Multipolarity IV Game Thread

[NedimNapoleon]

From The Roman Empire of Cape Verde:
To Tayloristan:
The divine Nero shall smite you down as the slaves of Rome that dare to rise up against him. How does one claim freedom for African nations when he wishes to engulf them in a murderous and treacherous union! Are you not a barbarian who wishes to defy our great culture! We spread civilization while YOU wrestle in the primeval mud! HAIL NERO!

From the Roman Empire:
To Ashanti, Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Swaziland, Abyssiania, Kenya, Cameroon, Angola:
This is quarrel between us and Ashanti. You are not concerned in it. We do not wish you to take up the hatchet against Tayloristans troops. We desire you remain at home and not join either side but keep the hatchet buried deep.

 

[Dem Taqat]

OOC: So many new pages since I was last here... I didn't see anything really adressed or vital to me, or even anything happening in all South America, but if there is something I'd appreciate it being pointed out. :OOC

From: Tayloristan

In addition to the diamonds and military equipment already sold by our country, Tayloristan is now willing to offer our unique and voracious wildlife! The catalog is as follows:

Megaspider Arachnis Titanus
To be perfectly frank, we have no idea how this thing even exists and have none in captivity. But for a million dollars and a waiver absolving us of any and all responsibility, we'll capture one, lock it in a steel crate welded inside another crate and sealed in a specialized airship cargo bay the exterior of which is patrolled by guards and deliver it to you in person!

Upon recent consideration, Prime Minister McIronfist would like to look into the difficulty Tayloristan would expect to have capturing and holding such a creature, with an interest in potentially buying one.

Goods illegal within the borders of the Benevolent People's Confederate Dictatorship of Tayloristan:
- Bacon.
- Scrolls of Ancient Wisdom.
- Artifacts which threaten the existence of: Tayloristan, The World, The Space-time continuum, The Universe, or A. Titanis.

Should any Tayloristani Citizen have any of these in hand, the Argentinian government would be happy to buy them at a fair price as an alternative to having them seized by your government.

We are also announcing that, in continuation of our policies in supporting other South American Nations, our troops shall be expanding their efforts to place local islands under the control of the appropriate states. We shall be assisting the expansion of the states of Brazil, Caracas, Guyana, Venezuela to the Islands indicated below.

DT

 

[Nukeknockout]

From The Roman Empire of Cape Verde:
To Tayloristan:
The divine Nero shall smite you down as the slaves of Rome that dare to rise up against him. How does one claim freedom for African nations when he wishes to engulf them in a murderous and treacherous union! Are you not a barbarian who wishes to defy our great culture! We spread civilization while YOU wrestle in the primeval mud! HAIL NERO!

From the Roman Empire:
To Ashanti, Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Swaziland, Abyssiania, Kenya, Cameroon, Angola:
This is quarrel between us and Ashanti. You are not concerned in it. We do not wish you to take up the hatchet against Tayloristans troops. We desire you remain at home and not join either side but keep the hatchet buried deep.

How dare you unilaterally destroy the people of Ashanti? If there is a genuine quarrel between you and Ashanti, you should have cited it as public knowledge. As it is, Tayloristan is forced to assume you are attempting to seize control of Ashanti for no other reason but a belief that none is suited to rule save yourself. Go back to your playpen, Nero. Let adults influence the world, and toddlers drool on their toys.

We are African. Ashanti is African. Should they request our assistance against aggression we have no reason to assume is not unprovoked, they shall have unlimited assistance. Should they choose to yield to you, you will not see a single Tayloristani soldier.

To: Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Swaziland, Abyssiania, Kenya, Cameroon, Angola
From: Tayloristan

We are African, you are African. You know us - we hate war, we don't believe it accomplishes anything. But we should not stand idly by while Ashanti is destroyed- They are African. If Ashanti, an African nation, is destroyed then it will cast doubts in the eyes of the rest of our world if other African nations deserve to be free. If we allow Ashanti to be destroyed against their will while we stand idly by in the name of our own peace, it shall be us who are on the chopping block next.

Cape Verde called us, Tayloristan, an African nation, barbarians. They hold the same opinion of you.

Upon recent consideration, Prime Minister McIronfist would like to look into the difficulty Tayloristan would expect to have capturing and holding such a creature, with an interest in potentially buying one.

Should any Tayloristani Citizen have any of these in hand, the Argentinian government would be happy to buy them at a fair price as an alternative to having them seized by your government.

Tayloristan would be happy to cooperate with Prime Minister McIronfist. The difficulty in capturing such a creature is due to everything about it - Megaspider lives in the weird and dangerous jungles. Many hunters are killed by other wildlife before ever seeing it. The pest spins webs which adhere instantly to everything from flesh to cloth to steel and have a stronger adhesion than anything we can manufacture. We can clear the webs with sulfuric acid, but that doesn't help victims. Megaspider is capable of leaping twenty meters at a time, and is known to be capable of exerting more than 1,600 kg of force with its legs. As if that wasn't enough, Megaspider's leg "hairs" are actually diamond spikes with hooks which it uses to climb every surface we know of save fiberglass and ensnare prey and drag them down or with it. The pest is smart enough to peel open helicopters and enclosed vehicles to get at the people inside. They are known to die rapidly when exposed to Anthrax Epsilon a classified neurotoxin, and can be knocked unconscious with electrical shocks.

In captivity, Megaspiders have been known to pick locks, play on human arachnophobia, inspire sympathy, and in one case engage in bribery in order to get humans to come close. That is why we no longer take Megaspiders captive.

Tayloristan would be happy to allow our citizens to sell such items...so long as they cross the border before allowing us to know they have them.

 

[Dem Taqat]

Awesome McCoolname slumped at his desk. The rest of the world seemed to be racing to be the first to jump into the firey pit of war, and aside from the occasional snarky comment he had little authority to stop them. For all his supposed position, the policy decisions handed to him by the Prime Minister had boiled down to 'let them all burn if they're that keen on it', and he was forced to do just that.

South America however, seemed to be avoiding the madness of the outside world. This was certainly ood for him, times of prosperity would naturally make the other nations of the continent more receptive to his ideas. But such co-operation was certain to have its problems, especially given the problems of working with zombies. He shuddered at the thought.

He was also facing the problems of the Prime Ministers sudden interest in the Tayloristani Megaspider. Looking at their responses, he was almost certain that trying to take one in would be suicide, or at least ungodly expensive, and had little desire to rush to McIronfist with the news. But such was the job of an Argentinian minister; to carry out the Prime Ministers whims without any real ability to make change.

-----

Prime Minister McIronfist is reluctantly forced to accept that current Tayloristani doctrine regarding their Megaspiders seems the wisest option. Much as we would like to hold one, we must accept that the risks and costs of associating with them are far too high.

DT

 

[Red_Spy]

For Son.

---------------

Spoiler :

The Crimson Court has forged economic, political, and military ties with countries on all six continents. In order to reflect Court diplomacy worldwide, a map has been compiled. There are errors, due to the Court cartographer not knowing exactly where each NPC is, but the map should be rather accurate.
Deep Red: Territories ruled directly by the Crimson King
Red: Kingdoms of the Crimson Empire
Pink: Countries with which the Crimson Court has strong military ties
Orange: Countries with which the Court has basic military ties
Gold: Countries with which the Court have warm relations
White: Countries the Court has no outstanding issues with
Light Blue: Countries the Court has had historical disagreements with that are not consider irreconcilable, but otherwise no hostile international overtures with

-----------------------------

OOC: Tani, Korea is alreay allied with me, so they should need our permission first before making a second alliance.

OOC: I have 2200 out of the 2700 influence in Korea. I can basically tell Korea to do anything.

From Mongolia
To Japan:

We would like to ask you not to ally with Manchuria. We are both allies, and so we hope that you will not end our defensive alliance because of a small state.

From: People's Republic of China, Mainland China-Japan
To: Mongolia.

Sorry, to protect peace in Asia we can't.

 

[Dem Taqat]

Meaningless McPeasant had watched as the glory of his country skyrocketed over the course of the last two years. The economy was shooting up, and the citizenry were loving the vast increases in their quality of life. There seemed no end to the enthusiasm of the people; an almost universal agreement had formed that McIronfist was taking the country where it needed to go.

Almost universal. Two years had passed, and McIronfist had shown little intention to create serious reform. The poliical institutions of the country were as much in his hands as ever, and there was no indication that the next elections would be anything more than a reaffirming of his control over them. Democracy, for all the noise Argentina had once made about it, was as dead as ever.

And so McPeasants work continued. The same old dissidents who had moaned under McConquerer were stirring under McIronfist. The same rumours of strife and dissatisfaction stalked quietly through the underground. And the same relentless watchers trailed after them, seeking ever to bring down and quiet the persistent mutterings of discord.

-----

The Presidential Palace had been designed to impress. McConqueror had understood the importance of appearance, in politics as well as in war. His Palace had stood alone, surrounded by ornate gardens and designed by the best architects he could find to maximise the majesty, and intimidation factor, of the building. This factor had been extended even to interior design, with vast halls and towering staircases.

But some romms were impressive in a different way. Some rooms were buried deep in the Palace, hidden away from the view of the world. These were rooms of secrets, darkness, and deep, foreboding shadows. These were the rooms of the ever-present Ministry of Security, rooms of spies and secret policemen. They were the rooms that no man dared speak of, where even the dust was afraid to settle. They were the rooms of the figure known as 'The Man'.

'The Man' was pleased. The never-ending stream of reports running across the desk was a tale of positivity. Agents of the Ministry were everywhere, and they saw everything. That information flowed back into the deep sections of the palace where 'The Man' resided, providing a perfect picture of the state of the nation. With such an agency at his command, McIronfist had nothing to fear from the unknown.

But who was watching the watchers?

DT

 

[NedimNapoleon]

How dare you unilaterally destroy the people of Ashanti? If there is a genuine quarrel between you and Ashanti, you should have cited it as public knowledge. As it is, Tayloristan is forced to assume you are attempting to seize control of Ashanti for no other reason but a belief that none is suited to rule save yourself. Go back to your playpen, Nero. Let adults influence the world, and toddlers drool on their toys.

We are African. Ashanti is African. Should they request our assistance against aggression we have no reason to assume is not unprovoked, they shall have unlimited assistance. Should they choose to yield to you, you will not see a single Tayloristani soldier.

I'm not destroying the Ashanti people. I have no feud with them. I wish for them to become a part of the greater Roman Empire...to experience art and civilization on a grand scale. All I request is that they hail Caesar Nero and Caesar Nedim and pay taxes. I wish to maintain the Cape Verdian Peace. If you insult Nero once more you'll end up like his first wife.

We do not say that they are barbarians. We say you are barbarians for trying to destroy the sanctity of art and culture! With your primitive ways trying to cross our borders and settle....How dare you insult both the might of the Roman Empire of Cape Verde and our fellow African nations. Together we can form a greater Roman Empire of Africa....one of culture and beauty not one of giant spiders and barbarians. HEAR ME FELLOW AFRICANS I WISH YOU THE BEST AND I SEE NO NEED IN AGGRESSION AGAINST YOU! ASHANTI IS BEING REUNIFIED AND STABILIZED BY THE GREATER ROMAN EMPIRE! ALL HAIL NERO! MAY THE FIDDLES CONTINUE TO PLAY!

 

[Nukeknockout]

I'm not destroying the Ashanti people. I have no feud with them. I wish for them to become a part of the greater Roman Empire...to experience art and civilization on a grand scale. All I request is that they hail Caesar Nero and Caesar Nedim and pay taxes. I wish to maintain the Cape Verdian Peace. If you insult Nero once more you'll end up like his first wife.

We do not say that they are barbarians. We say you are barbarians for trying to destroy the sanctity of art and culture! With your primitive ways trying to cross our borders and settle....How dare you insult both the might of the Roman Empire of Cape Verde and our fellow African nations. Together we can form a greater Roman Empire of Africa....one of culture and beauty not one of giant spiders and barbarians. HEAR ME FELLOW AFRICANS I WISH YOU THE BEST AND I SEE NO NEED IN AGGRESSION AGAINST YOU! ASHANTI IS BEING REUNIFIED AND STABILIZED BY THE GREATER ROMAN EMPIRE! ALL HAIL NERO! MAY THE FIDDLES CONTINUE TO PLAY!

So, in many more words, you are conquering Ashanti and destroying their culture and traditions because you believe no one else is suited to rule. Tayloristan finds its initial proposition proved.

It's your choice, powers of Africa. Meld your culture with ours in an alliance to strengthen us both, or allow this petulant to obliterate it.

 

[Dem Taqat]

Grunt McRedshirt ran through the simulation. The computerised training system had several advantages, most notably that it was not constrained by such realities as budget, or design problems. Instead it produced the exact equipment Argentina wanted to have, to fight the battles it wanted to fight. Grunt was particularly fond of riding a spider tank across Panama invulnerable to most of the defending weaponry.

More commonly he found himself leading squads through urban warfare in one of the coastal cities, fighting against overwhelming naval bombardment, or attempting to prevent a zombie march through the Amazon. Those scenarios were no fun and games, and indeed he found himself losing on a regular basis. It was one of the reasons he remained a footsoldier rather than an officer.

The simulators were intended for officers, but additional simulators for the men was just one of the many equipment advantages the Guards enjoyed over regular Argentinian troops. It was an indicator of more than just special equipment, but special training. The men of the Guards were the best of the best, and they made sure everyone knew it.

DT

 

[Nukeknockout]

He was also facing the problems of the Prime Ministers sudden interest in the Tayloristani Megaspider. Looking at their responses, he was almost certain that trying to take one in would be suicide, or at least ungodly expensive, and had little desire to rush to McIronfist with the news. But such was the job of an Argentinian minister; to carry out the Prime Ministers whims without any real ability to make change.

-----

Prime Minister McIronfist is reluctantly forced to accept that current Tayloristani doctrine regarding their Megaspiders seems the wisest option. Much as we would like to hold one, we must accept that the risks and costs of associating with them are far too high.

DT

It's not all bad. The median cost of Megaspider acquisition is 1.3 lives & $232,470 in equipment including transport to the customer. Of course an average of $124,000 of the profit is then paid out in death benefits, but we still make $600,000 counting the probable containment breach fund.

And just think about it - if you can find a way to keep a creature that clever and powerful in captivity, you will be famous the world over as the most dangerous Prime Minister ever.

#17

Spoiler :

A great silver cigar cruised at 6,000 meters. On board the zeppelin HAV-667 Gargarensis, Captain Ursula stalked through the hanger bay. To her left, a line of pilots, mechanics, and co-pilots stood at attention. She continued walking around the hanger and its adjoining flight deck at a steady, measured pace. Behind her, Specialist Cruise followed her nervously. Ursula's eyes narrowed as she observed one of her three Topachula helicopters.

The AH-33 Topachula was, honestly, an ugly helicopter. The aircraft's one-man canopy was blocky with only a narrow field of view to the left and right. This blockiness extended to the rest of the fuselage, which was twice the mass it really needed to be and shaped at a 20 degree angle designed to deflect bullets coming from below or the sides. Immediately behind the canopy on both sides of the fuselage was a forward-facing rectangular air intake. Beneath the intake on either side of the aircraft was a stubby wing with two weapon hard points - the first hard point being directly below the intake, the second place half a meter out on the wing. This intake extended along the vehicle's hull for about a meter until it split and resolved into four large exhaust vents. Beneath the exhaust vents was a triangular tail boom stretching behind the helicopter. About 40 centimeters from the end of the tail boom, a 30 degree wing extended for a meter and culminated in a 90 degree slab, which was mirrored on the opposite side of the tail boom.

Theoretically speaking, the AH-33 was a technological marvel. The helicopter featured the same engine as placed on the H-62 Quapaw, as well as a unique "Resonance Stabilizer" mounting in each of its tail slabs in lieu of a traditional tail rotor. In addition, the aircraft featured a significant amount of armor the innermost layers of which were adhered to each other by Megaspider webbing instead of welds, the primary difference from the AH-30 "Banshee". In testing, during the Aven-G incident, and when dealing with the pirate Santiago the Topachula had proven a resistance to chainguns, missiles, and even 105mm cannon fire. Theoretically speaking.

Practically speaking, this particular example of the AH-33 Topachula was secured in a yellow-outlined slot original labeled "Si-47 Leopard #2", but which now had been spray painted "Topachula #3. May God have mercy on our souls." Practically speaking, the other two Topachula were in spots original labeled "UH-10 Chippewa", too. Practically speaking, the four large exhaust vents on the Topachula's rear, as well as its "Resonance Stabilizers" were critical to the vehicle's flight and even its ability to land and it was a trivial matter for existing UH-10 Chippewa miniguns, civilian helicopters with haphazardly attached machineguns, or even 8.11x22mm pistol fire to take out an AH-33 from behind.

Ursula pressed her lips together and continued down the line of aircraft. She stopped by the Skeeter Hawk, then turned towards it to examine its cockpit -

"Captain to the bridge!" Specialist Chekoy's voice sounded over the PA.

Captain Ursula started, then "Resume your duty stations. Inspection will be concluded after I find out just what is so darn important." She ordered ominously.

----------

"What is it, Specialist Chekoy?" Ursula demanded as she stormed into the bridge.

"Uh, Captain, Ma'am, we've got a situation." Chekoy stammered, his eyes partially on Ursula's chest.

"So I noticed." Ursula stated icily, noting out of the corner of her eye that freshly laundered captain's uniforms were form-fitting. "What is the situation?"

"Uh, oh, right!" Chekoy visibly flicked his eyes back to her face. "Observer #1 reports a large ship below us, but radar gives us nothing."

"Run any other scans?" Ursula interrupted coldly.

"Actually, yes Ma'am. The ship is completely invisible to our radar, but it shows up as one-tenth the size on a thermal scan and I think we could see them with sonar if we dropped a buoy, but that would be interpreted as an act of aggression." Chekoy finished forcefully.

Captain Ursula nodded. "Whose ship is it?"

"Leth Confederacy, Ma'am." Chekoy answered quickly. "At least, that's our highest bet."

"Highest bet?!" Ursula shouted incredulously. "This is a warship of Tayloristan, of Haven! We don't bet, and we don't guess."

"Captain, Ma'am, they're not flying any flag and all the crew on deck on human." Specialist Williams interjected, her normally gentle voice breaking. "I lived in the Leth Confederacy before my parents moved to Tayloristan. I made the call, because that ship looks like the sort of thing the Leth would build."

"We don't guess." Ursula stated firmly. "Navigation, take us to 1,000 meters."

"Navigation, aye!" Specialist Johnson replied calmly.

---------

The ship did look strange - its hull was shaped more like an elongated diamond than an oval, and its minimal superstructure was a mess of angles with no more than a meter of contiguous metal at a time. Compared to the light gray paint most navies favored, this vessel was a matte black. Although it was difficult to tell at 1,000 meters altitude, 4 kilometer effective distance, it appeared that there were hatches all over the vessel's deck.

Captain Ursula put on a headset as Specialist Chekoy sat to her side and did nothing. "This is the HAV-667 Gargarensis out of Tayloristan. Unknown ship, please identify yourself." She stated calmly.

Two minutes passed. "Unidentified vessel, identify yourself." Captain Ursula continued, a slight edge in her voice.

One minute eked away, and then - "This is the LC1 Heimdallr." An obviously male voice responded. "You're a long way from home, Gargarensis. Do you come under flag of truce or war?"

"Neither, Heimdallr." Ursula answered. "What country do you sail under?"

"That is not a question we have to answer." The voice asserted.

"Of course not." Captain Ursula acknowledged. "It's just that my navigation specialist is pretty sure you're Leth, and I'd love to prove her wrong."

For a moment, there was silence. "Your specialist has good instincts."

"We've been ordered to the confederacy as part of a cultural exchange. Pursuant to that, would you mind if we came aboard?" Ursula questioned.

The silence stretched for two full minutes. "Only three people." The voice finally responded. "We cannot afford to detour too much from our mission."

----------

Captain Ursula walked onto the flight deck, where a crew was finalizing the Skeeter Hawk's flight checks.

As far as aircraft went, there was nothing special about the Skeeter Hawk. It was a cheap, basic helicopter primarily used as a taxi or for VIP transport from ship to ship. It was also Tayloristan's #3 export.

"Hiya!" A man wearing green overalls waved to Captain Ursula and Specialist Williams. "The name's Flight Officer Bakersville. I'll be flying you lovely ladies today." He smiled broadly.

Captain Ursula silently took her seat in the helicopter. Specialist Williams smiled a little and allowed Bakersville to help her on board.

With that, the trio took off for the short flight to the Leth ship. It became clear on approach that the vessel's deck was covered in hatches of unknown purpose. When the sky blue Hawk came within five hundred meters, a series of red lights in the shape of a big "H" lit up on a flat spot at Heimdallr's stern. Flight Officer Bakersville carefully set the Hawk down on the middle of the "H".

"I'd like to see what they narmally have landin' here." He observed in a drawl. Ursula mentally nodded - the helipad was at least four times the size of their aircraft. With a lurch, the hull beneath them suddenly began to give way!

"What?" Specialist Williams questioned in fear.

"Are they dumping us in a cargo bay?" Bakersville wondered.

"Not on my watch." Captain Ursula vowed.

"This is Captain Bartimao." The male voice returned. "There is nothing wrong, I repeat, nothing wrong. It's an elevator, not a deathtrap. My apologies for the scare - I had no idea there were no elevators in Tayloristan until one of my crew came forward."

The helipad elevator came to a halt ten meters below the deck. Flight Officer Bakersville gasped. In what could only be described as a hidden hanger, there were three helicopters waiting. The first one was a massive affair with two rotors, each on the end of a large wing.

The other two helicopters almost didn't look like helicopters - the vehicles were all smooth lines, with both a large forward wing and a smaller wing mid-way down the tail boom and two parallel vertical wings at the end of the tail boom. Contained within the vertical wings were twin tail rotors. The entirety of both helicopters were matte black, with no visible windows.

Waiting at the edge of the elevator was a delegation of three Leth and one human, with a large number of both species working in the background.

"Heck. I know where I'm hanging out." Bakersville broke the silence. "You women enjoy the tour now, ya hear?"

Captain Ursula exited the helicopter, followed by Specialist Williams and Flight Officer Bakersville.

A gray-furred Leth stepped to the forward of the delegation. "I am Captain Bartimao." He introduced himself as he offered his paw. Ursula shook it. "And these are First Officer Mason, Sensor Officer Xenon, and Communications Officer Orpedo." He indicated the other three Leth and the human as handshakes were exchanged. "And who are our guests?"

"I am Captain Ursula of the Gargarensis. Thank you for your hospitality, Captain." Ursula found herself saying.

"I'm Specialist Williams, hull integrity." She smiled hesitantly.

"Aw shucks, don't worry about me. I'm just a pilot." Bakersville blushed.

"Right this way." Captain Bartimao invited.

The group of eight fell into step, then-

"Excuse me, Captain Bartimao?" Bakersville asked. "Would it cause a diplomatic incident if I wanted to talk with your hanger crew? Pilot stuff."

"So you have the same sort of pilots I do." Bartimao stated to Ursula with a smile.

"Don't steal any technological secrets." Ursula ordered Bakersville.

"Don't worry, Ma'am, my brain's like a sieve!" Bakersville wandered over to the mechanics.

------------------

"Hull integrity? I don't believe I've heard of that specialization before." Sensor Officer Xenon questioned, his red fur bristling.

"In the early days of zeppelin travel, even the slightest hull breach meant losing flotation gas." Specialist Williams explained. "So someone was assigned to do nothing but walk the hull and check it for leaks. These days it means more watching electronic sensors and coordinating repair crews, but I've been trained to scale airship hulls from the outside and that'll become my job if my sensors ever go down." She finished.

A moment of silence fell throughout the room. "That sounds psychotically dangerous." First Officer Mason, a Leth with dyed green fur, spoke up. "How do you keep from falling?" She asked.

"Mostly rope, but no one was ever crazy enough to go out there without a knife, a pistol, a parachute, and any tools they thought they might need." Specialist Williams explained. "It's dangerous, but there's 68 people on my ship. I'd rather risk the one of me than the all of them. Now what sort of name is Orpedo?" She asked brightly.

"It's the kind my daddy gave me." The dark-haired human with the Leth replied. "Always hated that guy."

"You said one of your crew had lived in Tayloristan?" Captain Ursula questioned Bartimao.

"No, I said one of my crew told me there were no elevators in Tayloristan." Bartimao answered mildly. "I don't know where he learned that."

"Fair enough." Captain Ursula acknowledged. "What's this place?"

"This is our CIC. We control of our missiles, rockets, torpedoes, and helicopters from here." First Officer Mason explained. "I doubt you have anything like this on that gas bag."

"What about the guns?" Ursula asked quizzically.

"We don't use guns." Sensor Officer Xenon explained.

"And why is that?" Williams asked. "Anything to do with why this 100 meter ship doesn't show up on radar?"

"This is a stealth cruiser, yes." Sensor Officer Xenon answered. "Guns give off just a few too many emissions."

"He means that when your average sapient sees a ship full of guns, that sapient will react violently." Captain Bartimao explained mildly. "So we have a ship full of in-obvious weapons to better our diplomatic relations."

"At least when one of our ships shows up, you know if it can hurt you or not." Captain Ursula remarked.

"When one of your ships 'shows up', Tayloristani," First Officer Mason began "Animals die. Then the environment dies. Then sapients other than yourselves die."

"First Officer, return to duty." Captain Bartimao ordered swiftly.

"Aye Sir." Mason saluted and walked off.

"My apologies about her." Bartimao stated. "She's had a hard life. But I believe its about time for lunch."

---------

The mess hall of the Leth ship was far different from Tayloristani mess halls - the Leth were all about easily cleanable materials, disposable trays, and carefully balanced portions of mostly raw meat.

Specialist Williams stabbed her meat with a fork, a slight grimace on her face. To her left, Captain Ursula was rapidly cutting slices of whatever this was and maintaining a discussion about the best way to season raw meat with their hosts. Three tables to her right, Bakersville and three Leth pilots were moving their hands & paws through the air and making airplane noises instead of eating. You've got to eat it. A voice in her head said. They might take it as an insult if you don't. Williams eyed her meat warily They're foxes - says so in their species name. Natural carnivores. They won't care that you're a vegetarian.

With a pained look on her face, Williams slowly began to eat, fighting the urge to throw up with every bite. Somehow, she got through the meal without attracting attention.

"I'm afraid this is where we must part ways." Captain Bartimao spoke up. "Our mission has changed suddenly."

"Of course, Captain." Captain Ursula acknowledged.

"But one last thing. We did some searches in the computer, and there was never a cultural exchange between our countries. Not on an official level, at least." Bartimao continued.

"What?" Ursula stuttered. "But...the radio...orders...Thank you, Captain Bartimao." She physically straightened herself and began the walk back to the helicopter.

----------

The flight back was made in silence, except for Bakersville happily chattering about his new pilot friends, Ursula muttering vengeance upon her superiors, and Williams vomiting all over the floor.

 

[Jehoshua]

In the Foreign Office of the Golden Horde

-

Tenzin sat at his desk in a mood of great exhasperation. Across the table sat an emissary of Mongolia.

"The Golden Master must understand honourable lord, Mongolia has refrained from sending slaves to their possibility moment precisely because it has its own plans and manner of practicing our shared and beloved faith"

The Golden Master was displeased at the lack of pilgrims from Mongolia to the temples, he questioned their devotion to the way of Margayana. Tenzin had the unenviable task of trying to convince Ux-Bataar Lee to the Hordes way of thinking.

"Ah yes, Mongolia has its own way of doign things. Yet we hear that even in Mongolia many temples stand idle! Are your people not devoted? Is the flame of enlightenment so feeble that so few reach their ultimate end? Tell us what precisely this "mongol way" is, if it is not the final "shuffling off of the mortal coil" and entering into the eternal light that our Masters teach?"

The Mongol Emissary fiddled with his little fur hat. Tenzin had always noticed that the mongols had a strange liking for axes (preferably over doorways) and little fur hats.

"In time you shall see, the Great Uz-Bataar Lee has plans, and he shall show you our devotion!. If it is blood that the Golden Horde desires, than blood shalt flow, if it is souls you desire than to the moment of eternal possibility they shall be sent."

Tenzin sighed, diplomacy with the Mongols was notoriously difficult. Most of their nation originally lived in the famed arcology cities of the step, although with the fall of the Noodle Republic a good number of more traditional habitations had been occupied in former territories of the republic. The former and current Arco-dwellers had an unfortunate tendency towards aggression and stubborness, a consequence perhaps of being crammed together like sardines in a tin.

"Clearly we are going nowhere, return to your Leader with the Golden Hordes concerns at the lack of pilgrims coming from Mongolia, our Master shall believe your claims only when they occur."

The mongol emissary bowed, and left to report his conversations to the Mongol foreign office. He smiled, in truth the Master did believe Mongolia's claims, the signs that they had their faith at the forefront of their collective mind was everywhere to see. Mongol tensions with Japan over Manchuria were clear to all, and the Masters had done much to try and convince their coreligionists to refrain from hostilities against that nation and Japan. But the tension was growing, it was evident that Mongolia would, sooner rather than later, send their own horde (strangely still resistant to uniting under the temporal rule of the Golden Master) to bring the gift of death to one or another nation. The question for the Golden Horde was, where will they strike and to whom will the hammerstroke fall.

But today was not that day, or so all the indications and messages from Mongolia indicated. With the tensions with the 501st legion rising, and a good relationship forming between Japan and the Golden Horde, a war between Mongolia and Japan, and by association the Crimson Court, over Manchuria would be contrary to the cause of the Golden Master and place the Horde in a position where it would have to choose between its coreligionists and its good allies. Now the Masters only had to work out how to address the increasing hostility of the 501st legion... here Tenzin and the Golden Master were of two minds, the ball was in the 501st legions court, and depending on how they played, two possibilities awaited them.

-

ooc: ergo, Mongolia no attack Manchuria, my response to the 501st legion depends on its reaction to this current series of events as it proceeds into next turn.

 

[Tani Coyote]

East Australia issues an ultimatum that King James II of Western Australia step down as monarch and allowing the two Australias to become one.

West Australia will not go down without a fight. Go right on ahead and try to win.

To: Afghanistan, Arabia, Oman
From: Azärbayjan
Our Padshah feels that within this tumultuous world, Islam and its prosperous civilization has lost its former standing and is currently at considerable risk, of foreign hands and conspirators. Yet Islam is a great flame and its tenets a solid stone such that it persists among our nations still. To preserve our sanctity, we must unite in the goal for peace and form an Islamic alliance. Our four nations, as the centers of Muslim culture and learning, shall serve the initiates in this new era of enlightenment. We shall attain this not through violence, as the past has taught was foolish, but through the civil means of tolerance and cooperation. As was once granted by the libraries of Iskandariya and Andalus, Islam may again see the days of wisdom. Praise be to God and Glory be to God, for God is Greatest.

Afghanistan has considered the offers of both the Golden Horde and the Azeri government; it has been decided that Afghanistan shall ink a defense agreement with Azerbaijan.

Arabia accepts a defensive alliance without a second thought.

Oman is open to warmer relations, but feels its friend Antioch might feel threatened by a defense pact, so must decline for the time being.

To: Rajputana, Benin, Libya, Morocco
From: Azärbayjan
Our Padshah fears that Islam is in risk of destruction from certain nations, and as nations of Islam which are located near the edge of its spread, your nations are at greatest risk. As such, our nation by vote of Grand Divan has deemed it constructive to send pacts of mutual defense to your nations. We also offer guarantees of independence if additionally needed. In any case, Azärbayjan hopes your nations in the future seek further stability for the Islam world and aid to the global enlightenment. Praise be to God and Glory be to God, for God is Greatest.

Rajputana feels the Golden Horde can provide adequately for its defense at present, but welcomes close relations even in absence of a formal pact.

Benin agrees to a defensive pact, feeling the need for security in dangerous times.

Libya welcomes a defense arrangement, though makes a statement its friend Antioch may always offer a similar pact.

Morocco accepts a defense alliance.

To: Greece
From: Azärbayjan
Our nation, while endorsing the preservation of peace, strongly discourages Greece from aligning to any power or bloc, as its role in the maintenance of a free Bosporus is one that necessitates neutrality in conflict. We believe that Greece would then favor a particular nation, thus passage through the Bosporus would not be fairly balanced and hence cannot be free. We shall support a defensive pact, however, if it is signed between multiple nations of the East Mediterranean-Black Sea region, based upon the preservation of peace and stability, in both diplomacy and commerce.

Greece can agree with this sentiment, and suggests a Treaty of Constantinople between Bosnia, Antioch, Arstotzka and Azerbaijan, where the four signatories promise not to try and wrest control from each other and to come to Greece's defense if it looks like the Bosphorus' neutrality is threatened.

Republic of the Philippines enters the slave trade
With help from Humanity First volunteers the Republic of the Philippines have started up a Xeno breeding program. The Lemurians from the area have been captured from the wild and domesticated. These dim witted reptiles thrive under a authoritative hand, after a year breeding the Philippines government hopes to start selling to the Crimson Court.

The Philippines confirms this.

OOC: Tani, Korea is alreay allied with me, so they should need our permission first before making a second alliance.

Actually Mongolia was only guaranteeing Korea, so it wasn't really seeing a conflict of interest.

It did stand up for you though, not repossessing Mongol assets despite Mongolia not originally being exempt under China-Japan's request.

From Cape Verde:
To Ashanti:

You have 24 hours to accept an annexation agreement and disband all armed forces and the government. If it is not done military force will be used to do so.

Ashanti tells Cape Verde to come and take them.

Just as Ashanti is hereby taking all of Cape Verde's extensive assets in our country; we will be granting a portion of them to Tayloristan for standing up for us.

To: Ashanti, Benin, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rhodesia, Swaziland, Abyssiania, Kenya, Cameroon, Angola
From: Tayloristan

It should be clear from the unilateral and unprovoked statement by Cape Verde that we have a burgeoning conqueror in our midst, one who would make itself into our master rather than our equal. It is in this light that Tayloristan proposes a full military alliance to protect us all from those morally dissolute who believe in the usage of violence and threats. In an alliance with us, all of you shall keep your customs and protect your peoples. Without us, all of us, Cape Verde will conquer you only to salve its ruler's ego. What say you?

Kenya agrees to upgrade its alliance with Tayloristan into a full alliance; where Taylor's forces go, we shall go.

Ashanti appreciates the assistance and will be signing a full military alliance with Tayloristan as thanks.

Cameroon, Angola and Abyssinia shall not be declaring war, but shall most certainly send financial assistance to Ashanti.

Benin, Libya and Morocco shall not declare war, but find the violence concerning; Ashanti was a state that was friendly towards Cape Verde and had been a considerable source of revenue for the Cape Verde's citizens. As such we shall be freezing the assets of Cape Verde until the war's end.

 

[Terran Empress]

Greece can agree with this sentiment, and suggests a Treaty of Constantinople between Bosnia, Antioch, Arstotzka and Azerbaijan, where the four signatories promise not to try and wrest control from each other and to come to Greece's defense if it looks like the Bosphorus' neutrality is threatened.

Arstotzka is willing and able to sign this Treaty of Constantinople

 

[Nukeknockout]

Ashanti tells Cape Verde to come and take them.

Just as Ashanti is hereby taking all of Cape Verde's extensive assets in our country; we will be granting a portion of them to Tayloristan for standing up for us.

Kenya agrees to upgrade its alliance with Tayloristan into a full alliance; where Taylor's forces go, we shall go.

Ashanti appreciates the assistance and will be signing a full military alliance with Tayloristan as thanks.

Cameroon, Angola and Abyssinia shall not be declaring war, but shall most certainly send financial assistance to Ashanti.

Benin, Libya and Morocco shall not declare war, but find the violence concerning; Ashanti was a state that was friendly towards Cape Verde and had been a considerable source of revenue for the Cape Verde's citizens. As such we shall be freezing the assets of Cape Verde until the war's end.

Tayloristan thanks all of you for your cooperation in every measure you have deemed appropriate. We realize matters of war are never an easy topic to discuss - but it is better to discuss war than bow to violence.

 

[Dem Taqat]

Argentina wishes to publically declare the creation of a South American Trading Zone, reducing tariffs and strengthening trade ties between the nations of the continent. We hope to further the spirit of continental co-operation that is currently so beneficial to us all, having already begun strengthening our individual bonds with some of the nations in the area.

DT

 

[Tani Coyote]

Argentina wishes to publically declare the creation of a South American Trading Zone, reducing tariffs and strengthening trade ties between the nations of the continent. We hope to further the spirit of continental co-operation that is currently so beneficial to us all, having already begun strengthening our individual bonds with some of the nations in the area.

Amazon heartily accepts.

Brazil agrees.

Caracas sees no problem with this agreement.

Colombia concurs.

Ecuador agrees.

Guyana agrees.

Peru most certainly agrees.

Venezuela accedes to this treaty.

 

[Tani Coyote]

A friendly reminder orders shall lock in about 45 hours.

 

[christos200]

From Mongolia
To Japan:

Mongolia will not invade Manchuria if Japan agrees not to client Manchuria.

 

[Mosher]

King Lief II does not wish to see thousands of Chinese/Japanese and Mongolian lives lost over Manchuria, and offers to host a summit in Reykjavik's Summer Palace between the Chinese/Japanese and Mongolian leadership to resolve the Manchurian issue.

 

[christos200]

We want Manchuria to accept the protection of both Japan and Mongolia in order to stop the dispute and that neither Japan or Mongolia have more assets or influence in Manchuria.