WHERE WILL KADRU STRIKE? From the Martian Times. We have written a lot about Kadru, and for good reason. Of the myriad factions carving out niches for themselves across Earth and Mars, Kadru is the most powerful corporation in the world to pledge itself to the defense of the government even as the rest of the corporate world declares itself “opportunistic neutral”. This should come as no surprise to our readership, as we’ve written a lot with regards to the Kadru-Core partnership.
But, it is one thing to be for a government, and another to act on behalf of it. This leaves us wondering: Where will Kadru strike? The biotech firm may not be known for its military firepower, but it is one of many factions to lay claim to a specialized team of cybernetically-enhanced special forces: cyberninjas. If the goal is to disrupt the field forces of the rebellion, an obvious target for the Indian corporation would be the Terracotta Army.
But what if we’re wrong? For all we know, the Kadru may pay the Nazis here on Mars a much welcomed visit soon. An editor can only hope.
ORGANIZE CRIME ON THE RISE ON MARS. From the Conclave Chronicles. Who is the Perimeter’s #1 Most Wanted? Is it the vile Joe Gateman, leader of the National Socialist Front of Chanada? How about “General” Chung Yeong-suk, the legendary rebel commander of the Terracotta Army? Maybe Chi Nam-Gi deserves the top spot? After all, they’re the leader of the World Corps, a rebelling arm of the world government.
No. Let me introduce you to Sol’s Most Wanted: Adrian Stryker. Adrian Sryker is the boss of the Diamond Tombs Syndicate. The DTS is a North American criminal organization specializing in and controlling much of the arms trade throughout the Americas. The DST is known for its signature calling card: Leaving money or jewelry on the bodies of their victims.
It is an open secret that Adrian Stryker is the leader of a massive criminal underworld, but that doesn’t stop Stryker from being the center of New York City’s nightlife via the Stryker Nightclub. Life seemed good for the DST, but a recent acquisition of illegal technology may soon invite Perimeter Agents to New York City.
The DST came across a large cache of CoreTech weapons and are now actively equipping soldiers with the highly-restricted weapons. It looks like a second war is brewing on Earth, but what does that have to do with Mars?
Some members of the Diamond Tombs Syndicate believe now is the time to escape to Mars. The arguments in favor is that Martian law enforcement is weak, and that there are no Perimeter agents on Mars in force. A few DST who spoke to us have gone as far as suggest that by arming certain factions on Mars, Mars as a whole could achieve independence from Earth.
PERIMETER SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE CCC. From the Global Telegram. The rumors that the Corporate Collective Conclave is harboring illegal technologies, including MalTech, should be a priority investigation for the Perimeter Agency. The conglomeration is already known for its smuggling operations and immoral research history. Both of these allow for the unsettling possibility that the CCC may be trafficking in restricted and illegal technologies. If the CCC has nothing to hide, and believes its programs to all be above-board, then it will welcome such an investigation.
THE FIVE EYES PLUS FOUR. From the Diamond Liberty. The Arrival sent a shock through the world system. The degradation of borders, weakening of nationstates, and the rise of the non-state power, have led many to see countries like the United States and Great Britain as relics of a bygone era. After all, the German government exists, but Frankfurt is controlled by the Steaddunno Core, and there are G-Policemen patrolling the streets of German towns surrounding Frankfurt.
The war may soon change all of this. Should national governments launch a coordinated attack against a powerful non-state power, it will show the world that Western governments are still a force to be reckoned with.
CORETECH CACHE DISCOVERED BY CMC; PERIMETER DEMANDS DISMANTLEMENT. From the Perimeter Herald. Rumors have reached Vienna that the Cobalt Mercenary Company has come across a cache of CoreTech during an excavation near Gobekli Tepe. The Perimeter Agency is now demanding the private military company dismantles the asset immediately and without delay or risk police action.
COBALT RANKED AMONG MOST DISCIPLINE. From the Kadru Chronicle. The Cobalt Mercenary Company has emerged in recent years as the foremost private military company on Earth. The company’s headquarters at Gobekli Tepe is one of the most heavily guarded compounds on Earth, and its main force can carry out a land-sea-air battle anywhere on the planet within days. Barring heavy Perimeter action against the CMC considering allegations of CoreTech proliferation, the CMC could play kingmaker in the war between the World Corps, Terracotta Army, and Nine Eyes and the CoreGPA + Kadru.
It would be foolish, in our estimation, for the Cobalt Mercenary Company to side with the rebellion when there surely would be many post-war contracts awaiting the company once the CoreGPA wins. However, the CoreGPA world government must keep in mind that some mercenaries lack strategic vision and only chase after credits, in which case, the World Corps and her allies, insidiously controlling global finance, must have a stronger argument.
But, the editorial board believes Donovan Lake to be a reasonable man, one that will make the correct strategic decision that will benefit sapient life on Earth and the company.
BANKERS, DIPLOMATS, AND MERCENARIES: LIFE BEFORE ARRIVAL. From the World Post. Some believe it was the Arrival that changed the balance of power between organized groups on Earth, elevating corporations, churches, and private military companies to the level of the nationstate. However, a closer look reveals that the decline of the nationstate began before the Arrival in the 2030s. In Bankers, Diplomats, and Mercenaries: Life Before Arrival, the author delves into the murky world of great power politics between 2030 and 2060, building the argument that by 2055, the most powerful corporation were at “relative power parity” with their nationstate counterparts.
In the concluding chapter of the book, the author makes the prediction that space colonization will erode the boundaries between state and faction even further and that nationality will no longer entitle a state. This conclusion has drawn heated criticism in many circles, but as the author notes on social media, “This is the conversation we should be having.”
HOW WOULD MARS WELCOME THE DIAMOND TOMBS SYNDICATE? From The Martian Times. Mars hasn’t received the best press in recent years. The rise of a national socialist paramilitary on Mars was compounded by that organization’s declaration of rebellious intent. Martian colonial governments want more colonists and investments and less drama. The Diamond Tombs Syndicate would meet two out of three of those criteria. Is that good enough?
It may be a few years before the DST forward assets arrive on the Red Planet to begin construction of a planetary base of operations. Should they arrive and establish themselves in force, the organization will come equipped to dominate the planet unless Mars is united in opposition, but such a move toward unison could also led to the destruction of Mars. Instead of forward assets, the DST could come to Mars with fleets and blockade the planet, crippling its economy and putting settlements as risk of starvation and collapse.
In such an event, Mars would need to seek help from Earth, but such calls could mean rebel or CoreGPA boots on the soil. In the case of rebels, this would upset the balance of Mars on Mars In favor of the NSFC, unless rumors of an internal rift are true. In the event of the CoreGPA’s arrival, this would mean greater conflict on Mars. When the CoreGPA pushes the criminal syndicate of Mars, they will turn their attention to the NSCF.
The Perimeter Agency may intervene, but it may be too busy on Earth dealing with tech proliferation cases arising from the CMC, CCC, and potentially Kadru Biotech Engineering.
There is a chance the DST won’t come to Mars, but we should plan for the worse and hope for the best, not plan for the best and hope the worse doesn’t happen.
ADRIAN STRYKER IS A LOSER AND, HONESTLY, LOOKS TERRIBLE IN HIS PROFILE PICTURE. From the Cobalt Press. Just look at him. His face says it all. I’m tired of reading all the articles swooning over the guy. Oh look, he runs a nightclub. He’s a crime lord with a more powerful private army than Cobalt. What does these people see in him? Donovan Lake used to (probably) work for the Perimeter Agency as one of their deepest deep black operatives. He’s fought all over the planet.
Think of a name, and Lake has probably killed a person with that name.
When the Turks demanded Donovan Lake leave from an archaeological site, did he run around away to Mars like Stryker probably will? Yes.
Oh wait, no he didn’t. He toppled the government of Turkey in 72 hours.
Stryker, just leave. You’re a loser and nobody really likes you. They’re just your friend because you sell them guns and probably drugs. Remember kids, only loser like Stryker do drugs.
REGARDING THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST KADRU BIOTECH ENGINEERING. From the Perimeter Herald. There are allegations swirling around the KBE. Many claim that the firm’s close ties with CoreGPA, immoral CEO (sorry, but it had to be said), and focus on genetic engineering makes it a likely candidate for alleged gengineering experiments. The Perimeter Herald will look into these allegations, but without proof, the Perimeter Herald will continue to focus on proven and likely incidences of technology proliferation.
WORLD WAR IN AN ERA OF NON-STATE POWERS. From The Terracotta Tribune. The Nine Eyes, a secretive alliance of many of the world’s foremost pre-Arrival governments, are on the edge of officially entering the war against the CoreGPA. With major bases in Australia, Japan, and the United States, the Nine Eyes are uniquely situation to aid in the rebellion against the dictatorial CoreGPA.
But, what does this mean exactly?
In a world of non-state powers, borders are losing a lot of their favor. After all, New York City’s political establishment is controlled by a planetary criminal syndicate, but nominally a part of the United States of America, which itself hosts the headquarters of the Corporate Collective Conclave in Nevada.
When the dust settles, will we see a return to the “natural order” of states being the dominant organizing force in international politics, or is Pandora’s Box impossible to close? Time will tell.
INDIA SHOULD ASSIST IN JAPANESE POLICE ACTIONS. From the Kadru Chronicle. The government of Japan has, against all reason, declared its support for the terrorist campaign unleashed by the World Corps. While seizing Hong Kong is the goal of the CoreGPA, a step toward Hong Kong should be the island of Japan and her unruly government. This will deny the terrorists a major source of revenue and bring the war to a swift and satisfying conclusion.
CYBERNETIC UPLIFT IS NOT PROLIFERATION. From the Perimeter Herald. The Terracotta Army may soon engaged in a campaign of voluntary cybernetic “uplift” in which those needing cybernetic implants and prosthetics will be able to receive them in Terracotta outreach facilities. There have been questions as to whether this is proliferation, and the editorial board of the Perimeter Herald believe this not a case.
The technology used by the Terracotta Army for its uplift program is postech. There is no evidence that CoreTech proliferation is even a concern except among pro-government media outlets. We hope this question can be put to rest.
THE CYBERNETIC REVOLUTION? From the World Post. The Terracotta Army’s star is rising, militarily and ideologically. The human experimentation carried out by the CoreGPA and likely Kadru Biotech Engineering has committed an almost fatal blow to the world of genetic engineering as humans begin to avoid gene therapy clinics. Instead, they’re coming to little offices like this one in Shanghai. No sign hangs over the door, but everyone in the neighborhood knows that this is a “chop shop”.
Chop shops are where the poor come to receive cybernetic implants and prosthetics. I spoke with a technician under the condition of anonymity. She says “We’re seeing a number of middle class Chinese looking for us now. Before, only rebellious middle-class teenagers sought us out, but now their parents are too.”
Many of these chop shops are ran directly or indirectly by the Terracotta Army. When a person receives an augmentation from the Terracotta Army, more than their body is being augmented. The inherently revolutionary attitudes of the Terracotta Army, led by the legendary General Chung Yeong-suk, believe that cybernetics, not genetic engineering, represent the future of humanity.
QUISLINGS: UNFORTUNATE SLUR OR UNFORTUNATE REALITY? From the Conclave Ch-TERRACOTTA ARMY. This is a disgusting slur. Can you blame augmented humans who turned to work for the CoreGPA when all avenues of employments were being shut down all around them by society? It is time that humanity rejects this artificial division.
THE LOOMING COLD WAR. From the Early Nine. When the rebellion wins, what will the world look like? There will be Nazis on Mars, a close-knit alliance of countries on Earth, a vaguely Marxist Terracotta Army, the World Corps, and a few neutral parties that may or may not need to watch themselves if they’re still neutral when the war is over. Will Earth, united by whatever government comes next, stand united with the Martians if the Martians are Nazis?
Probably not. Maybe we should start thinking about this before we reach the Yalta stage.
THE CORE IS UNBALANCED. From the Terracotta Tribune. The uprising against the CoreGPA’s tyranny as the result of damning leaks has forced the Steaddunno Core onto its backfoot. The leadership has two choices. It can either spend years preparing itself for the war that has already arrived or implement a crash program of preparation, sacrificing six million credits.
WORLD WAR IN CHINA. From the Terracotta Tribune. The Terracotta Army is waging a successful people’s war against the CoreGPA and their collaborators throughout the Chinese government. With the World Corps support, there is little doubt that the outcome of this war will be in favor of the rebellion, humanity, and the steaddunno. Victory in China will likely mean victory in Europe, and so we ask all rebellious peoples of the world to rise up against the CoreGPA and cast off their shackles.
FORTRESS FRANKFURT. From the Core Gazette. Steaddunno Core spokespersons informed the press that Frankfurt is “the most fortified city on Earth”. The spokespersons declined to specify the nature of Frankfurt’s defenses, but said that “Any attack, whether from land, sea, space, or air, will be met with overwhelming and destructive counterforce.”
EUROPE WILL BE LIBERATED. From the Early Nine. “Europe’s liberation is unquestioned,” declared a spokesperson of the United States, a leading member of the Nine Eyes. Of concern is Frankfurt, the seat of power for the CoreGPA. Retaking Frankfurt, a city ceded to the Core in the late-21st century, will not be an easy task, the spokesperson conceded. However, “humanity does not have a choice.”
OPINION: CAN THE CORE BE A PROLIFERATOR? From the Perimeter Herald. The Perimeter Agency is a quasi-independent organization created by the Steaddunno Core to regulate and control the flow of technology and restricted information in the world. Since our inception, we have prevented the technology from falling into the hands of those who would use it to create dangerous weapons of war. However, what do we do when the Core itself is responsible for proliferation?
Does out mandate, our ideological core, allow us to turn the other cheek when the Core’s leaking of dangerous technology is potentially responsible for the war the world has wandered into?
TINKER, BANKERS, DIPLOMATS, SPIES. From the Gunner Register. There hasn’t been much reporting on the World Corps own ability to carry out the war against the CoreGPA. Without the Nine Eyes and Terracotta Army, the CoreGPA looked extremely likely to crush the rebellion within months. From Hong Kong, the World Corps commands a massive team of brokers that have directed trade in and out of Hong Kong to great economic benefit for the city. Protecting their investment are the cyberninjas, the beloved elite force of factions the world over.
But what would the World Corps do if GPA Armored Formations rolled into or landed in Hong Kong? A bunch of brokers and rebel quislings probably would not stand up to a force of trained soldiers and marines supported by mechanized walkers, battleships, carriers, and bombers. Hong Kong would have fallen very, very quickly, either through its complete destruction or the World Corps’ surrender.
Because of this, we suspect the World Corps will adopt a stance of heavily fortifying Hong Kong with the help of allies followed by installing hidden assets across the planet that will force the CoreGPA to dilute its forces in case one of these hidden assets turn out be an entire force of brigadors.
In Japan, the war has reached our doorsteps. The government here in Japan will likely declare in favor of the rebellion, leaving the Court of the Gunners in an interesting position, but one that doesn’t preclude its current neutrality. Japan, as well as the United States across the Pacific, would only last a year if the GPA focused its attention on the Nine Eyes.
Every faction that comes out in support of the rebellion decreases the chance the CoreGPA will win, but that chance won’t hit zero in any universe until the two Armored Formations of the CoreGPA are destroyed. A single Armored Formation could topple the government of Japan, and our government will need to keep that in mind when it comes time to demanding the rest of the Nine Eyes for assistance.
HOW THE STEADDUNNO NAME THEMSELVES. From the Terracotta Tribune. Steaddunno naming convention are easy to understand and offer a valuable insight into the mindset of the steaddunno. The Steaddunno on Earth have two names: their human names and the names they use among themselves. For example, the President of the Worlds Corps is named Chi Nam-Gi, which is their human name, the name they use for business purposes. Among their friends and members of the race, they go by a different, difficult to pronounce name.
THE CULTURE OF THE STEADDUNNO. The Gunner Register. The Steaddunno Core has a very strange, but very human, culture. The best comparison I’ve read is that the Steaddunno act like idealized Athenian Greeks with some ideas stolen from the Age of Enlightenment mixed with starships. The Steaddunno Core, refers to a vast legislative body in which each member of the steaddunno race has one vote. In practice, many steaddunno do not vote and day-by-day operations are managed by the central committee of elders, with Elder Benedict Hebrang as the central executive of that committee.
A love for this type of democracy is combined with the race’s remarkable talent for finance and commerce and disdain for religion. While the Core has had little issue co-opting new religious movements for their own purposes, the steaddunno are largely irreligious. In more extreme circles, they see this as a reason why the steaddunno take over more controls across the world, seeing humans as too “superstitious” to properly run an interplanetary civilization.
If recent allegations are true, these extreme circles may not have been as fringe as once thought in the policymaking body.
GRIPPED BY SUPERSTITION, THE WORLD CORPS SHOULD BE DISBANDED. From the Kadru Chronicle. Oh how the vaulted World Corps has fallen. Once thought to be home to some of the finest diplomatic and financial minds of humanity and the steaddunno, it has fallen hook, line, and sinker for easily dismissed rumors and plunged the world into a global war. Who is responsible? If it was only Chi Nam-Gi, surely, she would have been deposed by now. No, the answer lies in the foundation of the World Corps, and because of that, the World Corps must be disbanded upon the completion of the war.
When the World Corps is reconstituted from there, we should staff the new agency with truly the finest minds of both species, ones less susceptible to fearmongering and superstition.