Shadow of the Fall: A Peshawar Lancers IOT

[NinjaCow64]

OOC: What year is it? Also, when are orders due?

 

[Decamper]

SOMALI ELECTIONS BEGIN IN 2028, NEXT YEAR

Forgot to post this already, but orders hardlock 28th November at Noon Eastern Time. Softlock is 24 hours earlier.

Pretty sure this coming turn is 2028.

 

[Sonereal]

No, this turn is 2028.

Also, 24 hours until softlock

 

[NinjaCow64]

Madagascan Times

Political Section – March 20th 20​

Special Election Report

Context of the 2028 Elections

As per the Constitution of Madagascar, elections must be held every four years. Queen Ranavalona V was hoping for the complete unification of the Madagascan Kingdom before the election, unfortunately negotiations with the island of Deigo Garcia have stalled and elections could not be held there. A record number of seats were up for election, Her Royal Majesty recalled all but one of the Acting Members of Parliament due to the Rasanjy Administration, thereby allowing all but one Parliament seat to be contested. A special case is the Kingdom of Maputo, where citizens of the Kingdom with Madagascan ancestry may participate in the election as per the agreement the Kingdom of Madagascar has with the Kingdom of Maputo and the Zulu Empire.

Major Parties and Results

Makeup of the 2024 Parliament

Makeup of the 2028 Parliament

Madagascan Tory Party

Colour: Black, Appointed MPs represented in Grey.
2024 Seat Total: 14 Seats (6 Appointed)
2028 Seat Total: 17 Seats (1 Appointed)

The Madagascan Tory Party is the largest political party in Madagascar. The main platforms of the party are traditionalism, conservatism, imperialism and cooperation with the Queen and the nobility. The Tory’s critics accuse them of being the lapdogs of the Queen, this is not entirely inaccurate as the Tory Party rarely seems to disagree with the Queen. Most of the Acting Members of Parliament in the 2024 Parliament, and for most of the Parliament’s History, were part of the Tory Party, including the only current Acting MP that was not recalled for the 2028 Election.

Despite strong competition from the Madagascan National Socialist Party, the Madagascan Tory Party made gains in this election. They retained all their current seats and gained an additional three. What makes this especially impressive is that many of their seats in 2024 were previously appointed. According to exit polls, the main reason for this strong election results were their efforts in reclaiming the former Madagascan colonial lands and the Maputo compromise. However, these political achievements are unlikely to carry them for another four years, they will have to find another reason for voters to want to support them by 2032 if they hope to remain in power.

Madagascan Whig Party

Colour: Pink
2024 Seat Total: 13 Seats
2028 Seat Total: 1 Seat

The Madagascan Whig Party was the major opposition party of the 2024 Parliament. The main platforms of the party are to strengthen parliament at the expense of the Queen’s power, extreme economic liberalism and isolationism. The Whig Party has seen a massive drop in membership and popularity, this appears to be because of their opposition to the reclamation of the Madagascan colonies, a policy that has proven extremely popular. The Whigs have also gained a reputation of being cowardly and not doing enough to fight the power that the Queen has over parliament. The rising of the Madagascan National Socialist Party has provided an alternative to the many that feel misrepresented by the party, causing an existential threat to the continued relevance of the Whig Party in the coming years.

The results of this election were complete catastrophe for the Whig Party. They have lost almost all their political influence in Parliament. As National Socialist support rises, the future of Whiggism in Madagascan political discourse looks bleak.

Madagascan National Socialist Party

Colour: Red
2024 Seat Total: 0 Seats (Party Newly Created)
2028 Seat Total: 7 Seats

Heavily influenced by the works of Somalian politician Barre Cawil Xuseen of the Somalosocialist Party, the Madagascan National Socialist Party promotes “Socialism with Madagascan Characteristics”. Their main polices are to implement a socialist economic system and completely remove the political influence of the Madagascan monarchy and nobility. Despite this, they are keenly interested in keeping Madagascan traditions and religious practices that, in their view, do not oppress the working class alive. While the MNSP is interested in international socialist cooperation, they demand that such cooperation does not interfere with Madagascan sovereignty. Unlike the Madagascan Whig Party, they are not entirely isolationist and believe that both socialist and Madagascan interests must be defended on an international stage. However, while they believe that socialism is inevitable, they stress that they will only support reformist or revolutionary organisations in other countries if there is widespread grassroots support for said organisations and only if said organisations request their assistance. The Madagascan Nationalist Socialist Party has seen a surge in support due to the perceived weakness of the Madagascan Whig Party, putting them into a position of strength.

While the MNSP were unable to gain all the seats formerly owned by the Whig Party, they are the strongest opposition party in parliament which gives the Madagascan National Socialist movement an even bigger voice. With the continued rise in the popularity of National Socialism, it is likely that by the 2032 elections that the MNSP will be a serious force for the Tories to contend with.

End White Slavery Party

Colour: Blue
2024 Seat Total: 0 Seats (Party Newly Created)
2028 Seat Total: 1 Seat

The End White Slavery Party is a party that has grown out of the Anti-White Slavery movement. Their policies are incredibly vague, other than ending what they call “White Slavery” and removing Queen Ranavalona V from the throne. The other major parties have criticized the party for their connection to increasingly violent white supremacist organizations. Despite the impressive amount of capital, they have acquired in a short amount of time, they have little to no support outside of white families and therefore have little chance of ever being a major force in Madagascan politics.

While the EWSP has gained one seat in Parliament, they are still a largely irrelevant force in traditional Madagascan political discourse. However, their win could embolden the increasingly radicalised Anti-White Slavery movement which could prove a serious threat to the peace and stability of Madagascar.

****************​

OOC: I ran this election as Sonereal preferred me to run the election. Before anyone calls shenanigans, I based this election mostly off my current stability (I literally multiplied my current stability divided by ten by the amount of available seats for initial calculations) and some demographic realities (i.e that white people are a dispersed minority in Madagascar and therefore won’t get as much political coverage as other parties in a parliamentary system).

 

[Sonereal]

Orders softlocked.

Hardlock in <24 hours.

 

[Sonereal]

There is some confusion in the PMs about the year. The year is 2028. Each update is covering events from the years that just went by. The first update, for example, talked about events that happened in 2024.

This update will talk about events of 2028, ushering the game into 2029, not 2028.

 

[JohannaK]

El Nacional​

Parliamentary Procedures Protected - Measures have been put in place to curb disruptions.

Readers of El Nacional will remember how Regionalist Assemblyman Manuel Gómez Serós managed to obstruct the passing of an appropriation bill to fund the Army in Puerto Rico. The bill and others, such as the one for the formal induction of Dominica as a state, who were threatened with filibuster and consequently shelved. The actual session was chaotic, with many Assembly members leaving the premise to continue their discussion in the hallways while Gómez recited from scripture. Although protracted discussions are not infrequent, such a bullyish stand was unprecedented. Nothing could be done as there was no regulation as to the lengths of discussion or intervention. The Joint Committee for Parliament Rules and Procedures moved to study such measures immediately, and a the Bill to Protect Parliamentary Procedures has been passed. Gómez and other Regionalists attempted to block the vote from occurring, but it was fast-tracked into an urgency vote and ultimately passed with almost unanimous approval.

Many blame Gómez for the loss in Puerto Rico, and people close to the cabinet affirm that the failure of the bill prompted the government to intensify the negotiations for peace in the island. On the other hand, the Bill of Statehood of Dominica is expected to be introduced this year, well in time for the 2030 election. The new rules for debate procedures establish that there shall be a round of Opening Statements where each party will have a full half-session (since sessions adjourn for lunch) unless the board of the Assembly or Senate agree to give said party an extension. For the Conclusions, 15 minutes will be allocated to each party for a spokesperson to talk. The board may again approve of additional speakers proposed by the parties. In the middle the debate itself will take place, where every Parliamentary will have at least five minutes (it is up to the board to decide whether 5, 10, or 15) and unlimited questions. As such the addressee will also have the same time to speak. Speakers must keep to relevant topics. These are expected to stop such travesties as happened last year from happening again.

Federal Agency for Travel, Commerce, And Trade (FATCAT) - Federal merger and expansion

A new federal agency has been formed, merging Customs with Border Patrol and Immigration, and given authority over air travel. One of the first acts of the new agency has been to issue a license to the Imperial Airways to operate to and from Levantine territory. To obtain a license a company needs, among other things, to be either incorporated in the Republic, associated with an company who is, or to set up a subsidiary which is.

CULTURE

New Publishings

Hybris: The Gross Negligence of the First Papal Society

This year a very auspicious and yet extremely controversial book has been published. Drs. Juan Caboto Gotti and Germán Schmidt Ariosto have spent years in municipal archives across Italy and the Levant. Their stated purpose was to establish a precise chronology of events during the Fall in the Western Mediterranean, but a series of discoveries and a chance meeting in the Arxiu Municipal de Palma led them to collaborate and steer their projects. In Hybris, they expose how many diaries and texts dating from the Fall present a coherent alternative story to official Church cronology. According to their painstakingly accurate research (in which references are ubiquituous and the Bibliography section takes up almost half of the book itself!), the Church was not under imminent danger. In fact, the cataclysm threw many into the hands of the church, and the prospects of a reconstituted Papal State seemed certain to many in and outside of Italy.

El Nacional: This book is revealing. The work that has gone into it is unimaginable. It uncovers a history that we had completely forgotten. Why do you think this is so?

Dr. Juan Caboto: I think nobody really cares. That is, for the truth. The Levantine Republic is fairly secularised now, but even back then, there's a history of the church where people link it to the lower ranks. These were hardly tied to the top bosses in Rome, and thus nobody really cared much. Those who care and cared, however, were eager to forget.

Dr. Germán Schmidt: We must bear in mind the great upheaval of those times. Since then the various emerging powers have engaged in national reconstruction, both physically and historiographically. That is, everyone filled their own square on the answer sheet, and let everyone else fill their own gaps. In Spain, what would become the Catalan and later Levantine Republic, political turmoil was not only enmeshed with but also in a way superseding religious ones. The royalist remnants claimed the Catholic ascendancy and a plurality of cardinals did endorse them in their way to Ireland. That might have had a hand in boosting the Republic's own secularism in seeking a contrast with them.

E.N.: You do talk extensively about the voyage to Ireland. This move has always been universally puzzling, and the book claims to have traced a reason for it.

G.S.: Indeed, the Cardinals had overstayed their welcome in Avignon, which wasn't exactly a town to their liking. There's numerous records of people who abandoned the expedition and stayed in the Republic, or went back home to Italy, or even people who joined it and eventually came back. There is a trail of excess and debauchery behind the expedition, and Ireland was sufficiently devastated and isolated for them to set up shop and claim an air of respectability abroad.

J.C.: There is no doubt that they had no access to luxuries as they had had in the Mediterranean, but the spoils from the Vatican and Italian treasuries allowed them to build a fiefdom to their measure. Records from peninsular visitors to Dublin are pretty scandalous. The only thing that prevented a schism for many was the fear to lose legitimacy in the context of a Protestant influx that created the perception of a threat to Catholicism.

G.S.: Even then, there are indications that the college was only expanded under pressure from Iberian religious leaders. There is a draft memorandum in Montserrat which we have no proof was sent, but slightly modified copies of which can be found further south.

E.N.: Precisely one of the points more emphatically made in the book is the inertia and even corruption of the Papal Society.

G.S.: It couldn't be any other way. There is an abundance of records in and around Rome of bile and hatred for the Cardinals' plunder of the Italian treasury. This begins with the last legitimate Pope, when some parishes were attacked and sacked for their gilded ornaments. We do not know their initial plans, possibly Sicily or Sardinia, but personal diaries say that the mob that killed most of the Curia occurred en route to the port.

J.C.: We can only conclude that the eight survivors got ahead by luck. They immediately set sail, and nothing else. Can you imagine how mind-boggling this is? Violating all precedence, they refuse to nominate a new Pope who can in turn nominate new Cardinals. Why? There is no. Explanation. The Church has to face to what I'd say is easily their darkest hour, when eight cardinals sailed off with the Italian treasury and held the whole of the Church hostage. There is some serious accounting for that has to happen, and meanwhile some of these unredeemable sinners and traitors have been canonized. It's a true scandal.

E.N.: Lastly, this book comes out in the middle of the so-called faith debates.

J.C.: I don't think there is such a thing. Everyone is of one mind as respects the separation between Church and State. It is true that in rural communites, more traditional and therefore religious, there is some grumbling discontent with the increasing disparity between their personal religion and that of MPs. There are more Protestants and Atheists than they'd like.

G.S.: There is also the fact that most of these are firmly secular, as are most Catholic MPs. They can't tell them from each other. I believe that things like last year's filibuster are theatrics more than anything. Nobody questions that the place of religion in the Republic is purely in the private sphere.

 

[Sonereal]

Orders hardlocked you frickin' fricks.

 

[Sonereal]

ETA on Update is this weekend

I'm making a final set of major changes to update the military system. Much of it is under-the-hood, but there are a few major changes.

1. Armies/Fleets/Air Fleets no longer need to be built wholesale. If you have one army that needs another tank, then you can just build a tank and improve that army. Doctrine points have been repurposed so that A.) They're used to create new commanders B.) Used to maintain commanders C.) Having them banked decreases the cost of the next tech level.

Again, the limit on the number of armies/air fleets/navies you can have at once is the amount of AP/NP/AirP you have and can generate a turn. If you want a single army with dozens of infantry, armor, whatever, it is now much easier.

2. Costs have been adjusted. Massively. Army units across the board are more expensive, but what they represent is now more concrete (roughly a brigade or regiment). Each ship represents an individual ship, hence why for the cost of a single battleship you can build 250 monitors.

Air units, likewise, are much cheaper because each one represents a squadron of planes instead of an indeterminate number of planes and airships. Likewise, air units are part of armies now.

3. Monitors and Cavalry are no longer "obsolete", meaning you can continue to build them regardless of tech level.

 

[Traveller76]

Novo Dia​

There have been a few books which have swept the country and caused an outpouring of discussions, arguments, writings and debates about the role of religion in our society. Such a book was released earlier this year from the Levant by Drs. Juan Caboto Gotti and Germán Schmidt Ariosto called Hybris: The Gross Negligence of the First Papal Society. In an extensive work detailing the history of the Church from the Fall until the 20th Century the book has shown a darker side to the official Church history, detailing corruption, theft and political opportunism by surviving Cardinals of the church. For a society that is intertwined with Catholicism such as Brasil this book acted as a bomb affecting everyone in its radius. Bookstores have either been sold out or picketed, copies of the book are passed from neighbor or family member to another family member and people read the book outloud to groups of people too poor or illiterate to read it.

'Since Martin Luther and the Ninety-Five Theses such a criticism of the Church has prompted calls for change and a defense of the church.", said Professor Theobald Gorbold, a professor of Theology at the Universidade Cândido Mendes. "Already people were questioning the role of Rome in the post-Fall world and its focus on political matters. The election of a new Pontiff should have reassured them but the silence has only led to more questions."In the cafes and streets opinions vary about the role of the Church. "Why should be listen to a far off Pope! We should focus on Brasil and her people! Let the Italians keep their leaders and we shall keep ours!", said Erico, a bank worker. "Now we need a show a unity to the world, if we divide or splinter then we waste our resources and nothing will be done", said Lucilia, a farmworker. The National Conference of of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB) has been silent on the matter and refused any requests for an interview. Sources within the CNBB have reported that fierce debate between various factions have led to late evenings. What will happen next remains to be seen.

 

[Sonereal]

I'm delaying the update to Monday, with the next lock being a week after, and the normal schedule being back in effect. 80% for administrative reasons, 20% because I've been dealing with PC (HDMI port on GPU suddenly gave up the ghost) and car troubles.

 

[JohannaK]

Nice to have news! Was starting to worry.

 

[Sonereal]

Yeah. I spent most of Thursday getting an engine mount for my car and getting it installed. When I got home Thursday night, found out my HDMI port on my GPU (which connects my PC to my TV) had gone out. Well, I bought a DisplayPort to HDMI cable, which turned out to be short, so I spent most of yesterday rearranging my room so I can get that to work.

Anyway, really sorry about all this guys. Future updates won't take nearly as long (hopefully).

 

[Sonereal]

International Press

​

The International Press is a nonprofit international organization that compiles news from thousands of news outlets all over the world.

Stats


GM NOTES
Major changes and additions this turn!
1. Military System has seen its final revamp. New units added, old units converted into the new system, costs readjusted. Air units are now part of armies, and you can add units to existing armies. The doctrine system is gone. Change the original rules for more information
2. Equipment Quality and Training Quality removed because they’re no longer necessary. IP refunded.
3. Commercial Zones are removed. Every country is its own “zone” now. Commercial Tech still provides trade bonuses.
4. Added an Espionage System to simplify a handful of reoccurring orders. Check the original post for more information of this system. Several policies have been converted into Agents.
5. Starting the Associated International Press. Player-ran newspapers are now linked, and players running those papers receive a small gold payment for being featured. Payouts are limited to 10% of the country's tax revenue.

ASSOCIATED INTERNATIONAL PRESS
Beijing Times: 10 gold
Independent News: 14 gold
WKIOT: 1 gold
Novo Dia: 6 gold, 7 gold
Australasian Times: 15 gold
Madagascan Times: 10 gold
El Nacional: 16 gold

NEWS FROM ASIA​

THE MAN OF MYSORE. The Ma of Mysore is on a mission. His mission is to bring civilization to the masses. All must work together to bring the guiding light of empire to those unfortunates living in the wild lands. Those of backward nations need not worry, for the Man of Mysore will guide and uplift, not lead astray and subjugate.

For the Man of Mysore is the true heir to the British Empire.

The “Man of Mysore” is a propaganda film, one of many emerging from Mysore’s growing movie industry. While the Man of Mysore is not a gun or a tank, his effect is no less pronounced than a bullet through the heart. Moving pictures are not only growing in popularity across the Kingdom of Mysore, but also in Australasia and, unfortunately for that country’s government, white Madagascar. Australasians in particular have reacted strangely to the films. After all, the Kingdom of Mysore is a falling star, yet its cultural output is simply unmatched.

PRIME MINISTER HU JIANTAO RETIRES; HU WEIDE ELECTED PRIME MINISTER. Prime Minister Hu Weide is Prime Minister of China after Hu Jiantao resigned, citing health concerns. Hu Weide is the brother of the former PM and a member of the Conservative Party that advocates for interventionism in foreign policy and a laissez-faire attitude toward economic policy. The Liberal Democratic Party has been particularly vocal in their position to the new prime minister, claiming that his elevation to the post is more the result of nepotism than any real strong qualification for the job.

THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE. The Pilipinas Diplomatic Service, or PDS, is unique among ministries of foreign policy. The government is spending a large amount of money to hire, train, and support its corps of diplomats. The earliest test of the PDS was in Borneo. While Sarawak has proved more resistive than most provinces to foreign influence, the PDS has won over some leaders in Kalimantan who otherwise would have scoffed at the RoP. The Terms of Statehood of the RoP has cooled some interest in joining the RoP as it is set up to give Pilipinas proper majority control of the legislature.

Supporters of the system argue that this is a transitional setup until colonials states have achieved sufficient economic and “cultural” development to be given weight to the core islands.

ECONOMIC GROWTH BILL PASSED IN CHINA. The EGB, championed by the new prime minister, swept through the congress despite opposition by the opposition and even some moderates of the party. However, the immediate effects of the tax cut have been appreciation from the public at large.

FARS HAS FALLEN. Parvaiz Khoroushi, leader of Fars, formally surrendered and was executed by the Russian 1st Army. Fighting was brutal, and causalities on both sides high. Russia triumphed, despite the strange commandership of General Filippov. [-16 IP for Russia]

FOREIGN POLICY SHIFT IN CHINA. Prime Minister Hu Weide announced China will use its newfound military might to unify China, but clarified aggression action will not taken against the PCA in Canton. The message has played well to the public, and it seems that people in Canton believe that peaceful coexistence with the Empire of China may be possible. Still, there are fears in the Cantonese elite of the Association’s viability in the face of a resurgent Imperial China.

CHINESE EXPANSION. The invasion of Sichuan went off without a hitch, so that isn’t interesting. What is interesting is that the 3rd and 5th Chinese armies were ambushed as they marched into Ninghsia. While Supreme Commander Li Li won the day, it came at a heavy cost for imperial forces. [-14 IP]

SOCIAL SECURITY WOES IN CHINA. There seems to be some problems with the Chinese Social Security Administration. Politically, a large cadre of conservative lawmakers opposed the implementation of the policy. Administratively, this large cadre of conservative lawmakers may have a point. Money going missing. Dead persons getting astronomical payouts. There is enough weirdness going on within the administration that the conservative disdain for social security, and those on it, is beginning to spread to wider society.

NEWS FROM AFRICA​

SKIRMISH IN MAPUTO. Madagascar and Zulu forces arrived in the beleaguered Kingdom of Maputo in 2028. By the end of the summer, one major skirmish had embroiled the two forces. While a minor skirmish, it has gone a long way to unveiling how weak the military of Madagascar is. Particularly, the Zulus enjoyed an advantage in mobility and artillery support over their enemy.

To make matters worse, an attempt to shake up the leadership of Madagascar’s military failed. General Afolayan, an aggressive but clueless general, makes up for his lack of strategic capability with a shining intellect and keen sense of survival. Unless the government orders the general to resign, it will be difficult to outright replace the man.

In any case, the skirmish has confirmed the worst fears of those following the evolving crisis: The Zulu 2nd Army outclasses Madagascar’s only army. [-3 IP for Zulus, -7 IP for Madagascar]

ELECTIONS IN MADAGASCAR. The 2028 Madagascan Elections were largely uneventful besides the expected catastrophic collapse of the Whigs and rise of the National Socialist Party. The biggest winners in the election were the Tories, who gained three seats in parliament.

AMAROS CONQUERS SIERRA LEONE. The 1st Vanguards’ Army under General Thorburn conquered Sierra Leone with hardly any casualties, marking yet another stunning victory for the rising star Amaros general.

NEWS FROM THE AMERICAS​

THE UNITED STATES OF LOUISIANA. The State of Louisiana’s legislature rubberstamped a new constitution forming the United State of Louisiana consisting of eight states: Dakota, Guiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oregon, and Alabama (although the Confederate State of Alabama disagrees). The 2028 Constitution has been presented as a major democratic reform as the new state legislatures will be elected by voters. However, existing election laws banning anti-military candidates have been extended from the federal to new state level, and state governors are appointed by the president.

The massive change has led to a new sense of purpose among the citizens of the country. The USL, some claim, is the proper successor to the United States of America. Therefore, shouldn’t the former territories of the United States of America be incorporated under the USL? [Gain cores on Wisconsin, Illinois, and Tennessee]

TEXAN ARMY WIPED OUT IN ARIZONA. This is the ultimate judgement against military doctrines calling for massive waves of infantry unsupported by artillery and armor. The Texan Army, under Warwick Christopherson, marched into Arizona, met resistance, and fought several indecisive battles that culminated in the July Charge. The July Charge saw massive waves of infantry on both sides charge into one another, and unfortunately for Texas, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The army was completely destroyed during this charge and Warwick Christopherson killed. [-3 IP, Army Destroyed, Republic of Arizona formed, -16 IP for Arizona]

FROM NEW ORLEANS TO SEATTLE. The United States of Louisiana has completed construction of a railroad running from Seattle to New Orleans. While the line isn’t the highest capacity (or safest) line in the world, it shows a real commitment to developing the wastelands on the part of the USL government, and the people of the wastes appreciate it.

“THE AIDS PROGRAM” From a WKIOT broadcast: “President Norbert Walker took to the stands today to announce the new Agricultural Investments and Development Subsidies program, or AIDS, through which he hopes to bootstrap the Texan economy into the continental spotlight. His plan outlines the proposed construction of irrigation canals in key agricultural counties, in an effort to retain much of the runoff from the rainy season and modernize the young republic's antiquated water distribution systems.”

What a success Texas’s non-military programs have been this year. Canals, bridges, and railroads are rapidly transforming the Republic of Texas, winning the government much needed political support.

LEVANTINE REPUBLIC OFFERS AID TO PUERTO RICO. The 2026-27 Levantine campaign in Puerto Rico ended in dismal failure. Fresh from this defeat, the new government found itself in dire financial straits. For hardliners in Catalonia and Cuba, this was the perfect opportunity to strike while the iron was hot and finish off the nascent country once and for all. Instead, the government offered financial aid.

Hardliners in the country have spun this as a catastrophic defeat and loss of prestige for the Levantine Republic while the government in Puerto Rico has spun this as more than a diplomatic victory, but a nationalist victory.

USL ANNOUNCES NEW ORLEANS-SEATTLE RAILROAD PROJECT. The Secretary of the Interior Jean Roy announced that the Move North! Initiative will expand to include Oregon and that the government will begin work on a New Orleans-Seattle line to connect the Mississippi River delta to the Pacific Coast.

PRESIDENT WALKER OF TEXAS ANNOUNCES AIDS PROGRAM. The Agricultural Investments and Development Subsidies program, or AIDS, is a government program whose central program at the moment is the building of irrigation canals and modernization of the country’s water distribution systems. There is general excitement among Texans who hope the economic dividends paid out by the program will help pull the Republic of Texas out of its Fall-induced slump.

FREE BRASILIAN REPUBLIC FALLS. After General Ernesto was replaced with General Plinio Romao, the 1st and 2nd Brasilian Army achieved a significant victory over Abilio Armando’s Army of Entre Rios. The war lasted far longer than anybody expected, and the populace is at best indifferent to the conquest. [-5 IP for Brasil]

SHADOW OF THE RECONQUISTA. “I advocate for a society of cooperation between workers and employers, people and the government.” This is the central tenet of Christian Corporatism, and it is finding a growing number of adherents and the least expected place; Mexico, not Brazil. However, disciples of Comunidade e Sociedade are looking at another foreign ideology for guidance: National Socialism. These fusionists point to the government’s failure to curtail growing Levantine power in the Gulf of Mexico as a shining example of the government’s wider social failures. The fusionists advocate for an immediate war to bring Arizona and California back into the fold.

NEWS FROM EUROPE​

HYBRIS: THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF THE FIRST PAPAL SOCIETY. The book has become a bestseller in the Levantine Republic and, by the end of 2028, had already been translated into Italian, English, and Spanish. Hybris is an extremely controversial book written by Dr. Juan Gotti and Dr. German Arisosto exposing the flaws in the official Church chronology regarding The Fall. Hybris is already causing waves with Italy and has far-reaching implications, as some Inca religious leaders are now claiming that the Pope of Cuzco is the only legitimate Pope. Meanwhile, Brasilians are outraged, and the revelations have caused a sharp divide in Brasilian society.

PACIFICATION OF CASTILE. It was a quick and dirty war, over before many realized it had even begun. The Reconnaissance Army, fresh from a jaunt in Puerto Rico, arrived, crossed the border, and absolutely destroyed the tribal warlords that have ruled Castile for the last century.

FROM AN ASSOCIATED PAPER: EL NACIONAL. The International Press, in a bid to improve its coverage of world events, will reference other papers and provide easier subscription to said papers. Remember, the El Nacional, like any future linked publications, is not managed by the staff here at the International Press.

TECHNOLOGY NEWS
New Inca Empire advances to Navy III!
Kingdom of Madagascar advances to Air II!
United States of Louisiana advances to Industrial II!

Australasia advances to Navy III!

Amaros advances to Army III!
FCSP advances to Navy III!
New Inca Empire and FCSP advance to Air III!
New Inca Empire, Australasia, and Amaros advance to Commercial III!
Zulu Empire advances to Industry III!

New Inca Empire advance to Army III!
Madagascar and Louisiana advance to Army II!
Brasil and Italy advance to Commercial III!
Louisiana advances to Commercial II!

FCSP advances to Army III!
Panyu advances to Commercial II!
USL advances to Navy II!

THE YEAR IS 2029 AD.
ORDERS DUE 19TH DECEMBER AT NOON
​

 

[Sonereal]

Wow, this took a bit to finish.

Switching over to the new military system took a while, but should speed up updates in the future since neither I, nor you, will need to fiddle around with doctrines anymore. New units means more ways to murder one another, which is always good.

The espionage system should help process a lot of routine policies and actions I've gotten, such as propaganda and [REDACTED].

Trade zone simplification, again, saves time, even though I miss it.

Finally, some of you are noticing you have a lot of banked IP. That is because Tier II and III Factories are extremely productive. A Tier I Factory produces 1 IP. Tier II produces 3. Tier III produces 9.

Be on the lookout Commercial side as we hit Commerce IV for a new type of building. More on that when we cross that bridge.

Anyway, as usual, if you have any questions about anything, ask here, in PM, or on Discord (in that order of preference).

 

[christos200]

Beijing Times

Reforms in Social Security
- Article by John Wang

- Hu Weide
​

Prime Minister Hu Weide, despite expectations from some political analysts, did not back out of his Social Security reform and instead, in a move to outflank critics from his own Conservative Party, has entered in direct talks with the Liberal Democratic Party and its leader, Chiang Shek. Shek, a vocal supporter of welfare state, had to support the Prime Minister's initiative, otherwise he would look as an hypocrite for not supporting Social Security. With the support of the Liberals, as well as with the moderate congressmen of his party, the Prime Minister has passed the 'Social Security Reform Act' which shall finance a committee to investigate corruption and anomalies in the system and stump out corruption.

"This bill", the Prime Minister said, "will allow us to have a functional Social Security system. I understand the concerns of critics, especially of the ones of my own party, regarding this project. I can however reassure you that this bill will stamp out corruption from our system and ensure the viability of our social security, which is needed in order to ensure social cohesion. I am a firm believer in the free market and I do not support a large welfare state. The size of the Chinese state, when compared to that of most other nations, is limited. However, we do need a minimal government welfare to ensure social cohesion."

"This bill is a positive step by the government", Chiang Shek said, "to ensure that Chinese people can get the benefits of social security that most people in the rest of the world enjoy. It does not go as far as we would want it to go. We are still lacking in welfare and we need more benefits for the poor and the middle class in order to limit social and economic inequality. Nevertheless, we will support this limited initiative of the government as we are a responsible opposition, not a populist party that votes against everything the government brings as the Conservatives have done in the past."

The future of the Conservative Party
- Article by David Chiang

- Conservative Party supporters​

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Hu Weide has come to redefine the Conservative Party and break with the past. He combines laissez-faire capitalism with support for social security, an aggressive foreign policy of Chinese reunification with peaceful cooperation with the PCA in Canton. His tax cuts and libertarian rhetoric as well as his support for Chinese reunification, even through military force, has given him the support of staunch conservatives and the hard right. At the same time, his support for social security has allowed him to appeal to voters who typically vote the Liberals and has even forced the Liberal Democratic Party to cooperate with him on this issue while his policy of peaceful cooperation with the PCA appeals to moderates. The question is: can he maintain a fine balance between pleasing the hard right base that brought him in power while appealing to moderates and even the liberal electorate?

His support of social security has displeased many conservative lawmakers, especially the staunch ones. But those were his main supporters behind passing the tax cuts, which were opposed by the moderates of the party, the ones that did vote for social security. This goes on to show the fine balance that Hu Weide has to maintain. If he can use the different factions inside his party, or even the Liberals, to pass his political platform through Congress, he will come to redefine the Conservative Party, in the sense that he will be able to break through traditional party lines and appeal to both the hard right and the liberal electorate, thus creating an electoral coalition which would give him in the next elections a plurality that few Conservatives or Liberals have ever achieved. If he fails, however, this would undermine his support from both the right and the moderates and cause him a catastrophic defeat.

 

[Sonereal]

Orders are due on the 19th, not this upcoming Monday. Otherwise, the two week window would place the next lock on the 26th, and I know nobody is going to be here on the 26th.

So, the 19-22nd update will be the last update of the year.

 

[JohannaK]

OOC: Spanish naming convention applies for Drs. Caboto and Schmidt, hence the first surname (from the father) is the one used.

Quite a great update otherwise.

 

[Sonereal]

OOC: Spanish naming convention applies for Drs. Caboto and Schmidt, hence the first surname (from the father) is the one used.

Quite a great update otherwise.

Noted for the future. Thanks!

 

[NinjaCow64]

OOC: There are some stat errors, hardly anyone is paying for their armies. Also the Zulu only have one army in the stats, with a name like "2nd Zulu Army" that implies that something is wrong. Other than that, great update.