Immaculate NES Five: Blood From A Stone

[Darksaber1]

Bantu Ubuntu is ready to open shop onto the sunny savannas of Africa!

...what?

 

[Cannae]

To: Manchuria
From: Korea

I think your dodging the issue which is we never ordered an attack on Korea. The Korean Goverment knew that if they attacked us other nations would confront your people and be at greater risk for being at war with other countries. So what the Korean Goverment did was make it so like we were the agressors when really we had no desire to attack or be at war with your nation.

 

[badunoff]

From Colombia, on behalf the Alliance of Communist States:
To Amazonian

We demand that you control your own people and stop these unlawful attacks upon communists.


To: the Amazonian Anti-Communist Movement

If you persist at your monstrous extermination of your fellow citizens, we will be forced to intercede. If you back off now, a lot of lives could be saved.

 

[SKILORD]

From: Absaroka
To: Columbian Communists

We here at Crosshairs believe that the matters of the Amazonian people are best left in the hands of the Amazonian people. You yourself must know that History is a bloody process, and it will only prolong the suffering of the Amazonian people to install a foreign government on their soil rather than permitting them the right to self determine.

 

[badunoff]

To: Absaroka
From: Columbia

We will not have the communist movement (note that it is just a political movement and not a rebellion) exterminated without giving any sort of provocation. And this is happening in a country for whom Columbia in particular has done so much in the past.

 

[SKILORD]

To: Columbia
From: Absaroka

It is my understanding that Communism is a fundamentally revolutionary concept, one that advocates the redistribution of wealth and the means of production through force. There are of course less violent alternatives, Democratic Socialism, for instance, is not explicitly revolutionary and there are many shades of pink that I would consider acceptable if not particularly likable. So what we come to is the name, why do these groups wave the banner of hatred and revolution if they do not truly believe in it? Why not call themselves moderates, if that is in fact what they are?

If there were a group in Amazonia that took the name of the Nazi's, or that fashioned itself "The Advocates of Eco-Disaster" I would not care what policies they advocated. They could campaign on their love of puppies alone, but because they adopted a name that was vile and that implied the massacre of millions I would be reluctant to trust them.

But it is not my place to trust them, or yours, these are decisions for the people of Amazonia. The people of Amazonia do not seem to trust them, hence the instability you have noticed. But the unpopularity of radical factions inside a foreign state do not justify military intervention, it is my hope that if these Communists are as peaceful or moderate as you believe that they will find ways to compromise and make their party more amenable to the people of Amazonia.

 

[Seon]

Spoiler Stuttgart :

Uploaded with ImageShack.us​

There still were sky scrapers in Stuttgart, creating a unique landscape of concrete, steel, glass, and light, and shadow that was difficult to find anywhere else in Europe.

Flickering streetlamps lined the streets, although none quite reached into the darkened alleys. Alley wasn’t the place to put electric lamps in. Glass and metal was expensive and, without proper surveillance, were easily stolen. Spiegel Corporation did not like things stolen from them. The only source of light in the alleys during the dark was the makeshift fires lit in garbage cans, easily extinguishable.

It was outside such an alley that he stood leaning against the wall of the building. The streets were mostly empty at this time of the night, but a few pedestrians still paced about. They looked at him in his hoodie with two headphones pressed against the ear and continued on without being too interested.

As they should. Heavy footsteps sounded from somewhere within the alley.

“Hey Jack,” said Ernest. Ernest was a man of Italian descent and still spoke with a slight Italian accent that he picked up from his parents. “Could you give me a hand?”

He glanced at Ernest as he came out of the alley, cradling a woman in his arms. “How is she?” he asked.

“Asleep. She had a lot of excitement tonight,” said Ernest. “Come on; help me get her into the car.”

He shrugged his shoulders and walked up to the car, opening the back seat. Ernest placed the woman on the seat and buckled her up. “And I am driving,” Ernest said.

“ you,” he replied.

“Already called it,” Ernest said. Jack sighed and entered through the passenger’s side door. The car was a small sedan, designed to be highly fuel efficient and cheap during the last days of the Republic and still being built by the Spiegel Corporation today. In his own opinion, it was ugly, being shaped like a beetle. The gas prices were ridiculous at best and the thing probably broke down often in today’s road conditions.

“Who did you borrow the car from this time?” Jack asked. “Oh from some guy I know from uptown,” Ernest said. Jack became silent. That was Ernest’s polite way of saying “shut up.”

Ernest turned the keys and the car stirred to life. The woman still was sitting in the back, fast asleep. She seemed so small, even when one considered it from modern standards. There was nobody, as far as Jack could tell, as tall as some heroine from movies these days. Perhaps there were a few among the elites of Spiegel Corporation, but Jack never saw them. Ernest did, but he did not really care about describing how they looked like to Jack.

Jack felt the car plod forward. “So, have you ever been outside the city, my friend?” Ernest said.

“No, I can’t say that I have,” Jack replied. He glanced at the female passenger again through the backmirror. She was of French descent, Jack presumed, but her attire indicated that she was a long-time resident of Stuttgart. Her clothes were too sophisticated to be from anywhere else in Europe.

“Ah really? Then I have something to show you.”

“What?”

“The city, man! You can’t see the city from inside it. You have to see it from the outside.”

“Oh,” Jack said. The female passenger’s head rolled slightly as the car made a swift turn around a corner.

“And get those bloody headphones off or your ears, man,” said Ernest.

Jack quickly removed the headphones. “So, where outside the city are we going?”

“The river,” Ernest said. “The city looks absolutely gorgeous there.”

The car plodded along in silence for a while. Flickering street lights cast large shadows of men on the wall.

“Say,” Ernest said. “Once we get back to the city, would you like to visit my restaurant? On the house.”

Jack nodded. “That would be lovely.” Ernest operated a small but burgeoning restaurant in the city, one of the few ways for people to make money that did not have to directly go through Spiegel Corporations. There were other ways as well, some less legal than the other.

The woman in the back seat was probably around 20-27 years old. She did not seem all that rich, but then again she did not seem all that poor either. She probably was loved by her family. Still probably would be if her parents were alive. Jack didn’t really know much about her. “Spiegel Corporation checkpoint,” Ernest muttered. Jack blinked. They were reaching the outskirts of the city, and a massive wall shot out in front of them.

Nobody exactly knew when the Wall was created nor the reason why it existed. Spiegel Corporation is not the most forthcoming entity in the world. The corporation’s supporters claimed that the wall stood as a defense against the barbarian hordes that ran outside it. Just look at the war-loving Prussians and the stupid French. Other more cynical, and probably more reasonable, people said that it was to keep people inside the city. No use for Spiegel Corporation if their workforce escaped.

The Spiegel Corporate Policeman standing guard at the checkpoint gave a short salute and opened the gates. Nobody checked anyone inside cars. Cars were a sign of wealth and power. Those wealthy and powerful were above the law. “You know, Jack,” Ernest said. “You owe me a favor after this.”

“Of course,” Jack mumbled. The woman was probably self-educated and rather smart. She had that look about her. You had to be educated to succeed in this world. Spiegel Corporation only wanted the best. Jack was not educated. He worked part-time in a store near Ernest’s restaurant, which was how he came to know and befriend the man. “Did you watch the soccer game yesterday?”

“Ah yes,” Jack said. “The team from one of the enclaves in the South won. Forgot what the team’s name was.”

“Chameleons. I think it was the Chameleons. What kind of people have a chameleon as a mascot?” Ernest said. “Frustrating that our team lost though.”

“Can’t win everything,” Jack said. “We have to be thankful for what we have.”

“Have you been to a Church lately or something?” Ernest shot back. “Ah nevermind.”

Jack sighed. “Sometimes, I wonder what it would be like without the Spiegel Corporation.”

“Probably join the barbarian horde of the rest of Europe. You know, nobles ruling over bunch of serfs. No chance of social mobility. Who do they think they are?”

“They say that they just formed the Inquisitional Court. They are coming to Bavaria.”

“You think they’ll ever get past corporate bureaucracy? Spiegel Corporation owns the most well-organized army in Germania now. Piss them off and Kkk!” Ernest said. “End of the Fuhrer. End of the nobles. End of Kaiser. Spiegel Corporation officially takes over the entire Germania.”

“You think it would be that simple?”

“No,” Ernest admitted.

The woman was probably loved by someone. Or at least lusted after by somebody. She had a pretty face. The grey hat she wore went well with her hair. She wore a red high –heel and had a pale skin.

“…aaaaannnnd, we are here!” said Ernest. The car stopped over a bridge near a river. “Come out, Jack. A sight that you would never forget!”

Jack stepped outside the car and dropped his jaws. The city was made of gold. Columns of light emerged from the city and reached high into the sky, looking like a stairway to heaven where angels came to rise. “It’s beautiful,” Jack said.

“Once you view it from the outside, yes,” Ernest said. “Let’s get her out of the car.”

Ernest opened the backseat door and pulled out the woman. Jack opened the trunk and pulled out a length of rope and a weight.

“Here,” Ernest said. I know this is the first time I am involving you in anything big. You can just let me do the job if you want.”

“No,” Jack said. “I want to do it by myself.”

“Yah sure?” Ernest asked. He blinked and slowly laid the woman on the bridge. “Well, if you are so certain. I will be waiting in the car. I need to count something.” He stuttered away on to the car.

Jack took the length of rope and tied the woman’s feet together. She must have been having a good dream. She smiled a bit. Jack pushed her off the ledge of the bridge, along with the stone. He heard a splash a second later.

“Come on, let’s go!” Ernest said from inside the car. “Could you just wait a bit?” Jack asked. “I need to think.”

“Sure, but make it quick!” Ernest said. Jack gazed into the water. “Come on. Come on. I didn’t tie the feet tightly together. You can easily twist free of things like that.”

The surface of the water remained calm.

“A human brain can live for 3 minutes without breathing. That’s a long time. You can easily make it.”

Although it was dark, the reflection of the city was quite clearly shown on the river. The river’s flow occasionally disturbed the image, but otherwise it remained perfect.

“How did you get into this mess in the first place?” Jack asked.

The river yielded no answers. Jack sighed. “Goodbye. It was nice knowing you,” Jack said. He walked back to the car.”

“Hey man,” Ernest said. “It’s alright. Everybody’s nervous after their first.”

“Really?” Jack said.

“And you liked the girl too. No, don’t deny it. I saw you glancing over your shoulders,” Ernest chuckled. “Jack, you’ve finally become a man.”

“Oh, shut up,” Jack replied.

“Anyways, here” Ernest said, handing Jack a thick wad of money. “The money promised. You take half and I take the other half. Deal?”

“Sure,” Jack replied. “Come on, let’s go,” Jack said, pointing towards the city. “I am sick of this place.”

 

[Frozen In Ice]

Alliance of American Nations(AAN)
Brazil, Canada and the United States of America hereby form an alliance in that:

1. Members agree to not attack or plot against each other.

2. Members of the alliance agree to a mutual protection pact and will come to the defence of fellow members if any are attacked, though aid is not required in wars of aggression.

3. Member states will give preference to other members first in trade and sharing technology.

4. For a new nation to join the alliance all current members must agree to their entry.

Signed Brazil

 

[merciary]

Alliance of American Nations(AAN)
Brazil, Canada and the United States of America hereby form an alliance in that:

1. Members agree to not attack or plot against each other.

2. Members of the alliance agree to a mutual protection pact and will come to the defence of fellow members if any are attacked, though aid is not required in wars of aggression.

3. Member states will give preference to other members first in trade and sharing technology.

4. For a new nation to join the alliance all current members must agree to their entry.

Signed Brazil

Signed United States of America

 

[Dreadnought]

Alliance of American Nations(AAN)
Brazil, Canada and the United States of America hereby form an alliance in that:

1. Members agree to not attack or plot against each other.

2. Members of the alliance agree to a mutual protection pact and will come to the defence of fellow members if any are attacked, though aid is not required in wars of aggression.

3. Member states will give preference to other members first in trade and sharing technology.

4. For a new nation to join the alliance all current members must agree to their entry.

Signed Brazil

Signed, Canada.

 

[Diamondeye]

Sorry.

This is the final day for orders and I haven't submitted anything yet. This has been true for all updates so far, and I'm afraid it's kind of symptomatic; I don't know if the setting doesn't inspire me as much as the other NESes I've been in or whether it's because I just started at University and has been busy. It might even be both.

Nevertheless, I'm sorry to say I'm dropping from this. I feel like getting in orders is a duty and not something I actively want to spend time on, and that's not how NESes should feel. Sorry for all those guys I've been plotting with (and against).

 

[Immaculate]

Sorry.

This is the final day for orders and I haven't submitted anything yet. This has been true for all updates so far, and I'm afraid it's kind of symptomatic; I don't know if the setting doesn't inspire me as much as the other NESes I've been in or whether it's because I just started at University and has been busy. It might even be both.

Nevertheless, I'm sorry to say I'm dropping from this. I feel like getting in orders is a duty and not something I actively want to spend time on, and that's not how NESes should feel. Sorry for all those guys I've been plotting with (and against).

DEADLINE IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th AT 4PM EASTERN STANDARD TIME

you have until monday the 26th but if you want to leave, thanks for your participation up to this point

 

[Darksaber1]

Bantu Ubuntu is ready to open shop onto the sunny savannas of Africa!

Oh, a question I should ask: Is the Sub-Saharan Pact acceptable to you? If not, we can change, at least for this turn.

 

[Diamondeye]

you have until monday the 26th but if you want to leave, thanks for your participation up to this point

What a misread. Nevertheless, I think most of the reasons I wanted to leave are still valid. If you find a replacement for Pampasna, I can give them some pointers if needed.

 

[Julius Gandi]

From Magnate Republic of California
To: Caribbean and Confederate States of America

We at the MRC are interested in extending trade into the East. Our Magnates inquire if you are interested in allowing MRC merchants and magnates access to your nation in the spirit of economic growth and cooperation.

 

[Immaculate]

From Magnate Republic of California
To: Caribbean and Confederate States of America

We at the MRC are interested in extending trade into the East. Our Magnates inquire if you are interested in allowing MRC merchants and magnates access to your nation in the spirit of economic growth and cooperation.

From the Caribbean,
To the Magnate Republic of California

As all commercial trade in the Caribbean is regulated centrally, you’ll have to work exclusively with government agents of the Ministry of Trade and Commerce. You are welcome to meet with them.

From the CSA,
To the Magnate Republic of California

Welcome to Dixie.

 

[Adrogans]

From Korea
To Manchuria

What did you think we would simply sit there once reports of movement on the line occured? Of course not we adjusted as per our SOP in dealing with any Manchurian military movements. Korea doesn't care if this was ordered by the central government or some rogue element in your military the result would still be the same. Either way our earlier demands stand.

To Russia

While we thank you for you offer, we stand by our demand for peace. Manchuria sent forces across our border and we responded in kind. They will recompense Korea or else. On a side note we welcome incresed trade with Russia in Korea and possibly FEDCO depending on current discussions.

 

[hbar]

With sincere apology, and more than a hint of regret, I must withdraw from this NES. Immaculate, as usual, you have created a living world with a history I care about more than my own, and the players who have been committed to diplomacy and stories have fleshed it out further. Unfortunately, starting a new job in a new city has taken up far too much of my time, and I can't even find time to write orders, let alone respond to diplomacy or (heaven forbid) write a story or two.

I hope that the Heartland, whether NPC'd or adopted, continues to walk a fine line between independence from, and alliance with, the Canadian hegemony. Good luck to you all.

 

[Kyzarc Fotjage]

The Cascadian Combine would like to announce that it is joining the Pan-American Communistic Alliance. With this alliance, hopefully with the help of the Arctic Pact and the AAN, we hope peace will reign in the Americas.

Spoiler :

Pan-American Communistic Alliance​

Member nations agree to the following:
1. Joining forces in mutual defense against aggressors until this threat is eliminated to the point where the aggressor is no longer capability to pose a threat to Communism.
2. The discovery and elimination of the enemies and oppressors that suppress and threaten the well being of Communism.
3. The spread of the Communistic idea throughout the world.
4. Practice open boarder/trade policies with other member republics.
5. Joint cooperation on any projects designed by the Counsel of Communistic Republics.

Counsel of Communistic Republics-decide on projects, admission of new nations, and basic policy
Primary Members:
- Columbia
- Carribea
- Andean Commune
Secondary Memebers: (Probationary)

Military Council- responsible for the first three points (the third being the middle ground between the two councils)
Chief Members:
- Columbia
- Andean Commune
Secondary Members:
- Carribea

Signed Columbia

Signed: High Priestess Rachel of the Cascadian Combine

hbar: Noooooo! America needs more religious nutjobs! I can't convert the west coast and the east coast at the same time!

 

[ChiefDesigner]

OOC: Best of luck, hbar.