TENSEI

[Mosher]

To: S.U.D.S
From: The Columbian Union

We will politely decline to attend your conference.

The frame of your government is weak, as is your dedication to the plight of your people.

It is the refuge of the weak man to wallow in the security blanket of blind idealism, with inherently flawed concepts such as "democracy" and "international revolution."

Not only that, but the Union finds your own dedication to your own ideals wanting; how can a nation be dedicated to both the worker, and enter into binding trade and defensive agreements that exploit them?

It is better to call a spade a spade; to call greed greed and power brokering power brokering. There is nothing wrong with limited cooperation with a globalist, as misguided as they might be, but the openness with which you defile your own principles stains your national honor in a way that the Union cannot abide.

 

[SouthernKing]

Roger Kenyon used to work in the office across the vine-laden corridor from me. I don’t even remember how many times I’d heard his banter in his little corner of the forty-second floor of the gleaming skyscraper that hosted the Transportation Ministry. I’d worked in his civil engineering team, plotting out rail branches through Northern Kenya for the last two and a half years. They called us the tightest team in the whole of the Ministry. And yet, even if I had no reason to believe this, I’d always suspected that there was something more to Roger Kenyon than met the eye.

It wasn’t odd that he missed work the first day of that week. He had an important budgetary meeting in the afternoon, but Roger Kenyon hated budgetary meetings. “I’ve better things to do than hear the advisory committee pleasure themselves for four straight hours,” he’d once told me. I didn’t hear from him, but I suspected that he had just caught a rather convenient illness, or perhaps he’d gone back to Nairobi to deal with a mystical family emergency.

It wasn’t odd that he missed work the second day, either. It was a slow time in the department; there was hardly any work to be done. I wasn't at all surprised that Roger Kenyon had no desire to deal with with the visiting representative from the Infotechno Union who wanted us to rally to his cause, whatever it was.

Now it was odd that he missed work the third day. Roger Kenyon had a policy of never missing three days in a row; it attracted attention. And in the two and a half years I’d worked under him, he had never once missed more than three days in a row.

So I decided to pay him a visit after work.

---

Roger Kenyon lived in Kenyatta: one of the new towns in the highlands, east of the heart of the city. Barely a decade ago, all this had been an abandoned village; now, with the Authority taking every step possible to turn this island into a shining beacon of a new world, hexagonal honeycombs of flats rose from the ground, coated in shining glass and draped from head to toe in a bright garlands of almost unnatural green.

Ever since his siter had gone abroad, Roger Kenyon had lived alone in a small wedge-shaped flat in a tower overlooking Kenyatta West rail station. As far as I’d known, Roger Kenyon had not been a man who cared for relationships. The isolation and the view both suited him.

I emerged from the lift into the circular thirteenth-floor corridor, only to see the police swarming like mosquitos and warning tape scrawled across the door, with a few curious neighbours peeking from their doors. My stomach sinking, fearing the worst, I tried to take a glance inside.

Two rather burly men in central police armour held me back from the door, but not before I heard a conversation from deeper inside, in the hybridised Swahili common in these multiethnic new towns.

“It was a freak accident,” a woman was saying. “That’s one of the pollution monitor drones. It seems to have lost control and struck the side of the building.”

“Wow," a man ruled. "It crashed right through the window, did it?"

"Indeed, I believe so. Seems as if the victim tried to run, but he could not."

"I've never heard of such a thing."

The doctors pronounced Roger Kenyon dead at the local medical clinic later that afternoon.

---

The news was like an earthquake through the office. I hadn't realised it before, but Roger Kenyon had been the leader of our little pride. I managed to drag myself to work the next morning to break it to the others, before quickly shutting myself off. I thought nothing, I felt nothing, and I saw nothing but the cold embrace of eigengrau and visual snow. I'd take a week off, no, two weeks, and I'd go home.

Back to Rwanda. Back to my mother and her constant nagging. Back to my elder brother bringing wild animals into the house at every hour of the day. Back to the river of still-uncleaned pollution. It was better than this.

Through all this, I heard the desparate - and disparate - voices of a shattered team.

“I can't believe it,” said that of Nadir Kazimoto, the senior engineer.

"That's the worst way," said that of Ashley Akumu, our in-house architect, and the smartest person I knew. She had designed the new rail stations on the Mombasa-Nairobi high-speed line.

“That doesn’t make any sense." This was Ken Wanyama, the gelogist. He was the man responsible for giving us railway builders a feed of live information. “Pollution monitor drones don’t just crash into windows.”

"What do you mean?" said Ashley.

"I have worked with them before," said Ken, sniffling. "They're - they're smarter than this. They know what is air...and what is a window."

"Are you saying that he...?" asked Nadir.

"Something is...very wrong here," said Ken.

Finally, I opened my eyes again.

And then I noticed that Roger Kenyon's office door hung limply open by a crack. He - or someone else - hadn't closed it...

 

[SouthernKing]

Zanzibarland and Saudi Arabia agree to a treaty of friendship, as well as to lower trade barriers between our two countries and to share technology.

Signed, Judith Wanyika, Chairwoman of the Zanzibarland Reclamation Authority

 

[NinjaCow64]

To: GDTDG
From: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Subject: Membership Application

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to apply for a membership within the organization.

To: GDTDG
From: Dominion of India
Subject: Membership Application

The Dominion of India wishes to apply for a membership within the organization.

Both applications have been accepted, invites will be PMed to both of you shortly.

In related news, GDTDG has amended the constitution to include this following passage:

Section 5.6. All rules for elgibility of membership applies to all special kinds of membership, including but not limited to observing members, partial members and founding members.

 

[Decamper]

This is an early warning that orders are due in roughly 30 hours. I am still awaiting orders from:

@Seon @Nuka-sama @Belgarion95 @Tolni @Shadowbound @Bair_the_Normal @Red_Spy @Spagetty @KaiserElectric @JohannaK @Daftpanzer (also waiting on tech priorities for your NPC) @christos200 @Mosher @Sniiperman456 @Crezth

I'm hoping to get through the update over the weekend again, and early orders help speed that along. Thank you to everyone that already sent in orders.

 

[Belgarion95]

From Research Union of Atlantica
To the World
CC Oxbridge, Ibericus, Ireland, Scotland

The Research Union of Atlantica confirms a full military alliance with Oxbridge, Ireland, Scotland, and Ibericus.

 

[Decamper]

From Ibericus
To the World
CC Atlantica, Oxbridge, Ireland, Scotland

Ibericus confirms a full military alliance with Atlantica, Oxbridge, Ireland, and Scotland.

 

[Belgarion95]

Excerpt from the “Treatise on the Atlantic Peoples” by Torlen Rork

Research Union of Atlantica

Genesis

The system by which Atlantica is governed first appears to have arisen in the Mid-Atlantic Azores immediately following the rise of The Troubles. Marine Ecological researchers, entirely disconnected from their colleagues and unmoored from any internalized scientific purpose, began to notice oddities appearing in their waters. While most fish populations fell sharply or had gone extinct, the lack of sunlight destroying the marine food chain, a few species were rapidly evolving to the new conditions and thriving. Probably realizing the potential implications of their discovery, the researchers rapidly developed large-scale aquaculture with the help of people from the nearby town, who were largely desolate and starving. They began aggressively selecting for the largest and most valuable of the species, growing and intensifying their operations, eventually establish colonies to continue their expansion.

The growth following these developments appears to have been extremely rapid, with the ageing, educated professionals of the former society being aggressively recruited. New species were cultivated in both the land and sea, building off their former success. Upon spreading to Portugal, their Ecological Ambitions reached new heights; the hills, valleys, and bays were cordoned off from each other to allow for large-scale ecosystem design. Each lead research seems to have been given the opportunity to design their system from the ground-up, some to spectacular failure, but many to at least sustainability or success.

Life

It’s unclear how such incredible hubris developed in so short a time, but the successful ecosystems now support many Research Nodes across Atlantica, each with surrounding metropoles and defensive positions. My travels found each to be unusual and distinctive; species were exchanged and interbred between Nodes, with many beginning to specialize in medicines, delicacies, or simply enormous outputs of food to support complex industrial activity. Society revolved around the Research Complex itself, with most families trying to shepherd their children into the most prestigious academic apprenticeships – education was available to all, and competition fierce. It appeared that a very large portion of professions, from farmers to waste-management, were organized with at least a portion of experimentation and research forming the backbone of their work. Culturally, the Atlanticans value trial and error, which is preached with fanatical fervour by the oligarchical Militus Maris.

Governance

The Militus Maris was established at in the early days of Atlantica; initially established as a quasi-spiritual order of ruling scientists and researchers, this organization forms the de facto leadership of every Research Node. Though each Node is governed autonomously, the leaders of the Militus appears to meet regularly and communicate constantly, often pooling collected resources for new research colonies and projects. Membership is requisite of all researchers, but internal information is tightly controlled. An internal hierarchy appears to exist within the Militus (often, but not always, related to the size of the Node governed by a respective member). I spoke to a number of junior researchers who were low-level members of the Militus Maris, and none could provide a clear organizational hierarchy. All gave slightly varying answers which suggested the higher purpose of the Militus to be discovery, the preservation of knowledge, and breaking old limits of human will and creativity. Prominent members regularly give lectures on newly discovered species and projects underway, ending regularly on fervent invocations praising imagination and devotion to unravelling the mysteries of life. Enigmatic and powerful, most citizens hope to be accepted into the upper echelons of this order; though the Militus rarely intrudes into civilian lives, it remains by far their best hope for advancement.

 

[NinjaCow64]

The United Nations of Earth is pleased to announce a non-aggression pact between ourselves and Black Rose. May peace reign eternal in North America, and the world.

 

[Traveller76]

25-11-2056

Nani has died.

Mother and I watched her slow demise over the last six months, her visits to the Doctors and the treatments to stem the growths. They manage to hold for a while but over time they are overwhelmed. By August she had stopped going to the hospitals and the nurse would come every two days to visit her. Mother cares for her the same as her own mother. Sometimes Nani rages and is in the grips of pain or her mind wanders from the painkillers but Mom does not complain. Nani asks me to give her a daily report of my studies like the people on the news programs. Sometimes I have to repeat myself since Nani falls asleep a lot but I do not mind.

My studies continue and my classmates offer prayers and blessings for mom and Nani. So many of us have lost parents and this is our way of dealing with the loneliness and pain. Mom and I visit the Sai Baba temple once a week and bring the Prasad home to her. Nani sleeps more and more. Mother has accepted the situation and the flat and property have been transferred to our care. Nani shows me her wedding ornaments to mom and me. 'You will be a beautiful bride when the time comes. Wait until you graduate University first and do not be like me. Trying to study and have a new husband is very tiring.' She laughs with us and I see the light return to her eyes. She tells me stories about her life and growing up. I will someday write a book about her.

I start a new term at my school and continue to be first or second place in my classes, especially computers and maths. Mother would like me to study Computer Sciences or Engineering in university since there is always a need for women professionals. I date a little with some boys but I am more focused on studies. Nani sleeps more and more and I can see the drugs are not working anymore. A week ago mother found she passed away in the middle of the night.

Mother and I traveled to the crematorium, you cannot burn wood for the biers anymore. We pray and gather the ashes to be placed in the Ganga when we go on pilgrimage when we are on holiday.

Bless you Grandmother. May you no longer suffer and always be happy.
Amita Kavitha Pail 1990-2056

 

[Sniiperman456]

The United Nations of Earth is pleased to announce a non-aggression pact between ourselves and Black Rose. May peace reign eternal in North America, and the world.

I confirm this

 

[Traveller76]

Space Station begins Construction
Station to be used for manufacturing/science
15 June 2058

An image of the completed station

SRIHARIKOTA-The first sections of the new space station, to be called Jyotishaganj (Astronomy Trading Post) will be launched today according to ISRO Director Aurobindo Surendra Das. When the first two such pieces are aloft and attached, the Jyotishaganj will be operational and capable of housing seven crewmembers, Das said. ISRO plans to launch a half dozen or so additional pieces — power and propulsion modules, for example — through 2064. The total cost of construction, launch, and assembly will likely be between 969 Lakh Crore according to ISRO statements.

Off Earth Manufacturing/Scientific Research
The station will likely start generating revenue from manufacturing early on, thanks in large part to rapidly advancing 3D-printing technology, serving as a production base for a variety of big and lucrative jobs in a decade or so, according to Director Das. Not all of this space made gear will come back down to Earth. Customers will also use the station to manufacture and deploy small satellites, at a fraction of the current cost required to launch a fully formed spacecraft from Earth. With no shearing forces or convection, the microgravity environment will allow for manufacturing of exotic fiber optics, lighter weight and higher strength structures, satellites that utilize electric propulsion to reach any orbit, biological materials & tissues, and metamaterials such as advanced alloys. It will also facilitate experiment design, development, and operation in disciplines such as biology & biotechnology, earth & space science, human research, physical sciences, and technology. Private companies will have access to lease space on the station for individual science and manufacturing projects.

International Cooperation
Will the station be open to other countries and corporations? The Director stated that future cooperation will be welcomed. 'While the station will be a ISRO facility, we welcome other countries and companies but the priority will be scientific research. This is just a first step on a long journey to more permanent arrangements. Profitability is fine but science comes first.'

In Other News:
-Veedback releases newest album On the Edge of Oblivion. Download Now!
-Chennai Superstars defeat Kolkata Tigers

 

[Ailedhoo]

To: S.U.D.S
From: The Columbian Union

We will politely decline to attend your conference.

The frame of your government is weak, as is your dedication to the plight of your people.

It is the refuge of the weak man to wallow in the security blanket of blind idealism, with inherently flawed concepts such as "democracy" and "international revolution."

Not only that, but the Union finds your own dedication to your own ideals wanting; how can a nation be dedicated to both the worker, and enter into binding trade and defensive agreements that exploit them?

It is better to call a spade a spade; to call greed greed and power brokering power brokering. There is nothing wrong with limited cooperation with a globalist, as misguided as they might be, but the openness with which you defile your own principles stains your national honor in a way that the Union cannot abide.

Weak? You call us weak for essentially applying the principles of socialism? Weak for making a order of the people instead of flocking them like sheep? We strive for wide and maximum freedoms for the people; if you are strong then why do you not allow your people greater chance to be free? True strength comes from liberation; socialism without democracy is a body without oxygen.

We had created the conference in hope of aspiring the Revolution. You appear to lack the oxygen to be a proper socialist revolutionary power. A body with too little oxygen is weakened, no? We are most amused indeed you thought you were one of the potential powers to be invited, since you strive not to the path of freedom but rather you enter the same camp as state capitalists.

You may have won your war of movement but you appear to have lost the war of position.

We joined the GDTDG to mould it; it appears we have to remind the UN about the policies but in the end of the day we play carefully in the war of position.

It is interesting you heed the idol of brute strength like the fascists of old; you know how they did in the wars, no?

No matter: the Revolution marches, despite the protests of those afraid of their populace.

 

[Mosher]

“It’s beautiful,” breathed the Colonel. The Colonel - an old man, for sure, though he still had an air of youthful vigor that betrayed his wavy, steel gray hair - was not the type of man to shed tears of joy, but this sight had him close. He removed his patrol cap and held it over his heart, before walking out onto the stage.


In front of him was a hundred children - normal children, no defects, lean with muscle and not hunger - dressed in crisp, clean, new uniforms. How long had it been in this world - even with the light of civilization returned by the reformation of the Union - since there had been something new? The children stood at attention, their thumbs held along the seam in their pants, eyes looking straight ahead. All of them were roughly fourteen years old. The Colonel stepped up to the podium, clearing his throat. He tried to maintain his aura of professionalism, but he could not suppress a wide grin.


“Today, my newest brothers and sisters, you take your first steps into becoming true citizens of our glorious Union. You - and I, and every Citizen of the Union - are the first steps of the glorious rebirth of the American people; I know that all of you, every single one, will make me, and your parents, and your home towns, proud.” The Colonel paused for a second, appraising the formation of young men and women. They did not move an inch. The Colonel started again, raising his voice to a fevered pitch.


“Because, comrades, what is your purpose?” The Colonel screamed.


“To serve the People! To serve the State! To serve the Flag! To serve God!” they screamed back at him.


“What will you do for your people?”


“SACRIFICE!”


“WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR YOUR STATE?”


“SERVE!”


“WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR THE FLAG?”



“PROTECT!”


“WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR THE LORD, IN HIS NAME, TO PROTECT THE MORALITY OF OUR NATION?”


“KILL!” They screamed, stomping their feet


“That’s right!” The Colonel shouting, his hands moving in a flurry of movement. “For we are the best hope for the American people! We are the shining light of civilization! We are the beacon in the darkness! We are the way forward, forever!” The Colonel paused for a moment, catching his breath.


“Remember, comrades. Sacrifice, integrity, and honor. Those were the values that rebuilt our country. That raised this wonderful new generation I see before me.


“Do your duty to the State and the State will do its duty to you. You are dismissed.” The Colonel snapped a salute to the young soldiers, as a show of respect for coming so far, before doing a neat about face and walking off the stage.

 

[tobiisagoodboy]

Hier is das erste Deutsche Fernsehen mit der Tagesschau (Here is the first german television with the daily news)


Good evening ladies and gentleman.
Normally, we would now start with the news around the world, but today is a special day of grief. Today, at 5 am in the morning, chancellor Willy Ebert was found dead in his office, at age 71. Paramedics who arrived a few minutes later could only verify his death, it appears he died from having a stroke. For the last seven years Willy Ebert had been the channcelor of the Federal Republic of Germany, until the last days of his life, he was popular for his policies of economic recovery and reunification and many people all over the republic have expressed their grief over his death. His vice-chancellor Maike Harald from the liberal party FDP, announced that she would honor his legacy. She is expected to officialy take the office within the next two weeks.
Eberts family announced that there would be no state funeral for, just a private, secret ceremony, like Ebert wished for. A modest and honest, hard working man, whos one and only goal was progress for his people, he will be missed.


Going on, minister of Defense, Steffen Schmidt announced the reintroduction of conscription for all citiziens, no amtter the sex. This controversial bill, which nearly split the Socialdemopcratic party, come in a time of increasing foreign tensions, with the expasion and aggresive actions of the fascist Nordic Empire. Starting next year, all citiziens between the age of 21 to 30 will have to take medical examation, to determine their fitness for service. They can either choose to do 15 months of military service or 18 months of civil service in any social institution. Starting next year, everybody reaching the age of 21 will also ahve to do this. Everybody beyond the age of 30 is free to volunteer, but encouraged to join local Landwehr battalions and become a part of the reserve forces.

In foreign news, minsiter of foreign affairs Johanna Richter happily attented the formation ceremony of the Global Democratic Trade and Defense Group. Many people are sceptical about the cooperation with socialist and communist nations, but Richter reassured that Germany would not compromise its ideals and they would only trade and cooperate with those who would follow the principals of democracy and freedom.

To economy, resent surveys and data show a massive increase of shipping on the Rhine, following the restoration of the Deltarhine in the Netherlands. WIth the rebuilding of Rotterdam harbor and the new trading pact, many expect an even larger increase of traffic and trade. ThyssenKrupp, BASF and Opel announced their intent on increasing their production and own harbor facilities along the Rhine, which many experts say might creat thousands of new jobs. Also Rheinmetall-KMW followed expectations with the annual business data, reaching a new hight in profit. THis is mainly due to the large need of new equipment for the Bundeswehr, RM-KMW themself said that at the moment, they can hardly aquire the materials and working force needed to satisfy the armed forces demands, with at least half a dozen tanks and IFVs rolling out of the factory everyday.

Today the first trans german flight landed safely in Habung, having started in Stuttgart. With the new Messerschmitt factory starting its production of small, short range passenger planes, several civillian airports are planned to be reopend, all across the republic. At the same time, Messerschmitt, having improved on the few remaining planes design, is speeding up the production of new fighter jets for the Luftwaffe. Two types of planes are currently under construction, a modernized version of the Panavia Tornado, meant as a moulti-tole fighter bomber and the Eurofighter Typhoon B, a air-superiority fighter with additional ground-striek abilities.

 

[jackelgull]

The South African Inquirer
South Africa - Zanzibar soccer match to take place​

In the interests of promoting peace and good will, the Union of South Africa and the Zanzibar Reclamation Authority have agreed to their national soccer teams competing against one another, once in FNB stadium in Johannesburg, and once in a stadium of Zanzibar's choosing.

Image: The South African team at practice.

Total seats for both events are estimated to be 200,000 however, there will televised coverage of the matches. Police too will present at the events to prevent any sort of rioting.

The President of South Africa has called it, "a step in what will hopefully be a peaceful and mutually beneficial relationship"

 

[Traveller76]

To: The World Community
From: The Federation of South India/Dakshin Bharat ke Sangh
Subject: The New Outer Space Treaty

While we all composed different people and politics all of us recognize the value of orbital and extra-orbital development both in terms of economic, scientific research and human development. Therefore: In order to prevent conflict, we propose that Earth Orbit, the Lagrange Points, and Luna be declared a demilitarized zone (DMZ) with the following conditions.
1. All parties could retain security/police forces but would not station military forces/vessels or construct fortifications. This would include any satellite weapons that could be used to target other satellites, stations or targets on Earth/Luna.
2. Intelligence gathering/scientific satellites/stations would be exempt and could retain defensive measures against debris.
3. All parties would agree to assist any vessels, stations or personnel in distress or emergency regardless of nationality.
4. Standardized communications channel/flight paths would be agreed upon to prevent collisions, facilitate travel and trade and assist in disaster response/aid.

 

[inthesomeday]

Report from the Nordic Enlightenment Ministry on the Nordic Broadcast Organization​

Since the annexation of Sweden into the Empire, the Ministry has been engaging in a top-down analysis of the Swedish fascists’ success. Significant assets of the immediately post-Trouble Swedish government include the extensive safety of transport as well as the stable electric grid; the anarchists in Sweden managed to provide a significant threat but it was the engineering wonders of the Stockholm government that maintained popular support among the majority of rural and urban poor and middle class. However greater than either of these was the ability to broadcast a near-perpetual stream of morale-raising pro-government propaganda. On holidays and during times of hardship (famines, anarchist strikes, assassinations, natural disasters) the ability of the government to broadcast to a large number of the population, on media including television, print, and radio, served a crucial purpose for stability in Sweden.

This analysis has led the NEM to conclude that it is of great necessity to institute widespread public broadcasting across the Empire. Today, in 2057, nearly two decades since the Empire was established, things like widespread electricity or transport are no longer legitimate concerns of the majority of the Empire’s citizens. Television and radio are still active, though mostly handled locally or by private citizens. The Ministry plans to federalize this industry in order to spread propaganda, to maintain public trust in the government, and to raise morale among the population in the event of crisis. It will require the establishment of a new subset of the Ministry known as the Nordic Broadcast Organization (NBO). This federalization will require sponsorship from the Imperial High Command to appropriate and repair many broadcast towers and telephone lines built during the days before the War. Additionally, several offices have been planned by architects to provide studios and headquarters for directors, writers, and newscasters working to produce content for the NBO, mostly in the major cities of the Empire.

As to broadcasting plans, there are x major demographics that the NBO seeks to appease with specific programming: government and military workers, rural citizens (age 40 and up), rural citizens (30-40), rural citizens (younger than 30), and the urban citizenry. Each of these demographics represents roughly one fifth of the national population, with different cultural interests and values. Discussions as to specific programming will take place following the establishment of the NBO’s primary governing body.

 

[SouthernKing]

choo choo

Rail Lines under the administration of the Zanzibarland Reclamation Authority

Zanzibar City under the Authority may be a futuristic paradise, but the same does not hold true for much of the mainland, which more often than not resembles the grinding poverty of old. In an effort to help change that, it was decided that a priority would be to bring modern shining high-speed rail to the mainland. So, pooling all of its combined resources and with the help of foreign engineers, the Authority set about on what is perhaps Africa's greatest infrastructure project ever.

This was done in a pair of "loops."

The green loop is KK1 (Kasi Kubwa 1, or High Speed 1), the initial flagship project of the Authority's Transportation Ministry. KK1 was partly built by upgrading existing lines between Dodoma and Dar es Salaam, as well as between Nairobi and Mombasa. To complete the loop, two entirely new lines were built: an inland leg from Dodoma through Arusha to Nairobi, and a coastal leg between Dar es Salaam and Mombasa. In the middle of the coastal leg, the old port town of Bagamoyo was chosen as the site of new development, as well as a major ferry terminal to serve the insular Zanzibar City. A full circuit of the "loop" under optimal conditions takes six to seven hours.

The blue loop is KK2 (Kasi Kubwa 2, or High Speed 2), the second phase, a much more ambitious high-speed loop running from the coast through Nairobi and through the western hub cities of Kampala and Kigali before circling back through western Tanganyika to return to the coast. The dark blue sections are pre-existing lines that have already been upgraded; no high-speed trains actually run on them quite yet, though regional services are benefiting from the shiny new rail. The light blue sections have yet to be built. The land journey from Kigali or Kampala to Dar es Salaam or Zanzibar City today can take upwards of thirty hours; once KK2 is completed, that time will be reduced to under eight.

Large names above are major stations along the high-speed route that will be served by the fastest express services, whereas smaller names are moderately significant regional stations.

Furthermore, the red lines are pre-existing lines, inherited by the Authority from the pre-existing lines of Tanzania and Kenya. While the Authority has managed to maintain them at tolerable levels, many stretches are extremely old and remain in rather spurious condition.

The yellow line is Tazara, a line constructed by Chinese assistance in the 1970s to help link the countries of Tanzania and Zambia. Although a stated goal of the current Authority administration is to upgrade this line as well, security concerns and the lack of Authority jurisdiction in Zambia mean that service on Tazara now only goes as far as the town of Mbeya, about 100 km from the old Zambian border.

Another future project that has been suggested is a cross-strait link between the mainland and Zanzibar. This project has for now been written off as far too costly and ambitious. Although it appears completely unfeasible for the time being, transport to Zanzibar is reliant on either air or an increasingly hectic ferry link via Bagamoyo, and perhaps some doubters may soon reconsider.

---

Edit:

The South African Inquirer
South Africa - Zanzibar soccer match to take place​

In the interests of promoting peace and good will, the Union of South Africa and the Zanzibar Reclamation Authority have agreed to their national soccer teams competing against one another, once in FNB stadium in Johannesburg, and once in a stadium of Zanzibar's choosing.

Image: The South African team at practice.

Total seats for both events are estimated to be 200,000 however, there will televised coverage of the matches. Police too will present at the events to prevent any sort of rioting.

The President of South Africa has called it, "a step in what will hopefully be a peaceful and mutually beneficial relationship"

Zanzibarland will host our South African friends at Julius Nyerere Stadium (formerly Tanzania National Stadium) in Dar es Salaam.

 

[NinjaCow64]

To: The World Community
From: The Federation of South India/Dakshin Bharat ke Sangh
Subject: The New Outer Space Treaty

While we all composed different people and politics all of us recognize the value of orbital and extra-orbital development both in terms of economic, scientific research and human development. Therefore: In order to prevent conflict, we propose that Earth Orbit, the Lagrange Points, and Luna be declared a demilitarized zone (DMZ) with the following conditions.
1. All parties could retain security/police forces but would not station military forces/vessels or construct fortifications. This would include any satellite weapons that could be used to target other satellites, stations or targets on Earth/Luna.
2. Intelligence gathering/scientific satellites/stations would be exempt and could retain defensive measures against debris.
3. All parties would agree to assist any vessels, stations or personnel in distress or emergency regardless of nationality.
4. Standardized communications channel/flight paths would be agreed upon to prevent collisions, facilitate travel and trade and assist in disaster response/aid.

While we commend the initiative that the Federation of South India has shown on this issue, we unfortunately cannot sign this until a large enough group of nations sign this agreement to ensure that we will not be attacked from outer space. We would be willing to agree to a modified agreement including sections three and four however.