them in openly throwing off Russia rule ahead of their current schedule. Aside from the obvious downside of immediately provoking a full-scale Russian response, this is a tough ask of the NCR given your current size and worth. Roll a d100 with a DC of 60; if you fail, default to, "Accept the offer."
Use the element of surprise to kick things off early and get them out before the Russians can sufficiently respond. It would have less of a chance of getting caught because it is spontaneous and they legitimately might not see the Californians jumping the gun early. It would get us Russian attention, but also a staunch ally that is more powerful and just as invested in kicking the Vichys out as we are. If they think they can do it, I think we should offer it.
After all, it would change things massively if Victoria cannot repair and replace what planes they have because they certainly can't make their own.
[ ] Accept the offer. Victoria will have air superiority in the upcoming battle; you can merely hope to cut down on the damage. This is one way, and it'll hurt their other forces as well. The NCR is a power on the continent; their good intentions are a valuable thing to court. Of course, despite how believable mass equipment breakdowns would be among Victorian forces, there's always the chance that the NCR's duplicity could be discovered. A Russian crackdown on the NCR would mean that your prospective friend on the West Coast would be permanently turned into a bitter enemy.
Negative. We've got too much on our plate as it is. We can't add taking the fight to Victoria as well as Russian attention to that plate until weve got our internal problems sorted out.
We've got a high level assassin as well as the fucking home grown fascists to deal with. Not to mention the food problem.
I'd outline a plan where we accept this deal now, since we benefit a lot from it, and then see what happens in 3 years. There's nothing making sure we have to follow this deal. If we're in bad shape in 3 years, not recognizing the NCR when they declare is much better than getting destroyed by Russia. And if we can benefit, we just follow through on the deal. Either way, we win.
