Multipolar Politics (MP)

Send 2 EP to Vanuatu
Improve relations with Vanuatu
"It only makes sense for our two nations, who both have a proud seafaring tradition & a great love for democracy, to have close relations, especially considering how close you are geographically to our wider network of allies & clients."

Improve relations with South Island
"The Maori people living on the two islands of Aotearoa have been separated from each other for far too long; they should have freedom of movement between our countries, and we should strive for closer relations in general."

 

1. Accept Heavenly Kingdom's offer.
2. Cut red tape to make India a more investment friendly place.

 

Apologies for the delays, everyone, but classes are out for the semester so I'm now free to finish up this update!

Wars

Vandread Invasion of the Great Lakes

For all the Great Lakes’ efforts, Michigan is occupied without any real fight due to the destruction of the standing Army. The Vandreads annex the whole of the former Great Lakes Confederacy as the government flees into exile.

Assimilation counters:

Michigan – 1 (0)
Minnesota – 17 (15)
Wisconsin – 5 (3)
Ontario – 9 (7)

Conquest of Shanghai



Not only is the Sino-Korean Alliance a success, it’s a smashing one. With Shanghai being the one that’s smashed.

King Qiaozhi gives rousing speeches to crowds in Beijing that the peoples of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan and Zhejiang have toiled under the oppressive rule of the Shanghai clique for too long. Their government deceives their people with promises of "democracy" as they freely suppress all who would seek to improve their society. The time has come for these marginalized peoples to find their voice and opportunities in the glorious meritocratic autocracy of China!

In one of the most terrifying displays of coordinated force the world has seen in some time, the Chinese are able to deploy an Army into Shanghai with a massive amount of air and naval support. The core of Shanghai is overrun despite all the urban defenses. Without intervention, Shanghai’s fate is sealed.

(China occupies Zhejiang. Shanghai loses 11.65 Pop and 13.95 EP)

Balkan War



The Romanians continue their advance into Macedonian territory. Despite the best efforts of Skopje’s troops, Bulgaria falls under the Romanian yoke as well. With rumors swirling around that the Romanians are looking at shifting more of their military towards air power, there is legitimate fear the Empire will soon reach the shores of Albania.

(Romanian occupies Bulgaria. Macedonian loses 9 Pop and 8 EP)

 

The Clans' doors are open for those seeking asylum from the conflicts, as it is our duty to guard.

We also like to repeat that will stand with Quebec in case it and its allies suffer from any aggressive incursions.

Finally we like to encourage world nations to consider the right of refuge and to join the International Convention of Refugees & Asylum Seekers.

 

Actions

FRCN

Action One. Improve relations with Vanuatu. 2 EP included.

12 (15). As discussions go on, the delegates are able to incrementally propose more and more, and it is not long before the delegates go home with a comprehensive economic agreement.

(One-time gift grants permanent +2. Vanuatu gains a trade agreement with Oceania, granting each 5% of the other’s EP and also another +2 to relations.)

Action Two. Improve relations with South Island; establish freedom of movement in particular.

19 (20). South Island already has such fantastic relations with the FRCN that discussion begins to shift to deeper matters. The free movement is quickly followed by a customs union and currency union, and with so much support behind the Kiwi Unity movement, the Government surprises the FRCN delegation with a request to join as one of the FRCN’s constituent states. The powerful working relationship means those worried about sovereignty are readily swept aside, and the Federal Republic gains its newest member.

(FRCN diploannexes South Island; as a bonus, there is no annexation counter due to the high roll. FRCN’s Urbanization falls by 1.)

Ethiopia

N/A

Vandread Empire

Action 1. Expand ports to help trade. 18 (19). The rapid expansion of ports is a tremendous success. Freight companies shipping to and from North America actually begin to shift operations towards the Empire, which can provide more space at lower cost. The expansion of trade also leads to a steady swell in the urban population.

(+7 EP, +5 Urbanization)

Action 2. Trade agreement with Takrur. 12 (13). It’s nothing particularly noteworthy, but the Sultan does welcome closer trade relations with the mighty Vandread Empire.

(Trade agreement worth 3% of each other’s EP)

UUC

Action 1. Form the International Convention of Refugees & Asylum Seekers with Crete, Quebec, the Rhenish Republic; Papal States, Zapatistas, and South Africa apply to join. The ICRAS works to give refugees (of war, ecological damage, oppression) supplies and guide them towards sanctuary.

14 (15). The UUC’s power brokers are very supportive of the ICRAS’ formation, and formal invitations proceed to be sent around.

Members of the ICRAS receive refugees from nearby troubled areas. When trouble abates, some may return to their homeland, but others may permanently resettle. These people bring their labor and skills to their new homes, potentially altering the balance of power.

Crete. 16 (17). Crete joins its allies in the fight to protect human dignity.

Quebec. 3 (6)

Rhenish. 13 (18). The Republic accedes.

Papacy. 15 (16). His Holiness opens the arms of Italy to all in need, as Christ would do.

Zapatistas. 14. Imperialists are always on the lookout for indigenous people to colonize and destroy. The Zapatistas shall support the ICRAS initiative so long as it serves the purpose of peace.

South Africa. 15. At any moment, the Communist powers could open fire on each other. The Republic desires to give options to those who wish to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

Action 2. Research underground mushroom farming so that they can be produced on a larger scale and increase food output.

13 (15). As expertise flows freely into laboratories, along with ample funding from the state, it’s not long before mushrooms are flowing into all kinds of caverns across the UUC, whether natural or orc-made.

(Population Growth rate +0.5%, +6 Health)

High Kingdom

Action One. Alliance with India. 3 (5). For all the possible threat of China, the High Kingdom’s politicos are hesitant to create commitments beyond the natural borders of the Kingdom. (-1 to Relations with India until Turn 7)

Action Two. Invest in factories in India. 16 (17). While formal diplomatic alliances do not seem to go anywhere, the cross-border investment program is a smashing success. The High Kingdom is able to contract large numbers of manufacturing facilities, granting the Kingdom a cheap source of luxury goods to please its population.

(+7 EP, +11 Leisure)

India

Action One. Alliance with High Kingdom. 5 (7). The legislature seems to have an isolationist streak. (-1 to Relations with the High Kingdom until Turn 7)

Action Two. Cut red tape to make India friendly to investments. 15 (16).

The Indian economy surges with influxes of wealth from the High Kingdom and elsewhere. Analysts expect India to rapidly grow for the future. (+8 EP, +0.5% to economic growth rate)

Other Powers

Zapatistas. Build new supply center. 13. The Yucatan jungle presents many obstacles. Not to the new air force base the Republic is deploying there! (+1 Supply Center)

Siberia. Build new supply center. 4 (6). The supply center construction is going well… then some dumb dumb ignites the whole stockpile. (-4 Security)

Thailand. Build new supply center. 9 (12). No one doubts the security of the Thai state now. (+1 Supply Center)

 

Turn V

Stats
Map

GM Notes

Due to inactivity, Ethiopia has been NPCed. It will count as a great power NPC for this turn (as power statuses have not been recalculated) which means it has automatic initiative, but only one action; it will fall to regional power status and be treated like other regional NPCs (needing to roll for initiative on any turn) assuming its power status does not change.

Now that school is out (which by extension also means I am unemployed), updates should come more frequently.

News from Around the World

Scandal in Jakarta

Evidence has leaked of a plot by the Indonesian government to launch a false flag operation in Papua, with the intention of framing the FRCN and pushing Papua out of the FRCN’s sphere of influence. As the leaks have spread, there is an even more concerning element: Indonesia does not seem to have been acting alone, but had resources from a third party. Intelligence agencies around the world are already wondering which of the major powers might have been trying to contain the FRCN’s growth.

The intrigue of nominally-peaceful Korea in pushing China towards invading Shanghai, furthermore, has people believing that no one can be ruled out as a suspect.

New Zealand Reunified

It came as a surprise that negotiations to open the border between North and South Island resulted in a treaty to dissolve them completely. South Island has acceded to the FRCN.

The Vandread Hegemony?

With the third highest standard of living and the largest domestic GDP in the world, the Vandread’s war against the Great Lakes Confederacy looks to have paid serious dividends. The war nearly doubled Vandread territory and, after a few years to take care of insurrections, should put the Empire in a position of clear military and economic dominance.

The Chinese Ascendance

King Qiaozhi of China is (at least somewhat) no longer satirically dubbed “Mad King George” for his apparent megalomaniacal views of Chinese importance. A surprise alliance with Korea paved the way for a sudden surge across the border into Shanghai, and analysts expect the state to be conquered within a year. It remains to be seen if the Sino-Korean Alliance will hold up, but analysts say Korea’s move to ally with China and serve its imperial ambitions was strategically brilliant, as it preempted any Sino-Japanese alliance that might try to carve up Korea.

International Solidarity

With the outbreak of conflicts across the globe as states seek to consolidate their power, the UUC has led an effort to protect the resultant large refugee populations through the ICRAS. While only a few states have joined, the effects are already being felt, as large numbers of refugees flee the warzones, taking their expertise and wealth with them when possible. Some are a relatively simple border crossing, but others – such as the Shanghai-Mexico route via the FRCN – are quite taxing.[/img]

 

"Indonesia's naked act of aggression towards our friend & ally, Papua, will not be allowed to stand. We demand that they immediately reveal who they were working with. Failure to comply *will* lead to consequences."
-Excerpt from an emergency press conference held following the bombshell revelations of Indonesian duplicity.

 

Indonesia's government concedes its fault in an attempt to undermine the Papuan government and frame the FRCN; it is public knowledge that Indonesia disputes Papua's control of its western islands. Of course, it is preposterous that Jakarta would have the resources to have pulled off such a move on its own, and indeed, Indonesia believes the world should be made aware of a Sino-Korean plot to undermine the FRCN's sphere of influence so that their campaign to extinguish Shanghai would go unmolested by the Pacific's leading power.

Korea responds that Indonesia's comments are baseless. Yes, the UDPRK assisted with an invasion of Shanghai, but China expected this sort of assistance in exchange for a full alliance; that is why it is a full alliance. Korea has no designs on the Pacific; the fact Korea's military is dedicated towards air superiority speaks to lack of imperial design, as its air wings are clearly better suited to support operations than occupying new territory. Korea does, however, wish to avoid being gobbled up by the irredentist, xenophobic regime in Tokyo, and so securing an alliance with Beijing was a matter of survival. To risk open war with the FRCN would be insane and compromise Korean objectives. Korea believes that Indonesia is falsely blaming other powers to draw attention away from itself... or perhaps is behaving on the orders of another great power.

China reiterates what Korea said for the most part. His Majesty King Qiaozhi adds that while China's military capacity is great, its black ops capacity is only sufficient to defend its own territory; it could not possibly have instigated an Indonesian operation against Papua.

Meanwhile, to stave off the Indonesian attempt to tarnish the prestigious reputation of China, its state and its people, the King has launched the "Rad King George" campaign, which stresses the personal capabilities of the monarch: he took down the old warlords in one-to-one combat! He could read in Mandarin since he was two! Where bodyguards have failed, His Majesty has effortlessly dispatched assassins! No other period of Chinese history has seen such low crime and high economic growth! Hail the King, claimer of the Mandate of Heaven, deliverer of China from corruption and discord!

 

The Clans will continue commitment to guard Quebec and our other allies from the fate of the Great Lakes.

Our refugee initiative will enable asylum for those fleeing from peril. We welcome our first refugees, including those fleeing the Baltic conflict.

We will like to announce actions

Action One: Offer Alliance and Trade Pacts with Iberia, to grand prosperity and security to both our powers. It is our believe that by combining our might be able to keep guard both our realms from hostilities, as well as a opportunity to able communion most joyful between our populaces. The shipping benefit will particular be excellence. Naturally this will come with invites to both IREGS and ICRAS.

Action Two: Encourage a Architectural Renaissance among the Clans, as the question of urban development must also come with the cultural need to ensure we are creating spaces of joy than just simply dwellings. May our architects innovate with support from the Clans, as they strive styles to the benefit of our culture and urban developments, as well as granting lovely spaces for those who will roofs over their heads and venues to use for their great benefit.

 

Korea is widely known to be an isolationist power, interested only in their immediate neighbors. Jakarta’s heinous attempt to deflect blame for their underhanded actions will not go unpunished. We *will* find out who is pulling your strings, one way or another.

A State of War now exists between the FRCN & Indonesia

 

OOC: Can I see that I absolutely love King Qiaozhi.

IC:

1. All high-schools will now teach lessons in business management and artificial intelligence, to allow Indian children to gain the necessary skills to succeed in the economy of the future.
   
2. Thank to the profits of deregulation agenda, the Indian government can now expand the social safety net. The benefits for low-earning Indians shall increase by 15%.

 

Orders:

• Invest 2 EP in the creation of a new center of film making excellence in Atlanta. These new government assisted studios will produce films to keep the Vandread populace entertained and spread pro Vandread messages to the world
• With the population of the empire growing ever larger, the new citizens will need somewhere to live. The empire will begin construction on new housing developments around the major cities of the empire.

 

I would say orders due in 48 hours. Courtesy pings for @Kinich-Ahau and @JimWUK

 

High Kingdom
1. Invests in Public Health Clinics
2. Invests in Public Literacy

Moves :

 

Ethiopia rebuilds the city of Mombasa to have a large port in East Africa. The glory of Rastafarianism shall shine across all of Africa!

Korea builds a new Supply Center.

Kongo builds a new Supply Center.

Niger builds a new Supply Center.

Antarctica constructs an array of towers that can harness the magnetic energy of the South Pole and direct it. This not only serves as a defensive mechanism that could decimate invasion attempts, but also enhance transportation across the continent.

All NPC actions accounted for.

I'd hope so given he's based off your China in the first MP

 

Offer Client Status to Vanuatu
“As our nations grow closer economically, it only makes sense for political & diplomatic ties to deepen as well. The interference of outside powers in Oceanian affairs proves the need for closer relations.”

Increase benefits for Veterans
“We must not forget that wars are fought by people, and these people do not vanish when the fighting is over. We will *not* be a nation that throws their brave defenders into the gutter after they have done their duty.”

 

All orders are in! Hoping to have the update by tonight or tomorrow morning.

Wars

Polish Invasion of the Baltics

With the support of a newly-built Air Wing, the Poles push the front line all the way to St. Petersburg. Fortunately for the League, their Navy creates a chokepoint at Finland that keeps the Polish Army from advancing any further.

(Baltic League loses 8 EP, 7 Pop)

Conquest of Shanghai

Other than the Korean fleet and air force tightening their ranks around Shanghai, no battles break out.

Balkan War

An uneasy stalemate settles across the frontlines.

Indonesian War

The FRCN's fleet moves into Indonesian territorial waters. Backed by its other Navies, Air Wings, and the Papuan Navy, it is over almost as quickly as it starts; the Indonesian fleet retreats into port in Sumatra. Experts anticipate that the bulk of Indonesian territory will be under occupation within the year, as without a fleet to guard its sprawling territories, almost every island is defenseless.

 

Actions

FRCN

Action One: Offer client status to Vanuatu. 8 (13). Vanuatu understands that in a world filled with so many imperialist states, it cannot hope to stand alone, and inks a client agreement with the Republic, granting a great deal of privileges in exchange for military protection.

(Vanuatu becomes a client of FRCN)

Action Two: Increase benefits for veterans. 1 (2). While the measure has a great deal of popular support, political machinations keep the program from being realized as originally intended. The military brass are savvy enough to divert some of recently-expanded war budget to funding benefits programs to keep morale and recruitment steady, but this does come at a cost of fighting effectiveness as some supplies are either not purchased or sold off.

(-16 Security)

Ethiopia (Great NPC)

Rebuild the city of Mombasa to have a large port in East Africa. 20 (20).

A few infrastructure investments and low startup rents later, Mombasa is now a thriving metropolis once again. As a consequence of the huge expansion of urban economic production, Ethiopia surges to become one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

(City of Mombasa formed; +10 Urbanization)

Vandread Empire

Action One: Invest 2 EP into the Atlanta film industry to entertain the population and spread Vandread influence worldwide. 10 (12).

The large film industry grows ever larger. As the masses are entranced by the explosion of cinematic masterpieces, so are several world leaders.

(+6 Leisure, +1 to Relations with Japan, Thailand, and Argentina)

Action Two: Construct new housing developments around the major cities of the Empire. 20 (20).

A time lapse of this would certainly be impressive. Low-rise buildings are replaced with high-rises in some cases, and sprawling suburbs emerge in others. The surge in housing supply equates to low prices, and people begin to flock into the urban centers in search of opportunities.

(+10 Urbanization)

UUC

Action One: Offer Iberia a trade pact, full alliance, invitation to IREGS and ICRAS. 8 (13)

At first Iberia seems likely to respectfully decline the UUC ambassador’s offer, but upon seeing that the alliance’s wording is broader than a mere defense pact and thus could translate into each state supporting the other’s grand strategy, agrees to all the clauses.

(Iberia becomes an Ally of UUC, accedes to IREGS and ICRAS)

Action Two: Sponsor an architectural renaissance to make sure urban development serves a cultural purpose and not just living space. 9 (11). With a vibrant artistic community and a competent bureaucracy, the UUC’s program is successful. Older neighborhoods have renovations to make them more aesthetically pleasing, while newer neighborhoods have careful planning that makes them both practical and beautiful; many young architects become famous in the neighborhoods they help design.

It should be no surprise at all that this architectural rejuvenation prompts more people to seek life in the cities of the UUC.

(+1 Urbanization)

High Kingdom

Action One: Invest in public health clinics. 12 (13)

Clinics see an increase in number of locations, services, and patients.

(+10 Health)

Action Two: Invest in public literacy. 11 (12)

People are reading tabloids less and philosophical treasures more.

(+8 Education)

India

Action One: All high schools roll out business management and artificial intelligence lessons. 13 (14).

The new curriculum is not only rolled out with success, but students readily absorb the new knowledge. India’s future is quite promising.

(+17 Education, +2 EP)

Action Two: Expand the welfare system so benefits increase by 15 percent. 15 (17). India’s doctors and capable bureaucrats are more than up to the task of making sure funding gets where it’s needed. Indian citizens are eating healthier food, stressing less about money, and living happier, more productive lives.

(+18 Health, +17 Leisure)

Other Powers

Korea builds a new Supply Center. 3 (5). Perhaps the Dictator is pushing their luck? (-7 Security)


Kongo builds a new Supply Center. 11 (14). Those revisionists down South are going to get it now. (+1 Supply Center, +3 Security)


Niger builds a new Supply Center. 8 (10). Sadly Niger’s corrupt regime is too debilitating to stockpile anything of note.

Antarctica constructs an array of towers that can harness the magnetic energy of the South Pole and direct it. This not only serves as a defensive mechanism that could decimate invasion attempts, but also enhance transportation across the continent. 18 (18)

They said the project was insane and could not be done. They were wrong. As the test naval vessels lifted out of the waters and then dropped from a high, debilitating height onto the Antarctic landmass demonstrate. Ditto to the multiple tanks fired as if they were artillery shells far into the ocean.

The technology not only grants an extremely powerful military weapon that is only useful for defense-oriented purposes (as the magnetic energy is only sufficient around the South Pole), but also helps the development of civilian travel, boosting the continent’s economy.

(Gain “Magnet Towers”: +2 to defense in Antarctica, +1 Support in sea zones bordering Antarctica, +4 Education, +2 EP)

 

Bhrigu Mallaya, Prime Minister of India and Chairman of the center-right Democratic Party, gave a speech before parliament:

"India has become a role model for the rest of the world. India is a stable democracy and a defender of liberal values with a rapidly growing economy. Under my administration, we've cut taxes, eliminated red tape and bureaucracy, funded the construction of high-speed railways, increased funding for the NHS, reformed our educational system and increased benefits for low-earners. My administration has followed a social liberal economic agenda, combining the dynamism of a free market with the decisive intervention of the state to ensure decent healthcare and welfare benefits for all who need them. That's how I plan to proceed. My government shall further reduce taxation, completely digitize public administration and bolster our welfare state. My motto is growth for all; we need to both ensure high rates of economic growth and make sure that everyone enjoys the benefits of such growth."

Orders:

1. A complete digitization of all Indian public services shall take place: all Indian governmental departments will become available online in a single website, with a simple search engine allowing citizens to quickly find them.
2. Cut income tax for working class families.

 

Turn VI: Spring 2153

Stats
Map

News from Around the World

(Yet Another) Scandal in Jakarta

Indonesia highly televised several trials in the past weeks. The charges: espionage on behalf of the Federal Republic of Coastal Nations. With the FRCN’s recent hostilities against a fellow democracy (albeit motivated by evidence of Indonesian foul play), no one is too surprised at espionage attempts. What is more intriguing is the details of the charges: fabricating a plot by the Empire of the Rising Sun to finance espionage in Indonesia and Papua so as to engineer a war and distract from an Imperial campaign to reclaim Kyushu and Shikoku.

The Indonesians were able to present convincing evidence of conspiracy by FRCN agents, but at the same time, the FRCN was able to produce convincing evidence of conspiracy by Indonesia. Diplomatic back channels are filled with all kinds of uncertain chatter at who – if anyone – can be trusted in the dispute. Indonesia and Japan (states with irredentist territorial claims) both certainly would have motives to weaken the FRCN, but at the same time, so would the FRCN (a state rapidly expanding its influence across the Pacific) have motives to frame Indonesia and Japan.

Covert operations are convoluted by nature and analysts suggest it is very possible the truth will never be known in our lifetimes.

The Vandread Empire: Evidence of the Rapture?

Employees not showing up for work. Students and instructors not showing up for classes. The number of arrests plummeting. It has been a strange series of months in the former Great Lakes Confederacy. Large numbers of people and possessions have simply disappeared without a trace. It has been a considerable hit to the region’s economy, but if nothing else, administrators believe the region will assimilate sooner than originally anticipated. This is best seen in the accelerated integration of Wisconsin into the Empire.

Magnetic Superweapon?

Antarctica has surprised the world with the creation of a device that can harness the power of the magnetic Southern Pole and channel it for both civilian and military use. The monarchy has stated the weapon’s purpose is defensive: its effectiveness rapidly drops beyond the shores of Antarctica for the simple reason the magnetic energy also does, and that there are no amplifier towers built beyond its shores.

The energy is also being harnessed for purposes of mass transit all over the continent. However, most observers were more interested in demonstrations of how the concentrated field could simultaneously destroy tanks, naval vessels, and even rip air wings out of the sky.

One thing’s for sure: the states of the world are unlikely to mess with those penguin people now.

Unit Re-Assessment (See Military Sheet for full details):

Units Gained: FRCN, Ethiopia, Vandread, High Kingdom, India

Units Lost: Shanghai[/img]