the sultan will diplomatically unite all the disparate Turkish states under one nation.
3 (2): First we must define what we mean by 'Turkish', since by the most pedantic and liberal view, you'd be trying to annex land stretching from the Bosporus to Mongolia, and you
definitely don't have the resources for
that. The move also leads to fears of imperial ambition and Greece and Bulgaria begin rearmament in response, while Islamic Jihal'QaISIS exploits it for a fresh recruitment campaign. -2 diplomacy with Greece and Bulgaria; +5% support for Nationalists.
*dons sunglasses*
Stage an anti-USA coup in Denver.
It's go time.
19 (19): As
Gary Oldman George Smiley said: "And that's how I know he can be beaten. Because he's a fanatic. And the fanatic is always concealing a secret doubt." Rigorous though the Thought Police were, they could never hope to stamp out
all dissent (since thought control requires science and no-one in Cabinet believes in that claptrap). Exploiting the government's recent PR fumble, you banded together the opposition into a united militia to water the tree with the blood of patriots and tyrants, emphasis on the latter. (Denver, Albuquerque, Cannon AFB, Hill AFB, USA 3rd Fighter Squadron, 4th Ground Attack Squadron, 8th Air Defense Battalion, 4th Cavalry Company, and 6th Infantry Battalion defect to SPLMCB; USA loses $2016 wealth taxable.)
NATIONAL OUTLOOK
Liberty or Death: If there's anything Washington has made clear, it's that anyone opposing its twisted politics is less than human. Either you win this fight, or you won't live to fight again. +3 spy defence, +4 ideological defence and -5 mutual diplomacy with United States; all units gain +2 defence, +2 morale, +3 combat v. United States.
War Economy: When your very survival is on the line, command economics is not only palatable, it's downright
critical. +2 recruitment, +3 military production, -4 civilian economy, -2 foreign trade; +5 to amending this policy after the war.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
JamesCaesar
Revolutionary Leader
100% approval
+2 to music
+2 morale to nearby units
Malcolm Granger
Air Force General
Rank: General (max. command: Major Command)
+3 combat, +1 mobility, +1 supply to attached units
1. Pay $25 ($3.50 for the past 2 turns, this turn and the 3 next turns, plus an additional $4 as a goodwill gift) to Double A for lake usage rights so we may move up the Nile unhindered in the future.
2. Expand the bureaucracy so we have one more additional action.
15: You clear your slate, with interest.
18: Loosening the state's belt, you yield your fat assembly more breathing space. +1 Action and +1 statecraft; Libertarian faction gains +10% support from retaliatory protests.
BY THE POWER OF SABER
I HAVE THE POWER
TO GIVE ALL PCS IN THE GAME
AS MANY EXTRA ACTIONS AS SHE WISHES
FOREVER AND EVER
AMEN
16: In the interest of levelling the playing field against the Furry heresy, Altria Pendragon, First of Her Name, King of the Bretons, dispenses Her Grace thusly:
- The United States of America receives 1 Action to keep it competitive;
- The Cult of Minimalism receives 1 Action since it's so tiny it's cute;
- Australian Capital Territory receives 3 Actions in reward for its fealty (and since it's a city-state actually behaving like a city-state);
- CivCube's Congo receives 1 Action in an effort to sway its host player back;
- Great Britain receives 2 Actions since it is the Once and Future Kingdom;
- Feminist Namibia receives 1 Action since, while led by an Unbeliever, it is the vanguard against international misogyny;
- The European Federation receives 1 Action for the same reason as Congo;
- Double A receives no actions since he is a mythical beast without a country;
- The Empire of Ài receives 3 Actions because frankly, my dear, you're gonna need 'em;
- Hoxha's Bunker Emporium receives no actions since it is an NPC state and this isn't Tanipolarity;
- The Volksreich receives 1 Action to counteract its starting penalty;
- The Empire of Majterre receives no actions, since it is a hive of sorcery and Frankishness;
- The Faxumite Empire receives no actions since it's the whole reason this is necessary;
- California receives 1 Action because its dank RP is second-to-none;
- The Kiwi Empire receives no actions since its technology clearly makes up for it;
- The Khmer Thalassocracy receives no actions as it is a race of beastmen sworn to the False Prophet Managan;
- Istanbul receives no actions as it is heathen and Saracen;
- Rationalia receives no actions, given it does not believe in the Divinity of Altria in the first place;
- Custerfield receives no actions since Actions induce Conflict and it has stated its neutrality;
- Norrland-Sápmi receives 1 Action for similar reasons as Ài Lmao;
- Sgt Pillar's Band receives no actions; it's already got McCartney so what more could it need? :^)
Implement the Norrland-Sápmi Cyrillic Alphabet for Swedish, Finnish and Western Sami languages as a step towards a new independent education system with emphasis on socialist teachings to boost our industrial economy and wash away the stains of southern imperialism from our culture.
6: 'A' for effort, but overhauling the lexicon overnight in a foreign alphabet proved too much, too soon. -$16,000 in administrative overhead, and -1 to cultural, educational and scientific actions for the next eight turns as the country scrambles to match the new standard.
Offer the SPD the following if they disband and return to their homes.
- No prosecution by the British Government.
- British subsidies to relocate overseas, if SPD members so desire.
- An official commitment to peace and cooperation in Europe by the British Government.
- A free pig for every member of the SPD.
14: Swayed by your commitment to continental peace and prosperity, elements of the SPD standing army agree to demobilize, although no-one is currently talking
official reintegration yet. SPD 2nd Mechanized Infantry, 3rd Infantry and 5th Infantry regiments' strength reduced 10%; +1 peaceful diplomacy with, -1
casus belli against the European Federation; Prime Minister e350tb gains +2% approval; +5% support for British Labour in the European Federation.
Have the Empress Esther Solomon use her dark magic to summon forth a department's worth of impish familiars to aid our administration so our realm may be more manageable to govern via their demonic efficiency.
12 (15): Side-stepping the royal court through a semi-autonomous bureaucracy frees up time previously spent on daily minutiae for focus on the big projects, although Council members wonder if this new civil service has an agenda of its own. +1 statecraft to the Empress; new Civil Service political faction (5% support).
make custerfield's defenses stronger.
3: And then the other shoe drops as an investigation into no-compete contracts with several private arms companies sparks a national scandal when they are exposed as collusive profiteers. The equipment looked good on the test range, but proves ridiculously fragile in the field—you paid
how much for this con?! -$3 million in state funds; military units suffer -3 combat for 10 turns as National Defence scrambles to find more reliable suppliers.
CONVERTING THE MILITARY IS NOT ENOUGH! WE MUST GO CONVERT THE POPULACE! NON-VIOLENTLY OF COURSE, WOULDN'T WANT TO CAUSE A WAR.
11 (9): Entering Dalandzadgad, you deliver a sermon at hoplitejoe's memorial, explaining that the martyr might be alive today if not for excessive rules and action modifiers. Your oration attracts a small crowd of curious onlookers, but otherwise fails to inspire.
The Autarch has placed forward plans on creating an electrified railroad system between Wellington and Auckland in the northern islands and another electrified railroad system between Christchurch and Dunedin.
12 (14): Earmarking $800,000 for the project, you hire several construction crews for the ambitious goal of upgrading the national rail network and expanding commuter service to the south of South Island. Estimated completion time: 8 turns.
commission the construction of a really large battleship as part of a naval build up.
15 (17): Not to be outdone by the Volksreich, you approve the construction of the creatively-titled
Bismarck II-class, a modernized battleship with
enough firepower to destroy a planet the Royal Navy a host of top-of-the-line features such as guided missiles and electronic command-control systems. Your $8 million investment should pay off in 16 turns.
The coupers will be aided with the espionage of our great Californian Republic.
18 (17):
WE FIGHT A LIFE-OR-DEATH STRUGGLE AGAINST THE POWERS OF ANARCHO-CAPITALISM. ONLY COMPLETE TRUST IN PILLARS CAN PROTECT YOU. ONLY TOTAL DISCLOSURE WILL SAVE THE LIVES OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. EMPTY YOUR MIND, AND SUBMIT TO OUR MEMES. THE LESS YOU DEREGULATE, THE BETTER OFF YOU WILL BE. WE ARE PILLARS. ENTRUST US.
(Detroit and Charlotte erupt in Civil Disorder: -2 stability, -2 statecraft, -5% wealth taxable in each city until the riots are quelled; all regular USA forces not already engaged lose 1 loyalty, and are immobilized for 4 turns from confusion over which front takes precedence.)
Create a rocket and attempt to land on the surface of the Moon.
11: Aerospace engineers think they've figured out a propulsion system that will work at this latitude, and construction begins on a $20 million launch facility at Gdańsk. Will Poland finally into space?
Lucina Megan amiibos are patriotic! My action is to produce them to fund the war and help the morale of my soldiers!
3 (6): A noble effort, using the KKKapitali$ts' own tools against them, but one that detracts from the war industry and fails to recoup production costs in its first distribution cycle. -$25,000 in state funds, and -1 military production for the next five turns.
(All players may purchase their own Omegamiibo for $12.99 as a free action—Tolni's is already shipped.) Meanwhile, the Hick Brigade continues its attack.
ROLL TO DODGE!
19 (19): You wail on those Redcaps like a hyena matriarch that saw
The Lion King for the first time, dealing 10% damage and sending them into a rout. (1st Redcap Battalion suffers -2 defence and cannot attack for 4 turns.)
With the help of Persian Grand Electrician Mehdi Sadaghdar, subjugate (claim) Persia/Iran.
11: You lay claim to the remainder of Ilam and Khuzestan. With no counter-movement from Tehran, you presume this makes them yours to keep.
Defend my territory, counterattack if possible.
*roll*
You focus on holding your ground.
6: Beset by enemies without and within, the army is starting to question whether the Commander-in-Chief is suited to actually command it. All regular forces suffer -1 morale.
News on the March
Fear and Loathing in Colorado
The American conflagration is beginning to attract international interest, with a Californian-sponsored uprising in Denver further complicating Washington's already precarious position. Despite continuing deterioration of US military command and outright defections by its personnel, including four-star air force general Malcolm Granger, to the Colorado rebels, Redcap partisans assaulted turncoat positions. The garrison at Hill AFB scrambled in time to repel the attackers before they overran the base; while comrades in the south have drawn first blood against rebel forces in Albuquerque, they are badly outnumbered and outgunned and unlikely to be reinforced soon.
Meanwhile in the east, the Namibian offensive continues to stall; with the main assault still stonewalling against the Washington garrison, the army is digging in, preparing for the inevitable Trumpnik counterattack. The battle for Toronto continues, with American armor trying to force the insurgents back to New York as skirmishes against the city's remaining defenders have thus far proven inconclusive. The Bluecapes have managed some success, however: Omega has routed the 1st Redcap Battalion, opening the capital's flank, while continued pressure against the guerrillas near Columbus will likely lead to a retreat soon.
With the conflict expected to intensify, refugees have begun fleeing from Detroit and the embattled capital before combat moves into the cities and escape is completely cut off. While this is IOT, we would like to remind world leaders to refrain from wanton murder of civilians.
Bulgar Display of Imperialism
Tensions are high in the Mediterranean after statements from Istanbul provoked remobilization in the Balkans and the resurgence of Islamist terrorism. Needless to say, the Sultan's expansion plans will need heavy revision:
Bulgaria—Its small-but-well-trained army insists it has no designs on Istanbul, but politely reminds the Sultan that any jokes about "Balkan genocide" are no match for its tactical SCUD launchers.
Greece—Likewise affirming its commitment to non-aggression against Anatolia, it nonetheless maintains the national guard bases on the frontier islands. While Athens has taken no definitive policy on Crete's quasi-autonomy thus far, it regards Majterre's aegis as an unlawful incursion against Greek sovereignty.
Islamic Jihal'QaISIS—A confederation of multiple extremist factions, its goal is to subjugate the Muslim world under a rigid Wahhabist interpretation of the faith. Has not
officially declared war on anyone yet, but that's because its foreign affairs department is about as backward as its ideology.
Beijing Forces Enter Qingdao
In the first border test since the splinter, members of Shen Yun entered Qingdao as part of a regular patrol. While no altercation occurred, the move is seen as a direct challenge to Empress Ren's authority in the city—not that they seemed to know it was hers in the first place.
Congolese Rebels on the Move
Reports of multiple incursions into government territory have prompted calls for action by President CivCube. While no violence has occurred, the public fears that if left unchallenged, the rebel factions will stake more assertive claims against the government in future. Mbuji-Mayi has yet to release a public statement.
Bunker Bans Contraceptives
Reports smuggled out of Antarctica reveal that Enver Hoxha has declared a total ban on contraceptive tools and practices. While the notoriously tight-lipped administration has not released an official statement, observers speculate the move is part of a strategy to supplement the manpower lost in last turn's rocket accident and prevent the total collapse of the Most Marxist–Leninist Place on Earth!™. When asked whether a state-sponsored breeding programme was in conflict with Lysenkoist doctrine, the Great Helmsman replied "That's doubleplusungood," before having the revisionist spy arrested and
executed detained for questioning.
Notes from the GM
I thought I should clarify how extra actions work before it becomes an actual issue. By default, most additional actions obtained apply to your administrative capacity, i.e. conducting diplomacy, enacting policy, and the like—basically, how much you can juggle on your presidential desk. This does
not increase how much
physical action your avatar does, i.e. attack multiple times per turn, hack that computer terminal
while also making a milkshake, &c. You
can (try to) level up personal actions as well (and even those of your companions); these will always be tracked as a character stat, though like the above, usually won't serve double-duty unless explicitly indicated. Basically, whereas your One Guaranteed Action can be used for anything, everything after that splits into either/or. The front page has been updated accordingly.
I'll have a couple busy spots this week and next, though depending on how this turn plays out I
might manage an early update betwixt. To that end, corollary to the timeliness (or lack thereof) of orders this last round, I'm bumping the start date a bit:
next update begins Thursday next, possibly even Wednesday if I think I can air it before the Second Delay.
anything that New Zealand can do we can do better... 
