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Messages - Dijel

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121
Diplomacy and Events / Re: An Appeal to the Free Peoples of Mundus
« on: April 01, 2020, 09:03:50 PM »
Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto; Foyer, Headquarters of the Free Merinan Association, Freedom Tower, Little Katamba, Belmont, the Republic of Kaedwen

Jean-Torre took this all in and, with a quick confirmatory glance at Michael - this was indeed Jean's area of expertise - responded quickly.

"That is a relief, certainly" He smiled "In which case, we have no cause to object, and will be glad for any agreement reached here to go before the Council for approval"

"As for the specifics of implementing a no-fly zone" He continued, wrinkling his brow "This is far from my area of expertise, but I do feel that your argument has merit; simplicity in these things, everyone knowing exactly where they stand, can only be a good thing. With regards to partial acceptance of ceasefire terms we have a more prepared concept: that we make clear that any side which accepts the ceasefire and withdraws its forces from the battlefield, or is in the process of doing so, will receive the support and assistance of the allied forces if it comes under attack. While we would see this include anything up to and including troop deployments in strength, we believe that the deterrent effect of such a declaration would all but preclude any such offensive action occurring"

"With regards to the possibility of utilizing the SuperEye system..." He mused "We had not even considered the possibility, though it would most certainly be a most fantastic asset if it could be brought into play. We would be most indebted to you if you could make such an enquiry. As for Stage 3, we presently have no such list per se, and had intended to employ a system of local representation - with representatives from each town or district, for example - rather than engage with the warlords directly. Though, again, you may have a point in that they may be more inclined to come quietly if they're given a stake in the Convention, I'd hesitate to give any of them too great an influence, lest they retain their power and the situation not really be resolved"

122
Sporting Hub / Re: Tour De Alba Karinya - OOC
« on: March 30, 2020, 10:18:01 PM »
Team Name: Roxiquer Attsolt Racing
Nation of Origin: Kaedwen
Rider One: Neve Macdonald
Rider Two: Emily Wilson
Rider Three: Janet van Hinkel (U25)
Rider Four: Nicole Wainwright
Rider Five: Alexandra Meldgaard
Rider Six: Florence de Witt

123
Diplomacy and Events / Re: In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash (Tamora and Merina)
« on: March 29, 2020, 10:33:18 PM »
Daniel van Irwen; Polaris Energy Headquarters, Zimalia

Zimalia was an awfully long way to come for a meeting - all the way home and then some, in fact - but c'est la vie, that's life, as Sir Andrew liked to say sometimes. In truth, only the first few kilometers had been any real trouble, their aircraft hugging the deck and haring north at full speed, fortunately avoiding the tender attentions of the Merinan National Air Force's fighters. Zimalia, for all its reputation, didn't seem all too different to Merina in many ways, nor certain parts of their native Kaedwen for that matter, though not the certain parts that decent folk would visit if they could help it. It was hot here too, though both men felt quite at home in such climes.

The First Minister, having taken some prudent advice on business sensibility, had eschewed his usual mode of dress and donned a pair of trousers, though the white polo remained - the breast emblazoned with the insignia of Carmichael Engineering. Daniel, meanwhile, had no such qualms, though had at least the decency to ensure that his khaki fatigues were washed and pressed before leaving Merina. On his hip he'd worn a long-barreled .44 revolver, though this had been handed over respectfully to Polaris' security staff on the door.

Once the formalities were over, and the Tamoran had said his bit, Sir Andrew took the lead.

"Down to business, right ho" He said, with a smile "Capital. The wider situation in Merina is well... complicated, though the Free State is holding out well enough, for time being"

"I'll have our intelligence blokes send over a dossier explaining the situation in full, if that helps" Daniel interjected, helpfully "There's a lot to get your head round if you're after understanding all the whys and wherefores"

"Quite so, good man" Sir Andrew resumed, with a thoughtful smile "Suffice to say that the place has seen better days, gone quite to hell truth be told. There's been signs of trouble brewing for years now. Tinpot dictatorship, really, no real institutional robustness to speak of, trouble flairs up somewhere-or-other and they'd send the heavy squad in. Worked for a time, but there's only so much repression you can get away with without offering something to the man in the street. Nguessa [the Merinan President] has his supporters, sure enough, but not enough, I think"

"As for us" He continued "The Free State Project was borne out amidst the "National Unity Council" fiasco eighteen months ago. If one doesn't afford one's assets some protection, then one isn't likely to remain in business very long. There's dozens, if not hundreds, of... enterprising institutions operating in Merina, and near enough every one has offices or headquarters in the Donze area; it's been the place to be for some time now. There's a certain element of expat solidarity when one works abroad as a small fish in a very large, foreign pond, so, when things went pete tong - and the local governor tried to appropriate our assets in the name of the war effort - we elected to pool our forces and drive the bastard out"

"Naturally" He smiled "This wasn't well received in the Presidential Palace, or it wouldn't have been if someone hand't dropped a bomb on the bloody thing beforehand. The Free State experiment now finds itself rather opposed to the incumbent National Government, and not particularly well endeared to the rest of Merina's collection of warlords and lunatics, though our patch is arguably the most functional part of the country left. You see, there's more to the Free State than simple opportunism, we have genuinely been trying to build up local healthcare and education systems. Merina has a vast wealth potential and, once the present situation is resolved, we intend to be best placed to tap into it. Until then, well, we're burning our cash reserves at this point. What we can export has been down to a trickle with the war, and the navy blockading our coast. Ah, and that brings me on to the security situation, which my colleague here will be better able to explain"

"That'd me me" Daniel smirked, more to himself than anyone else, sometimes things just tickled him that way "So, the Free State Forces can field two-and-a-half good quality Brigades; one mechanized, one infantry, and one airborne demi-brigade. In addition to this, we've been reconstituting the local reservists under our management, and hope to add a further Brigade of entirely local troops soon. Our aviation arm has a strength of four helicopter squadrons, and we've no naval units worth speaking of, a handful of fast boats maybe"

"Arrayed against us" He continued with a grimace, reminding himself of the odds "We've got: the Merinan National Army, mostly coming at us from the east and south-east; the Merinan National Navy lying off the coast; the Merinan National Air Force overhead, when it's not in the workshops, at least; and, last but not least, to our immediate south lies communist-occupied Qarkhoi. We're hemmed in, but not exactly on our knees, not yet. My primary concern is the Merinan National Navy; much of our income in the Donze area is from offshore oil and gas, but we lack the weaponry to take on their warships, and they've been interdicting much of the other trade through our port. With air-launched anti-ship missiles our aviation squadrons would be more than capable of keeping the enemy fleet at arms length, if not destroying them outright, I'm sure. Secondarily to this is heavy equipment. Man-for-man, even our local troops are better led, trained and equipped than the vast majority of the militiamen fighting in Merina, but we've very little heavy kit. We've a handful of obsolete tanks from the local reserve depot, no IDF capability beyond 82mm mortars and only limited anti-tank and anti-aircraft weaponry"

124
Press Offices / Merinan Press Office
« on: March 29, 2020, 02:19:47 PM »

Commonwealth of Merina
Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Office of Media Relations

On the Present Crisis: Situation Update 29/03/2020

Statement on behalf of President Nguessa:

As Mundus becomes aware of the ongoing crisis in Merina, also has come a large degree of misinformation regarding the situation in our country. Certain groups, including the so-called "Free Merinan Association" under the traitor Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto, have actively sought to undermine the valiant efforts of our security forces in confronting the rebellious and terroristic elements threatening our nation.

Merinan security forces are currently engaged in operations across multiple theaters, fighting to keep our people safe. Travel restrictions are in place in these operational areas, in addition to a blanket advise (particularly to foreigners) not to travel beyond one's local area unless absolutely necessary. All practicable measures are being taken to prevent civilian lives and livelihoods in this conflict, though on occasion our brave soldiers have been unable to prevent atrocities committed by our enemies.

Given the severity of the situation, in the coming days we shall be introducing the following emergency measures:

  • Limited Mobilization of Reserve Forces - Reservists are to be activated on a limited basis, in order to accelerate a conclusion of the conflict while minimizing economic disruption as far as possible.
  • Essential Supply Procurement Initiative - State agencies are to put contingency measures in place to ensure the continued availability of essential civil and military supplies.
  • State of Emergency for Effected Regions - Emergency powers are in effect across conflict-hit regions, this with immediate effect.

These shall be in place for the foreseeable future, likely until the conclusion of the present situation.

Any further question, queries or requests for clarification should be directed through this office.


125
Diplomacy and Events / Re: An Appeal to the Free Peoples of Mundus
« on: March 28, 2020, 04:55:38 PM »
((OOC: Of course I don't mind! The more the merrier! I'm hardly in a position to criticize response times  ;) ))

Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto; Foyer, Headquarters of the Free Merinan Association, Freedom Tower, Little Katamba, Belmont, the Republic of Kaedwen

Michael listened intently to each of the representatives speak in turn, nodding occasionally and making a few sparing notes of his own in a spindly hand. A brief moment after Rhian finished speaking, he placed his pen firmly back on the table with sideways glances at Jean, Yaya and Dirk, who had each been reading over his shoulder and each, in turn, nodded quiet assent.

“Thank you all for coming to recognise the gravity of the situation with which we are dealing” He responded with a grim half-smile “Likewise, we do understand that an unplanned and ill-considered intervention would be just as like to harm as good, and have prepared a draft outline for practicable action which we feel would ameliorate the situation. Jean, if you could, please…”

“Yes, certainly” The ambassador nodded, passing round a sheaf of print-outs entitled ‘The Twin-Track Solution’. After another brief pause to allow the group to read and at least partially digest the information presented, he continued:

“We are convinced that fast action will save lives, though we concur with your concern that such fast action could potentially be harmful if the ramifications are not given due consideration. Therefore, the plan which we propose is for a graduated response, one which will aim to balance between being too strong and too soft. We hope that, with some encouragement from the international community, the warring factions in Merina could come around to our way of thinking, though we recognise that it would be naïve to presume that all would do so without compulsion”

“Therefore, this twin-track solution – which our intent is to publish, so as to make clear that more… stringent measures will be brought to bear against those who would continue with their crimes – allows for both situations to occur, in various quarters, simultaneously”

“With regards to the Council of Albion, we would happily supplicate our proposals before the Council, though the concern would be that this becomes an overly-involved process, and that it could delay the enaction of measures which would provide a vital lifeline to many. Therefore, I would like to propose that initial measures be put in place with immediate effect, while those which are not so pressing – and particularly those pertaining to the post-war settlement – be brought before the Council for the more thorough cross-examination which befits such long-term planning”

“Though, dependant upon developments on the ground and the speed at which the Council of Albion completes its deliberations, it may become necessary to act initially outside of this framework, and I would prefer if we did not rule such out, for use in contingencies”

"With regards to your reference to the Merinan National Government, Madame Vice-Consul, I would not expect overmuch. We shall see to it that President Nguessa gets his opportunity to defend his actions with words, and I suggest that the Council of Albion may be a perfectly good forum for this to take place" The normally placid diplomat almost looked angry for a moment, though this soon passed "Personally, and as a servant of the Merinan state, I consider the man to be a monster; he deserves to be hanged, and I'm sure he'd say the same of myself and Yaya if he knew where we were or what we were doing, hence the security that we are attaching to this meeting"

Quote from: The Twin-Track Solution
1) Immediate call for ceasefire-in-place
1A) IF accepted - international monitoring commission to ensure terms are respected
1B) IF NOT accepted - request for limited international intervention (no-fly zone, anti-blockade measures, humanitarian assistance)

2) Negotiated settlement; COA to help facilitate multilateral disengagement and gradual demobilization
2A) IF accepted - combatant forces to withdraw from combat areas, gradual reduction of all forces to peacetime establishment
2B) IF NOT accepted - international peacekeeping forces to be mandated to establish 'safe zones' within Merinan territory

3A) IF hostilities at an end, Constitutional Convention to take place to determine shape of future Merinan State - key questions to be answered by Plebiscite
3B) IF hostilities NOT at and end, 'disengagement zones' to be established, with international forces mandated to engage combatant forces advancing beyond their allotted zones

4A) Constitution to be completed and signed based upon outcomes of Constitutional Convention and Plebiscite; interim transitional government to serve for no more than two years before elections take place
4B) Where combatants have been forcefully disengaged, unilateral disarmament to be requested, with a reasonable period allowed for this. General amnesty to be offered to combatant soldiers upon desertion or surrender.

5B) Where factions do not permit citizens, or their representatives, from engaging in either the Constitutional Convention or the Plebiscite, international forces to be mandated to facilitate this.
5B1) When in the process of facilitating either Constitutional Convention or Plebiscite, international forces to be mandated to engage and destroy any forces as is necessary to allow citizens to partake in these processes in a safe and inclusive manner

6B) As (4A), interim government to administer disarmament for a period of no more than two years
6B1) Any such armed factions or groups so remaining to be given reasonable period to surrender their arms and return to civilian life, or take service under interim government under such terms as are offered
6B2) Any such groups declining to disarm or take service are to be neutralized with such alternative means as are required to do so, including force once all other options are exhausted

7A/B) International forces begin graduated withdrawal once no longer required; funds to be made available for reconstruction works to begin with immediate effect

8A/B) Elections to take place within two years of constitutional ratification

126
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: March 28, 2020, 10:49:35 AM »
Merinan Crisis: Flashpoints

The Merinan Crisis, being a multifaceted conflict between a variety of armed groups, possesses a number of key battlefronts being contested with varying degrees of intensity between two or more of the combatants. Unless otherwise noted below, none of these is particularly secretive per se, and their general progress would be common knowledge to anyone with the wherewithal to take a particular interest in the conflict, although, naturally, exact troop dispositions and the fortunes of individual contacts and skirmishes would be subject to the same fog of war that hangs over any such situation.

Active Flashpoints:

The following are, at the time of writing, considered to be active and currently contested. The degree of severity in the fighting is noted in brief, and the intent is to explore these in greater depth in the narrative proper.

  • The Pindar Valley Campaign – The Pindar Valley, along the axis of the N’gal Tsata-Qandaris road, has been a key flashpoint in the Merinan Crisis to date. The eastern Pindar region, in addition to parts of remote adjacent Xhol, have a long history of rebelliousness, being home to primarily Odinist populations in an overwhelmingly Catholic nation. Historic bouts of pogroms aside, the most prominent living Pindari leader, Ike Ezana, headed the short-lived National Unity Council and has since led his Fedayeen in resisting attempts by the Merinan National Army to recapture Pindar’s principal city, Qandaris.
  • Western Pindar Campaign – The hills of western Pindar, historically a major Pindari stronghold and currently under Fedayeen control, have seen small-scale skirmishing between Merinan National Army units to the north, National Liberation Army to the west and the Pindari Fedayeen in the middle.
  • Pindar-Qast Operational Area – The eastern end of the National Liberation Army’s front is anchored on mountainous Qast in the north, and the hills of western Pindar in the south. This area has seen intermittent fighting between NLA forces and Merinan National Army troops, with rumours circulating that government units are preparing for a major offensive in the area.

Inactive Flashpoints:

These flashpoints have been concluded, at least for the time being, and are no longer the scene of fighting of any particular note.

  • Operation Thunderbolt - The coup-de-main operation launched against Katamba by the then-allied triumvirate of the National Liberation Army, Pinadari Fedayeen and Peoples' Army of Merina against the Merinan National Army. The action was successful insomuch as allied troops were able to drive government units out of the capital, and well to the north before they were able to stabilise their lines, though it was unsucessful in its ultimate objective - to break the power of President
  • The Siege of Qarkhoi - Merinan National Army and Free State Forces press in around the sprawling mega-city of Qarkhoi on the Strait of Shaw, held by elements of the People's Army of Merina. MNA units hold some positions within the city, as do FSF troops in the north, while the PAM and remaining civilian population are largely trapped. Fighting generally fairly static in nature, punctuated by small-scale actions of surprising ferocity.
  • The Battle of the Drakkenbjorg - The main point of contact between Merinan National Army troops and Free State Forces lies across the Drakkenbjorg pass in central Urhano. Fighting generally consisting of small-to-medium scale skirmishing, punctuated by limited set-piece actions to take and hold ground. Limited quantities of heavy equipment brought to bear by both sides in difficult terrain.
  • The Donze Blockade - Merinan National Navy maintains a lukewarm blockade of the Merinan Free State enclave around Donze. Free State Air Forces succeeding so far in maintaining their tenuous maritime supply routes, with air-sea combat punctuated by small-scale marine actions over coastal islets and maritime extraction platforms.
  • The Battle for Makeni - Firmly held by the People's Army of Merina, the Makeni area has seen sporadic fighting between the Merinan National Army and PAM. The front has largely stagnated, however, with the MNA unable to make serious headway against the PAM's defenses, while PAM units lack the mobility and fieldcraft to break out in significant numbers.
  • The Mbuni Front - The southern region of Mbuni - and in particular the Kholda-Katamba axis - is contested between the Perople's Army of Merina and the National Liberation Army.
  • The Bataar Front - Across the centre of Bataar province lies the front line between the Merinan National Army, in the north, and the National Liberation Army in the south. The area has seen significant fighting between opposing regular and irregular troops, including the largest conventional clashes of the war so far. Of particular note is the fighting over the fortified town of Ikolma, north of Katamba, which is seen by both sides as the key to controlling the capital.
  • The Siege of the Mikroyan - An exclave under the control of the Merinan Free State located a short distance south of Katamba, the Mikroyan is an extensive planned development largely populated by foreign professionals and contractors. The danger of causing international incident has so far protected the small FSF garrison from serious assault by the National Liberation Army, who control the surrounding territory, though the situation remains somewhat tense.

127
Diplomacy and Events / Re: An Appeal to the Free Peoples of Mundus
« on: February 16, 2020, 11:22:10 PM »
Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto; Foyer, Headquarters of the Free Merinan Association, Freedom Tower, Little Katamba, Belmont, the Republic of Kaedwen

Charles continued to gaze out at the city beyond the glass as the conversation continued, remaining aloof framed in the azure glow of the evening sun reflecting off the distant sea. Dirk, still smiling, gave a deferential half-glance in the direction of the Reverend. Michael glanced back, and now took up the call.

"I think, my Lord" He began with a smile "That you rather misunderstand our position. We are here representing the Free Merinan Association, and this is what we are seeking to achieve. A free Merina; free from the blight of war, free from the scourge of tyranny, and free from the shadow of fear. Even between those of us here in this room, I cannot say that there is much agreement as to what is best for our country beyond this, save that it ought be decided with the tip of a pen, not the tip of a bayonet" A second's pause for emphasis, then he continued "As for what it is that the people want, if any man claims to you that he can say precisely what it is that near enough two-hundred million souls desire, then that man he is a liar. In my life I have traveled the length and breadth of our country, and in this ministered to a great many people, humble folk and great men alike. Be they humble tribesmen or urban professionals, weather they sleep on a feather mattress or a pile of newspapers, or weather they pray to God or Odin, though their hearts may all hold differing desires, not one of them stands to gain a thing from this war, nor the warlords who would destroy what they seek to control"

"Though" He added, producing an envelope closed with the Archbishop's seal from an inside pocket "If it please you, my Lord, I do have here a letter which may sway you. While we may not be able to speak for all Merinans, some of Merina's sons and daughters may lend their own voices to ours" He handed the envelope to Besarian "Please, my Lord, do open it"

Inside, under the Free Merinan Association's letterhead, was written a lengthy declaration underlining a commitment to ending the war, breaking the power of the warlords and thereafter forging a free and democratic society for the benefit of all Merinans. This was the Association's mission statement, as was laid down in the yellowing constitution documents proudly displayed in the foyer. Like the Association's constitution, this document was also undersigned; four pages worth. In addition to the signatures of those present, the Most Reverend Eduard Hassisi, Archbishop of Katamba, had left his spidery mark on the paper, as had the Chancellor of the Merinan International University, Chole Bital. Further down the list were more notables: the head of the Merinan Red Cross, Kubu Ngei, had made his mark, just above that of Jonathan Ouko, a famous former footballer and anti-poverty campaigner; the human rights lawyer Hope Ngoyo had signed, alongside her brother Julius, a prominent journalist. One of the Merinan People's Army leaders - the left-socialist Noah Tergat - was on the list, alongside a handful of officers from the Merinan National Armed Forces and National Liberation Army.

They were one-hundred in all - a fraction of the Association's full membership - though these had been selected, both for their prominence and the fact that almost all were currently inside Merina. After allowing a brief pause to allow the letter to circulate and be digested, Michael continued.

"While I may not, indeed, be able to speak for all Merinans, I can certainly speak for those who have made their positions clear. I must insist, however, that the contents of this list is not shared beyond this room; a great many of these good people would find themselves at grave personal risk, should their support for our effort become known. If you wish to make contact privately, then I cannot stop you, though I would urge you to be discreet in this; all are good people, and I should hate for harm to come to them on our account"

128
Diplomacy and Events / Re: An Appeal to the Free Peoples of Mundus
« on: February 09, 2020, 10:25:51 PM »
((OOC: Of course not, Tytor! :) ))

Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto; Foyer, Headquarters of the Free Merinan Association, Freedom Tower, Little Katamba, Belmont, the Republic of Kaedwen

The early arrival of the Tytorians had not exactly been planned, per se, though Charles was quick to make the mental adjustment. The Tytorians could be included in his plans, he felt, without complicating matters overly. They were likely to be swayed by much the same arguments, he reckoned, and had the added benefit of potential susceptibility to the religion angle, hailing from a notably pious nation as they did. The apparent enthusiasm of their minister, too, Charles took for a good omen, although his more cynical side could only wonder weather Sir Gregory's sunny demeanor belied harder intentions.

"Well guessed" He smiled back as the Tytorian introduced himself and his companion "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Gregory. And you, Mr Belby" Smiles all round, he shook each man's hand in turn "You both may call me Charles, my surname is rather a mouthful, I'm not sure even my own mother ever quite got the pronunciation of it, god rest her soul! And this" He indicated his own companion, a short, slight man sporting a priest's collar "Is the Reverend Michael Tensi, a special envoy from the Archbishop of Katamba"

"Greetings, Sir Gregory, Mr Belby" The priest smiled, with a subtle bow of his head "It is an honour to meet you both; the Archbishop sends his regards"

"You are most welcome, as honoured guests" Charles picked up, flashing another winning smile "Your timing is a little inconvenient, though that is a trivial matter. We've arranged a... confidential briefing with a delegation from Lodja, which you both are entirely welcome to attend, of course, though I must really swear the both of you to secrecy if you wish to do so. The contents of this briefing are rather sensitive in nature and, if widely known, would put a number of our members in a great degree of danger, I do hope you can be understanding with this"

At this point, the elevator doors parted with a ping, revealing the two Lodjans, as if summoned by magic. Charles turned to them as they approached.

"Welcome, Lord Ivanov" He smiled boradly, as both Merinans offered handshakes all round "I am Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto, and my compatriot here is the Reverend Michael Tensi. Yes, of course, Her Majesty's assurances..." He turned back briefly to the two Tytorians "As I said, you are both more than welcome to join us, though before you do so you must swear to me that you will uphold the confidentiality of this information"

The briefing was to take place in the Association's Executive Meeting Room, an elegant glass-walled space overlooking the foyer on one side and the Belmont skyline on the other. The sun was beginning to dip in the sky as early evening approached, and the other guests - the great and the good of Little Katamba, plus a smattering of press and international friends - were beginning to arrive. Somewhere, a violin was being played. Three men were already seated there as Charles led his guests through the big glass doors: an older gentleman with thin, graying hair and a Merinan flag pin on his suit lapel; a middle-aged man in pressed military fatigues with a patch over his left eye and his left sleeve buttoned up at the elbow; and, finally, a lank and very sunburnt Kaedweni dressed in khaki. The reverend Michael joined them, the four facing their guests, while Charles remained standing aside, apparently enraptured by the cityscape beyond the glass. The priest now took the lead.

"May I introduce you to the Merinan ambassador to Kaedwen, Jean-Torre Bonno" The older man smiled and nodded, before Michael swept over the other two men in turn "Brigadier Yaya Musa, of the Merinan National Armed Forces" The brigadier raised his left stump in salute "And last, but my no means least, Mr Dirk Williamson, head of the Free State Intelligence Service. Each of us is committed to bringing peace and freedom to Merina, and each of us has a piece to present to you which we hope can convince you of the righteousness of our cause. Mr Williamson, I believe you are best place to inform our guests on the situation on the ground, please do lead away"

"Thank-you Reverend" Dirk gave the priest a deferential nod, pushing back his long curls of dark blonde fair away from his face "I'm Dirk, and as you've heard I'm with the Free State Intelligence Service. The FSIS, if not the entirety of the wider FSF leadership, is supportive of this project; we believe peace can only be brought about at the negotiating table, war simply begets more war. The current situation, in brief, is such" He took out a large map of Merina, heavily annotated, and placed it on the table, facing towards the guests "The Merinan government - that is to say, President Nguessa's Merinan National Armed Forces - control approximately half of the country: fully the Iloff, Anuk and Qast regions, along with the eastern and central portions of Urhano, and a strip across the centre of Biathala connecting the naval base at Kankato to the rest of the government's territory. The Free State forces control the balance of Urhano, between the Little Matadi and the sea, while the communist Peoples' Army of Merina controls the big cities of Biathala, Qarkhoi and Makeni. The National Liberation Army holds much of the south, Bataar and Mbuni regions, including the capital, Katamba, while Pindari guerrillas have risen up and hold much of the east - the Pindar and Xhol regions"

"This much is known, though few details are common knowledge outside of those directly effected by the fighting" Dirk took a pause for breath, producing five paper files and placing these on the table, in turn. Each bore the name of one of the combatants in Merina's war "The FSIS has been tracking all fronts in this war, many of us were doing so even before the inception of the Free State, and these dossiers contain selected crimes, and evidence thereof, of crimes committed on all fronts by all parties. Here, for example" He picked up the folder marked 'Merinan National Armed Forces' and flicked through apparently at random "The government holds the port of Qarkhoi under siege, and here we have pictures showing their warships bombarding the city, and below is an image of the aftermath of one of the strikes" The picture showed a small market square in chaos, blood and gore abundant, with a smoking crater in the road "Five people were killed in that attack, all civilians" He flicked to another page "This report details an action in the east, where the MNAF were attempting to drive up the Pindar valley towards Qandaris in the early days of the war" There were two photographs in the pack - one showing half a dozen young Pindari men shackled naked to meathooks, suspended above the ground while uniformed soldiers beat them savagely, while the other showed a trench of a barren hillside where a pair of militants lay in grotesque poses, a government trooper kneeling beside them in a gas mask "These images were taken by an MNAF intelligence officer whom we later captured near Qarkhoi, showing torture and possible use of chemical warfare agents against Pindari separatists"

"There are hundreds more like this" He placed the dossier down, picking up the one labelled 'Free State Forces' in its place "Even my own side, I am sad to say, have a far from spotless record. Look here" Another page at random, a picture of a village below the Drakkenbjorg. Bodies in the street, one with a rifle, more without "Badikaha, a village just behind government lines in Urhano. An FSF strike against an enemy communications centre killed sixty-three noncombatants. Some killed in the crossfire, some not. Charges were brought against the commander of the operation, though no one was ever convicted. I could go on, but I think I'd really just be labouring the point. It's a bad kind of war, there's some real savagery here, and innocent people are dying"

"The international community has already intervened once in the region over less" He continued "And the action in Marsailles was both righteous and decisive. The people of Merina are now in their hour of need, and deserve no less than their neighbours"

129
Vignettes / Re: Dispatches from Merina
« on: January 23, 2020, 11:08:23 PM »
The Siege of Qarkhoi: Part I
The Daily Hate

David Muamba; The Old Royal Palace, Old Quarter, Qarkhoi, Merina

The sprawling port city of Qarkhoi was the largest in Merina, before the war home to some twenty-million souls, now rendered a scene of apocalypse. The Peoples' Army of Merina (PAM, as the acronym was used with affection) had launched their revolution here eighteen months earlier, just as President Nguessa's regime were fleeting Katamba ahead of the apparently victorious allied armies. The revolutionary fervor of those heady days was long gone, with both the city and her people hollowed-out by the months of conflict. The centre of the vast megacity was dominated by a pair of high hills, forming a steep, rocky spine amidst the swampland upon which the rest of the city had been built on either side.

Whilst the high ground now held an advantage - of sorts - it was the lowland which had made Qarkhoi. The city was built between the mouths of Merina's two great arterial waterways: the mighty Rhoynar to the north, cutting a blue-grey swath across the north and west of Merina, and the wide, slow loops of the Kaegera to the south, meandering away through the south and east of the country. And it was these waterways that now threatened to destroy the city that they had helped create. The north bank of the Rhoynar was a no-mans-land, the scene of innumerable skirmishes between Peoples' Army patrols and their opposite numbers from the Free State Forces and Merinan National Army. Off to the south, meanwhile, beyond the Kaegera lay the regime stronghold of Kankato, home of the Merinan National Navy.

They were warships of the MNN which David - younger cousin to the communist leader Sony - was studying now. Qarkhoi's Old Royal Palace sat on the western end of the spur forming the city's spine, dominating the city's waterfront from the heights on which it sat. In days gone by, the view was famously delightful, and both the palace and the gardens on the slopes below had drawn many a family and courting couple. Now, of course, what greenery remained in the gardens concealed the communist guns - a handful of captured 122mm field pieces - and the palace complex their spotters.

The MNN's Captains knew this too. Steaming into view from the south, the destroyer Nyame led the sloop Ikenga, both with their forward gun turrets trained on their starboard quarter, directly up at the Palace on the hill. For now, the gunners on both sides held their nerves, they'd all done this before. The Hate, that's what David's comrades called it; a ritualized routine of violence borne of the frustration on both sides over the stalemate which had broken out across the Biathala front. A raid for a raid, barrage met with barrage. Supplies to the forward units on all sides regularly cut off, though almost always restored in time.

Nyame fired the first shots, her five-inch guns going long, the shells falling somewhere in the once-affluent upper city.

"Hold on" David warned his fire controllers, the little cluster of them occupied a cramped spot under the roof, tell-tale radio antennas poked through holes caused by previous shell splinters. Neither side could afford the ammunition for an extended action, but David's gunners could afford it even less.

Ikenga tried next, though her four-inch guns had little more success.

"Hold... hold..." David waited, watching the ships close in, both now firing freely, if inaccurately "Hold... now!"

The order went out. With a crash, the hidden guns on the shore opened up. Great plumes shot up seconds later, shells straddling the distant Nyame, though none seeming to strike true. Somewhat extraneously, a feeble siren droned somewhere in the city. A few more shots exchanged, then the raiders began to break off to the west, heading back out to sea. Ikenga began to make smoke, while both switched their fire to Qarkhoi's little harbor, where picturesque little fishing boats lay drawn up in the surf. This would be their real target; the sea was a vital source of food for the besieged city. David let his gunners loose a few more salvos, then sighed.

"Cease fire" He had to tap the fire control officer's shoulder to get his attention over the roar of the guns "They're leaving, nothing more we can do"

The officer, a grim-faced little man whose huge arms - something akin to pythons, if pythons got tattoos, or had the concept of mothers - betrayed his pedigree as the actual gunner on the team, simply nodded before growling a brusque command down the radio. Their guns fell silent almost at once, the raiders obligingly following suite shortly thereafter. The whole little action was over in a few minutes, but David was suddenly aware of the burning sensation in his legs where he'd been crouched under the roof. He shuffled back awkwardly from his little peephole, standing stiffly.

"I think" He said, to no one in particular "That means its time for breakfast"

130
Diplomacy and Events / Re: An Appeal to the Free Peoples of Mundus
« on: January 22, 2020, 10:19:32 PM »

In Response to Her Majesty Queen Klara II

Your Majesty,

On behalf of my people, I am humbled by your generosity. The situation in our country is complex enough for those of us who have lived through it, even I must admit, and our hope is that our activities will be able to bring one of Mundus' forgotten tragedies to international attention.

We shall look forwards to meeting with your representative, and we are able to offer him a private council prior to the conference beginning where more frank words may be exchanged, should you desire details of the more sensitive aspects of our organisation; I am assured of your trustworthiness in this matter, and I am sure that any such sensitive information shall be held in suitable confidentiality by you and your government.

With regards to your offer of a more permanent liaison arrangement, we feel that this is something that would be better discussed in full with Lord Ivanov during our council with him, though again I can only thank you for your most gracious offer.

Yours,

Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto
President of the Free Merinan Association



In Response to Head Gothi Ulfsson

Head Gothi Ulfsson,

We are glad that you share our resolve to bring about a lasting peace, and shall be honored to receive Ms Strand. With regards to your offer of alternative conference facilities, while we all are most touched by your offer, on this occasion we feel that we must decline. The Merinan community has been here in Belmont for decades, and we feel that a conference of this kind is best conducted amongst our own people, even if we are indeed so very far from home.

Yours,

Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto
President of the Free Merinan Association


Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto; Foyer, Headquarters of the Free Merinan Association, Freedom Tower, Little Katamba, Belmont, the Republic of Kaedwen

Little Katamba, on the south side of the Kaedweni capital Belmont, had been home to a Merinan community in exile since the mid-1970's, the Kaedweni government having aligned itself with the faltering royalist government in Katamba decades earlier, and subsequently extending this support more broadly to enemies of the Nguessa regime after the rise to power of the brutal dictator. The Freedom Tower, a glittering monolith of glass and steel soaring over the seafront in the otherwise middle-class at best district, had been built at the behest of a consortium of predominantly Merinan-owned businesses and organisations, including the Free Merinan Association, who's headquarters now occupied the upper three floors of the tower, offering stunning views out over the city of Belmont, with the aquamarine of Peniche Bay to the east and greens and tans of the high bushveldt to the west.

The foyer was set up as for a diplomatic engagement, with a large Merinan tricolour draped across one wall and the large glass double-doors opposite the lift shaft wide open, offering unfettered access to the broad balcony beyond. The space was almost empty, as none of the attending press or dignitaries had yet arrived. Charles leaned leisurely against a trestle table well-supplied with nibbles, picking at a slightly-too-small cocktail sausage as he chatted to his companion and awaited the early arrival of the Lodjian, Lord Besarian Ivanov.

131
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: January 19, 2020, 10:21:31 PM »
International Association for a Free Merina

The International Association for a Free Merina is organisation of Merinan exiles dedicated to marshaling the many Merinans who have fled their nation's many wars, providing a network of mutual support and seeking a better future for their country. The organisation is an old one, tracing its origins back at least three-hundred years to the fraternal organisations of Merinans abroad, fleeing the excesses of the monarchs of the day. In its modern form, the Association was created in 1973 in Belmont, Kaedwen, by refugees fleeing the warlord Nguessa's newly-minted Presidency. In the last eighteen months, the Association has seen a steady swelling of its membership, now in the tens of thousands, and has been heavily involved with providing means of escape, shelter and provisions for refugees from the current war.

The Association also has a network of supporters within Merinan society, though these tend to work more discreetly for fear of retribution from one of the warring factions or another. Most prominent of these are the Most Reverend Eduard Hassisi, Archbishop of Katamba, and the Chancellor of the Merinan International University, Professor Chole Bital.

The Association possesses an elected President and executive branch, making it in many ways the organisation with the greatest democratic mandate currently active in Merinan politics. The incumbent President of the Association is Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto, a former diplomat in exile since 1976. In a strange twist of fate, Charles is in fact the half-breed bastard grandson of the last King of Merina, though he has never publicly acknowledged this.

132
Diplomacy and Events / An Appeal to the Free Peoples of Mundus
« on: January 19, 2020, 10:02:49 PM »
Professor Chloe Bital; Chancellor's Office, Merinan International University, Katamba, Merina

The dark office was lit only by the pale light of the laptop screen, the curtains drawn tight against the stormy night outside. Chole Bital - the fifty-something Chancellor of Merina's premier educational institution - gazed blearily at the little image of herself on the screen as the video call connected, she somehow looked older, tireder and more pudgy than even she felt, she thought irritably. What was Charles playing at? She had no idea what the time was wherever it was that he was now, though the call wasn't exactly an unexpected. With an electronic ping, the call connected, and the room was suddenly bathed in bright daylight, or at least the part with her laptop screen in it was.

"Hey Chole" The man on her screen began "Tell me you've got good news?"

"Charlie" She smiled "I do indeed! I spoke with Ed this afternoon, and we're both happy with your last draft. Though he is keen to emphasize that you need to redact our names from the public release, at least initially; the Order aren't strong enough to protect us from Bemba's men, we can't go public. Not yet, at least"

The Ed to which she referred was, more formally, the Most Reverend Eduard Hassisi, the Archbishop of Katamba and head of the powerful Catholic Church in Merina. The Order was the Order of the Holy Sepulcher, the Merinan Catholic Church's paramilitary wing of dubious legality, but now, at least, substantial utility.

"I quite understand" Charlie nodded solemnly, his startling blue eyes gazing at her, his dark features framed by close-cropped white hair and beard "We may yet be able to win the Marshal to our cause, doubly so if we are able to leverage the weight of international opinion... But of course, I would't want to put either of you at any more risk than you already are"

"Thanks, Charlie" She nodded back, before yawning reflexively "Look, I'd love to chat, but I really do need to get some sleep. All this sneaking around, all the late nights... I'd swear my staff must think I'm having an affair"

"Ha" Charles chucked, smiling broadly "Well, go and get your sleep, and I shall set things in motion. And, perhaps, when you awake the world will be a different place, no?"

"Every night I pray for the same" Her hands went unconsciously for the rosary beads hanging from her neck "Maybe tonight will be the one"

"Maybe" Charles finished, noncommittally "Good night, Chloe, sleep well and we shall speak once events are in motion"

The screen went black.



To the Free Peoples of Mundus,

I come to you a supplicant, not for myself - for I have lived many years and have few enough of them ahead of me anyway - but for my poor countrymen who have been rendered voiceless by conflict. Eighteen months ago, the hated dictator Olumbe Nguessa was driven from power, and for a short while we began to believe that the years of darkness were ending for us. But this was not to be, and now my poor country is once again torn apart by war and strife. The ranks of we exiles beyond Merina's shores grows day by day, and within our nation yet more souls are adrift amidst a sea of war.

Pride; it is sinful, and with good reason, and now we find that we must swallow ours. Merinans have proven ourselves incapable of solving our own problems, and so we must turn to the mercy of the international community in order to bring about a peaceful resolution to the current situation. Our struggle is twofold; first, to provide succor to the growing numbers driven from their homes - both those abroad and those still within Merina - and, second, to end the fighting and bring about a peaceful resolution to the war.

To this end, we shall be hosting a conference at our headquarters in Belmont, Kaedwen, to be open to diplomats and NGOs alike, with the aim of demonstrating to the international community the severity of the situation in which our people find themselves, and to explore ways in which the conflict may be brought to a swift and amicable conclusion. This initiative has not only the support of our community of Merinans in exile, but also of many prominent Merinans at home, though these must go unnamed at present, both for their own safety and that of their families.

With my warmest regards, I do hope to see you soon,

Charles van de Mar-Ekembitoto
President of the Free Merinan Association

133
Vignettes / Re: Dispatches from Merina
« on: January 18, 2020, 12:52:57 AM »
The Winter of Discontent
First Frost

Bambidela Paquet; Urhano Region, Merina

A frigid wind scoured the bleak hills straddling the centre of Merina's Urhano region; the summer's upland scrub turned to wilderness by unseasonable cold and the ravages of war. Their convoy picked a careful route across the desolate landscape, glimpses of the great grey ribbon of the river Rhonar, and the distant lowland plains of Biathala, occasionally visable away to the south, while the snowbound peaks of the Mitulli Mountains crowded the northern skyline. More ominously, the jagged shape of the Drakkenbjorg loomed large ahead of them - to the west - her massive granite sides marking the southern extent of the mountains and dominating the old highland road to Donze where it snaked through the Drakkenbjorg pass, above the freezing mountain waters of the Little Matadi river.

The Drakkenbjorg was the objective of their hosts - men of President Nguessa's Urhano Rangers - and the paramilitary frontiersmen gazed out at the surrounding landscape warily as they passed, their trio of little trucks loaded to the gunwales with armed men. Their commander, the usually lean and aggressive - though on this occasion his demeanor was rather more demure - Major Hakuni T'Lakka shared the journalists' jeep, sitting tensely in the back seat, across from the great bulk of Derek van der Merwe. Bambidela listened intently to their conversation, surreptitiously jotting down the juicer details while Ade drove in silence, his eyes as wide as those of the troops hanging off the back of the truck in front.

"The Drakkenbjorg" The major was saying, his words slurring a little as he took a neat sip of potent Kaedweni whiskey from the silver hip flask Derek proffered "Thank-you, Derek. Now, the Drakkenbjorg, she is the key to our fight here. He who controls the mountain controls the Donze road, and the Donze road beyond the pass will take us down from the hills and into their very homes, and there we shall slaughter them like the cattle they are! Oh, yes! But the mountain herself, she is a formidable obstacle and, if I am to be completely honest with you, the men that we have here are not sufficient to take her yet. So we must be ever vigilant, and patrol aggressively to keep the enemy in their holes! Else they will come down from the hills and bring fire and death to the folk here..."

"And it's the scene of one of these raids you're going to show us today?" Derek prompted, allowing a slight pause to confirm that the Major was beginning to run out of steam.

"Yes, yes" The Major nodded "A village, we thought it behind our lines. The mercenaries came in the night, day before last, and left not a soul alive in that place. A company from the Urhano Brigade was stationed nearby, and managed to drive the raiding party off, though it was too late to save the people there..."

"Do you know the name of this place?"

"They call it" Major T'Lakka screwed up his face in thought for a second, then clicked his fingers as it came to him "Badikaha" Bambi wrote that down "That is right, I think"

And, presently, they came to a place where a pall of smoke hung over a rough clearing cut into the bush. A handful of adobe compounds clustered around a rocky crag, maybe a dozen families had lived here, and a small chapel occupied the crest of the small ridge, alongside the spindly form of a radio tower. Or, rather, what remained of one. The Major halted the convoy in the bush beyond the village and sent men ahead on foot. These apparently made contact with more government soldiers guarding the ruins, and the vehicles were soon beckoned forward and parked in what amounted to the settlement's central square. Major T'Lakka intimated that the journalists were free to explore and - he rather made a point of this - document what they saw, before hurrying off to speak with the garrison commander.

Derek sauntered up the hill towards the little chapel, Bambi hurrying behind with his camera, while Ade remained obstinately with their jeep. A handful of mourners carried a small coffin out as they approached, progressing slowly and solemnly down the hill to where a similarly small grave had been eked out from the poor soil just beyond the last compound, while a dozen engineers in camouflage fatigues attempted to salvage what remained of the radio tower.

"What a terrible business this war is..." Derek began with an air of detachment, to no one in particular.

"Who could do a thing like this?" Bambi gaped, the sight of the little coffin conjuring uncomfortable images of his little niece "And why? There must be a thousand villages like this one in this country, these people had nothing worth taking, even..."

"We'll have to ask our security expert" Derek referred to Ade whom, they could see back down the hill, was busying himself with their jeep, and chatting away merrily to one of the watching militiamen "I'm sure he'll have something to say, we'll just need to tease it out of him"

So the pair - the fat Kaedweni journalist and the balding cameraman - wandered through the village called Badikaha as one moves through a dream, taking in the scene of death and destruction. Spent casings rolled underfoot in the compounds and alleyways, part of a sandbagged barrier hung limp and scorched from a rooftop and a half dozen small craters scarred the ground. Coming through to the other end of the village, the ground fell away sharply towards the Little Matadi, the fast-flowing river rushing through its narrow canyon far below. A few miles to the north, the Drakkenbjorg loomed at the head of the river. Bambi took a string of photographs, including one he felt very fetching of the far side of the river valley, with the Drakkenbjorg in the corner of the shot, just as the weak winter sun began to slip below the horizon. Before night had settled in completely, they were shepherded back into their vehicle by Major T'Lakki's men and escorted the short drive to their base.

The Major was nervous, and with good reason.

134
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: November 24, 2019, 08:41:54 PM »
Map of Merina



Spoiler: Old Map • show



135
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: November 24, 2019, 08:33:50 PM »
Faction Overview: Peoples' Army of Merina

History: Communism in Merina - and Sony Muamba's Merinan Peoples' Party in particular - was banned under the former Nguessa reigime, though enjoyed a not insignificant following amongst the urban poor, with the dockers and factory workers of Qarkhoi being infamously militant. The Peoples' Army existed for a decade before the outbreak of war, acting as the paramilitary arm of the trade unions, and engaging in running battles with police and private security forces during numerous industrial disputes over the years. This pre-war Peoples' Army has served as something as a cadre force, allowing a rapid mobilization of trade unionists and breakroom socialists in the big cities once it became clear that the government's days were numbered.

Intent: Establishing Merina as a socialist state and hence liberating the workers from the shackles of capitalism.

Current Position: Controls the major cities of Makeni and Kholda; engaged in heavy fighting with government troops over the port city of Quarkhoi, which the Peoples' Army considers to be its spiritual home. Cadre forces in place across the rest of the major cities preparing to launch a general rising.

Leader: Sony Muamba

Forces: The Peoples' Army is poorly organised and lacks heavy equipment - save that captured from government units and depots - but possesses many tough and determined soldiers and leaders, many of whom are hugely committed to the cause. Many are former soldiers and militiamen, though most are urbanites with little understanding of the world outside of the big cities. In terms of strength, the Peoples' Army can reliably call on some twenty-thousand men under arms, in a variety of ad-hoc formations.

136
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: June 30, 2019, 07:35:36 PM »
Faction Overview: National Liberation Army

History: Guardsmen have often been the kingmakers in Merinan history, with Nguessa himself having formerly commanded a brigade of republican guards before becoming President. Diakame Bemba is the latest to take part in this long and storied Merinan tradition, having switched sides to join the National Unity Council as their uprising gathered momentum, bringing with him the elite Impera Brigade, among a handful of other former Merinan National Armed Forces units. Following the collapse of the NUC, Bemba has carved for himself a fiefdom around the old capital, bolstering his initial troops with deserters from Nguessa's forces, along with allied tribal militias and fresh recruits.

Bemba rules as a military governor; although severe of aspect, his administration is functional in Katamba and its environs. This, along with the degree of popular support which such effectiveness has yielded, has been used by Bemba to justify his rule. Although he seems to be rather less brutal than Nguessa, and remarkably forward-thinking for a Merinan warlord in many regards, few would stake a great deal on his pledge to permit free and fair elections once the war is over.

Intent: The unification of Merina under the National Liberation Army banner.

Current Position: In control of Katamba and some surrounding territory.

Leader: Marshal Diakame Bemba

Forces: The National Liberation Army fields a combined-arms force, with infantry, armour, artillery and aviation assets, although these are somewhat variable in quality. The Impera Brigade are arguably the best heavy formation fielded by any faction in Merina, in terms of equipment, training and motivation, although the combination of deserters and fresh recruits with which many other units have been brought back up to strength has left their effectiveness rather more in doubt. The equipment of the NLA is much the same as that of the MNAF.

The field forces of the NLA are bolstered by local volunteer and tribal militias, as well as a highly militarized internal security apparatus. Likewise to their regular counterparts, these units are of a mixed effectiveness, with some fighters being highly motivated while others are barely willing to fight. These disregarded, the National Liberation Army commands the following formations:

Impera Brigade Group:
Impera Brigade
61st Independent Armoured Battalion
Long-Range Reconnaissance Group

1st Division
12th Brigade
7th Brigade
32nd Brigade

2nd Division
3rd Brigade
19th Brigade
26th Brigade

Airborne Brigade Group
16th Airborne Brigade
Independent Pathfinder Battalion

Aviation Brigade
Fighter Group
Attack Group
Transport Group
Helicopter Assault Group

137
Diplomacy and Events / Re: In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash (Tamora and Merina)
« on: June 30, 2019, 05:15:14 PM »
Daniel van Irwen; Donze, Merina

The rooftop terrace was lit by the warm glow of the setting sun as it dipped beyond the azure waters of the Strait of Shaw, the distant sounds and smells of the city evening drifting gently up from fourteen floors below. The Chief Executive Officer - as he liked to style himself - was leaning leisurely against the glass balustrade, gazing off into the middle distance, clad in his usual white polo shirt and khaki shorts. This was Sir Andrew Carmichael-Smyth, the unassuming forty-something businessman with his slicked-back black hair, just beginning to run to grey around the edges, and sunburned complexion who had come to head a breakaway state fighting in a brutal civil war thousands of miles from home.

"Mr van Irwen to see you, Sir" The valet wheedled, bringing his master's attention back to the world. Daniel stepped forward smiling. Nearing forty himself, the Kaedweni mercenary was one half of van Irwens' Free Company, which he ran along with his brother Jason. He wore his own khaki fatigues, for once freshly laundered, dusty combat boots and a perpetual expression of faint amusement.

"Ah, so I see" The CEO responded, turning with a smile and a cloud of exhaled cigar smoke "Daniel, my dear boy, it's so good to see you again. Come, please do partake of my hospitality"

"Generous as always, Sir Andrew" Daniel smiled back, taking the proffered cigar and following the CEO across the lavish rooftop deck to the big carved conference table which sat in the shade of an olive grove. Once both men had seated themselves, Sir Andrew grinned, pulled out a copy of Polakis' communique and pushed it across the table towards Daniel.

"Not bad, eh" Daniel grinned back, having paused for a moment to read the note "But I take it you'll not be wanting this fella shot. Which begs the question: what is it you're thinking and how do I fit into it?"

"Perceptive as ever, old friend" Sir Andrew responded, punctuating this statement with a leisurely pull on his cigar "You're a down-to-earth fella and for you I'll cut to the chase; I want you to come with me. This is for two reasons. One, Zimalia is scarcely a more peaceful setting than our current one, so I'd be much obliged to have a few reliable guns at my back when we go out there. And, two, call it a hunch, but I'd bet good money that this Tamoran fella's gonna take an interest in this little war of ours, and, if something comes up at these talks, I want my best man on the case"

"Right. I see. When do we leave?"

"As soon as we make good our arrangements" Sir Andrew chuckled softly "Have your team ready for this time tomorrow. We shall fly, I think"


TO: Thanasis Polakis

Re: Meeting Proposal

Dear Mr Polakis,

Many thanks for getting in touch. My associates and I with the Merinan Free State have long held your organisation in high regard, and I would be gladdened to accept your offer of a meeting between the two of us. We agree that a neutral location would be ideal, as a high-profile visit could be seen as unnecessarily provocative at this time.

We look forward to working with you.

Best regards,

Sir Andrew Carmichael-Smyth
First Minister of the Merinan Free State

138
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: April 21, 2019, 11:46:17 AM »
Faction Overview: Pindari Fedayeen

History: The remote eastern region of Pindar has a long history of conflict, even moreso than Merina as a whole. The fractious Pindari tribes have a history largely of their own, are largely of a different faith and largely view them selves apart from other Merinans. Though much the same could be said of a plethora of tribal and ethnic groups within Merina - particularly those in the highlands - the Pindaris are the largest and most independent such group.

'Fedayeen' translates as 'those who sacrifice themselves' - for Pindaris, this is more than a moniker, and Pindari Fedayeen have historically been uncompromising and hardy warriors. The present self-styled Fedayeen, drawing on this tradition, had been engaged in sporadic fighting with local government forces before the beginning of the civil war, aggrieved by corruption and brutal suppression of Pindari language and culture.

Intent: The creation of a free and independent Pindari state.

Current Position: In control of Pindar and some of the surrounding territories, with the exception of small local holdouts.

Leader: Prince Ike Ezana

Forces: The core of the Pindari forces consists of around 10,000 battle-hardened guerilla fighters, provisioned with a hodge-podge of light weapons and equipment. Though motivated, they are sorely lacking motorisation or heavy equipment. These are supported by a force of irregular Pindari militia, though these units suffer from an even greater shortage of equipment. A nascent Pindari air force does also exist, though this can field only a handful of captured government aircraft, and has thus far been hamstrung by a lack of fuel, spares and trained personnel.

139
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: April 20, 2019, 11:18:08 AM »
Faction Overview: Merinan Free State

History: Merina's abundance of natural resources are as lucrative as they are dangerous to exploit. Banditry, corruption and tribal violence have all plagued the country for decades, and as a result foreign businesses operating in the country have a long history of employing soldiers of their own - both locals and foreign mercenaries - to protect their interests, and, on occasion, engage in corporate warfare of a more literal kind.

With the start of the most recent civil war, all factions have - either as policy or through low-level acts of banditry - taken to appropriating private assets as a means to raise revenue. As a result, business interests began to overcome old rivalries and band together to pursue collective interests.

Intent: The re-establishment of law and order for the facilitation of normal business to resume.

Current Position: The Free State currently holds very little in terms of geographic territory, and that which they do hold consists of disparate enclaves around pre-war installations. The largest enclave is around the coastal city of Donze, long the principal export port for Merinan ore and petrochemical products, which also forms the Free State's headquarters and principal base of operations.

Leader: Sir Andrew Carmichael-Smyth

Forces: The Free State Forces (FSF) consist primarily of mercenary soldiers, alongside allied militiamen and local commanders. The core of the FSF consists of around 5,000 men, mostly lightly armed but highly experienced Kaedweni mercenaries. Heavy equipment is rather lacking, though helicopters, light vehicles and watercraft are all available to support FSF operations.

140
Vignettes / Dispatches from Merina
« on: April 18, 2019, 07:41:02 PM »
Table of Contents

Bambidela 'Bambi' Paquet

1) Meeting an Old Friend
2) The Winter of Discontent: First Frost

The Merinan War

1) The Siege of Qarkhoi Part I: The Daily Hate
2) FSS Hotspur v. MNS Chiwara: Tango in the Night

3) Generals Gathered in their Masses: the Despot's Legions
4) Generals Gathered in their Masses: Brothers Grim

5) The Merinan War Part III: Climb Mount Ngaliema
6) The Merinan War Part IV: The Makeni Incident

7) The Merinan War Part V: The Rogue Marshal's Men
8) The Merinan War Part VI: Appel aux Armes

9) The Merinan War Part VII: This Turbulent Priest

10) The Merinan War Part VIII: The View from the Front
11) The Merinan War Part IX: Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics


Bambidela Paquet; Katamba, Merina

The old man on the stage crooned down about some long-lost love, plucking away soulfully on an old guitar, while the cafe patrons sat at their cheap plastic tables drinking, smoking and gambling their troubles away. The little place was down on the old fish market, the gentle breeze blowing in off the river and the distant chirp of crickets rendering the scene peaceful, almost idyllic. The war seemed a million miles away.

Bambi - as his friends called him, though there were precious few of them left these days - was the wrong side of thirty, balding and out of shape; he fit right in amongst the press acolytes - cameramen, engineers and office workers - who frequented this establishment. In many ways, these were Merina's lucky few. They were still in jobs, and not half bad ones, all things considered. Foreign media weren't exactly clamoring for news from the warzone, though a few had taken enough interest to sniff around for a story. One of these, Kaedwen's Daily Sun, had taken Bambi on not long after he'd arrived in the capital, almost a year ago now.

Presently, two men approached, looming through the cigarette smoke. The first was an old college, as close as damned it to a friend as Bambi had in Katamba. Derek van der Merwe, the fat but surprisingly energetic Daily Sun reporter, was a Kaedweni, and by far the whitest man in the place. He was followed by a short, but powerfully built, Merinan with a shaven head and close-cropped beard.

"Bambi" Derek smiled, dropping a big plastic cup containing cheap beer on the table, pulling up a chair and gesturing for the third man to do the same "How doing in here, mate?"

"All good boss" Bambi lied, as Derek took a big swig of his own drink "To be totally honest, I'm curious to hear this proposition of yours is. Who's this other fella?"

"All in good time" Derek replied, still smiling "But yeah, introductions. Right. This fine gentleman here" A quick gesture to the man beside him, who smiled nervously, revealing a mouth full of broken teeth "Is Ade Ayodele. Recent recruit to the office, security expert"

"Its a pleasure" Bambi smiled at the new man, offering his hand.

"Likewise" Ade replied, in a surprisingly soft voice, offering a hand like a bear paw on the end of an arm criss-crossed with tattoos and scars.

"Which brings me neatly on to my proposition to you" Derek ginned devilishly "I've got a little project of mine cleared by the company. If we're gonna cover the war, we're not going to do it from Katamba. There are stories here, true enough, but they get here six months old and third hand from some truck driver who met a guy who might've heard something in a bar from some other fucking guy. No mate, if we're gonna get the real stories - honest to god, big money stories - and get them first, then we need to be in amongst it, out in the fucking sticks, we've gotta live this!" Another big drink punctuated his rising excitement "Okay, okay, I'll get to the point. I need a cameraman. And I want you, buddy. What do you say? Will you come with me?"

Bambi though about it for a second.

"I'm in" He nodded.

141
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina
« on: April 16, 2019, 01:38:11 PM »
Merina 2019 Update

Following the events of Breaking the Cycle, the state of Merina is now divided between five armed factions, with general lawlessness and banditry prevailing in between. In brief, these factions are:

Olumbe Nguessa's Merinan National Armed Forces - Having rallied his troops following the loss of the capital last year, President Nguessa's Merinan National Armed Forces (MNAF) have consolidated their positions as the rebel National Unity Council collapsed. A dictator with a penchant for brutality, Nguessa remains unpopular across most of the country, though he has pledged to hold elections once government control is restored to the whole country.

Diakame Bemba's National Liberation Army - The former commander of the presidential guard, Bemba's forces are largely comprised of deserters from the MNAF complimented by allied tribal militias. With the fragmenting of the National Unity Council, Bemba's forces have been left holding the capital - Katamba - and its environs, but little else of the country.

Ike Ezana's Pindari Fedayeen - A tribal nobleman from the eastern region of Pindar, Ezana's forces are comprised of untrained - but by now including some highly experienced - tribal fighters from a loose alliance of clans from Pindar and neighboring regions. The Pindari Fedayeen desire independence for their homeland, though deep grudges are also held against the former regime.

Sony Muamba's People's Army of Merina - A communist firebrand before the war, Muamba's men are proud volunteers, mostly recruited from the slums and factories of Merina's big cities. Having amassed a large and highly motivated force, if under-equipped and poorly trained, the People's Army commands massive support in Merina's cities, though their reformist zeal has made them more than a few enemies in more rural regions.

Sir Andrew Carmichael-Smyth's Merinan Free State - Merina commands vast reserves of natural resources - including oil, gas and precious metals - and several substantial industrial concerns exist with vested interests in the security of the extraction of these. The MFS commands a mishmash of mercenaries and local militiamen strung out across half the country, and have eked out an enclave around their coastal export terminus. 

((OOC: Will flesh these out later on. Might even stretch to a map))

142
Factbooks and Maps / Re: The Republic of Kaedwen
« on: April 16, 2019, 01:34:00 PM »
Kaedwen 2019 Update

Since the events of The Kaedwen Emergency, Kaedwen has remained on edge. Intermittent rioting and violence has plagued several inner city area, and race relations are still poor. Large-scale violence has so far been averted, though sporadic attacks have been launched against security forces in remote outstations. And a RoKN attack submarine - RoKS Gorgon - remains officially unaccounted for, having initially been belied sunk following an incident in the Krimeton during August 2018.

143
Factbooks and Maps / Re: The Republic of Kaedwen
« on: April 16, 2019, 11:33:14 AM »
Map of Kaedwen


((OOC Note: Had this sat on the hard drive for a while, finished it today. Excuse poor quality :P ))

144
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina (WIP)
« on: August 12, 2018, 08:55:32 PM »
Semper Fi - Forces of the Nguessa Reigime

While the National Alliance has been able to co-opt many former Merinan Armed Forces members to its side, the core of the old armed forces has remained loyal to the former President Nguessa, especially amongst the ranks of the navy and air force, whose conscript soldiers typically enjoyed better pay and conditions then they could have expected receive in civilian life, with technical specialists having been particularly prized. Therefore, where desertions from amongst the ranks of the MNA's conscript soldiers have been made good with reorganization and the incorporation of loyalist militia units into the ranks, the Nguessa Regime has retained the in the main its capability to field heavy and complex weapon systems, including tanks and aircraft, which the rebels of the National Alliance cannot really match.

Merinan National Army

Despite being driven from the capital, and the defection or dissolution of several formations wholesale, including the much-vaunted Impera Brigade, the Nguessa Regime retains a large if unwieldy fighting force in the field. From the seven divisions of the pre-war National Army, three 'new army' divisions have been created through reorganization; oftentimes this has required the incorporation of loyalist militia forces into regular army formations, therefore giving many MNA formations a rather less professional appearance and mixed equipment, though many are no less effective for it.

A Merinan National Army Brigade typically fields three 'line' battalions, one 'light' battalion - the 'light' troops typically being regarded as a cut above the 'line' infantrymen - in addition to a headquarters company, artillery battery, air defence battery and other ancillaries. The three full strength divisions remaining under Nguessa's banner constitute the bulk of the available government manpower, although IOG Mbeku is in all likelihood the most powerful formation still available to the former president, being almost wholly composed of career soldiers and having the pick of the foreign mercenaries still on Nguessa's payroll.

2nd Division
100 Brigade
101 Brigade
102 Brigade

3rd Division
103 Brigade
104 Brigade
105 Brigade

7th Division
106 Brigade
107 Brigade
108 Brigade

Independent Operational Group Mbeku
Paracommando Brigade
109 (Light) Brigade

Brigade Group West
110 Brigade
Naval Demi-Brigade

Armoured Battle Group Katamba
111 Brigade
Independent Armoured Battalion Katamba

Armoured Battle Group Qarkhoi
112 Brigade
Independent Armoured Battalion Qarkhoi

Equipment Includes:

AKM Assault Rifles
RPK Light Machine Guns
RP-46 General-Purpose Machine Guns
KPV Heavy Machine Guns

AGS-17 Automatic Grenade Launchers
RPG-18 Disposable Rocket Launchers
RPG-7 Rocket Launchers
SPG-9 Recoilless Rifles
Malyutka Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
Igla Man-Portable Air Defence System

82-BM Mortars
D-30 Howitzers
BM-21 Grad Multiple Rocket Launchers

M151 Light Utility Vehicle
'Technical' Armed Trucks (Various)
Ural 4320 General Purpose Truck
ABC-79M Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle and Personnel Carrier
BMP-1 Infantry Fighting Vehicles
BMD-2 Air-Mobile Infantry Fighting Vehicles (Paracomando Brigade Only)
T55 Main Battle Tanks

Merinan National Army Reserve Forces

The reserve component of the Merinan National Army, activated as an emergency measure in March 2020, the Reserve Forces consists of part-time soldiers who undertake periodic training in peacetime, but can be called up to serve in times of war, or sometimes to assist the civil authorities in times of need. Merinan Army Reservists are something of an intermediate force on the battlefields of the Merinan Crisis, being better trained and equipped than the various militia and volunteer units that have sprung up since the war began, but generally less effective than the full-time professionals.

Many pre-Crisis reservists have, indeed, found themselves living in areas no longer under government control, with some even enlisting to fight for other causes, though in the main they have remained true. Some have even undertaken great feats to join their units for mobilization, crossing many miles and even frontiers to answer the call to arms. One complete reserve division has been formed, along with three smaller formations, utilizing the same organisational structure as the regular Merinan National Army:

20th (Reserve) Division
201 Brigade
202 Brigade
203 Brigade

Reserve Mountain Command Qast
204 (Mountain) Brigade
205 (Mountain) Brigade

Reserve Armoured Battle Group Kholda
206 Brigade
Independent Armoured Battalion Kholda

Reserve Armoured Battle Group Makasa
207 Brigade
Independent Armoured Battalion Makasa

In terms of equipment, the Reserve units are generally similarly equipped to their regular counterparts, albeit with a lower priority for modernization programmes. In activating the reserve armoured units, the Merinan National Army has put its last reserves of T-55 tanks into service, though does retain a good number of possibly serviceable T-34-85M medium tanks (and similar equipment phased out of service over the decades), which may be bought into service to make good losses until an appropriate foreign supplier may be found.

Merinan National Air Force

With their higher pay, better conditions and lesser proportion of conscripts, the MNAF has retained much of its effective fighting strength thus far. Two aviation groups - III and V - have been dissolved due to losses, though these have mostly been incurred on the ground as airbases have been overrun. In addition to flight crew, the MNAF fields a full compliment of ground crew - including foreign technical experts (some of whom are rumoured to be 'ground' crew in name only) - service and support personnel.

The basic administrative unit of the MNAF is the Squadron, each consisting of three Wings of three aircraft each, giving one Squadron nine aircraft in nominal strength, although true availability rates can be lower, particularly for units engaged in heavy or prolonged combat duties. So long as the MNAF is able to retain its technical personnel and supplies of spare parts - the latter being no mean feat, given the variety of airframes in MNAF inventory - however, this should be no greater issue than it is for any other of Mundus' air forces.

Air Group I (Fighter) - Three Squadrons with L-39 Albatross

Air Group II (Fighter) - Two Squadrons with F-7 Airguard

Air Group IV (Attack) - Two Squadrons with A-5 Fantan, one with BAC 167 Strikemaster

Air Group VI (Attack) - Three Squadrons with EMB 314 Super Tucano

Air Group VII (Attack) - Three Squadrons with EMB 314 Super Tucano

Air Transport Command - Two Squadrons with C-119 Flying Boxcar, one with An-26 Curl

Rotary Aviation Command - Three Squadrons with Mi-8 Bee, three with UH-1 Huey, two with Mi-24 Hind

Merinan National Navy

While the MNN has long languished in terms of equipment, the vast majority have remained loyal to the former president. An unintended consequence of the obsolescence of much of the MNN's fleet is the capability of many of the low-tonnage vessels, particularly among the Navy Escort Group, to navigate relatively far upstream on Merina's inland waterways, allowing their obsolescent naval artillery to be brought to bear in support of ground operations. Further to this, many MNN vessels have received substantial modifications over the course of their long service lives, and now sport guided weapons systems and helicopter handling equipment.

Destroyer Flotilla
MNS Anansi
MNS Kwaku Ananse
MNS Nyame
MNS Asase Ya
MNS Chiwara (Lost in action against FSS Hotspur off Urhano, 12/04/2020)

Navy Escort Group
MNS Aha Njoko
MNS Ahmadohia
MNS Ikenga
MNS Ekwensu
MNS Onyeaja
MNS Agwu

Submarine Flotilla
MNS Roog
MNS Koox
MNS Kope
MNS Kogh Kox
MNS Takhar
MNS Tiuragh
MNS Pangool
MNS Jengu

Riverine Patrol Force
A mixed force of light riverine patrol craft and marine infantrymen approximately battalion-sized utilized in operations on and around Merina's complex network of inland waterways. Available watercraft include:
PBR
PACV
Hurricane Aircat

145
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina (WIP)
« on: August 12, 2018, 03:15:30 PM »
Former Nguessa Reigime - An Overview

The regime of the former President Nguessa, himself a former warlord, was driven from the capital by the National Alliance though still retains a degree of unity and not insubstantial military forces constituted from the remains of the Merinan Armed Forces. The core of the Nguessa regime is formed around the so-called "council of twelve" - close advisers of the former dictator in the spheres of politics, economics and civil administration, although the choicest seats on the council have always gone to the soldiers, preferably those with familial connections to Nguessa, such as the current chief of staff, Major General Alium Deumi, who is a cousin by marriage to the former president.

The Council of Twelve

Marshal of Merina Alium Deumi - Chief of Staff

Major General Mvondo Falemi - Army Operations Chief

Air Marshal Nana Atananaga - Air Operations Chief

Admiral Njondi Kwedi - Naval Operations Chief

Bertrand Tomou - Head of Intelligence

Matthew Kaham - Chief of the National Constabulary

Dani Maa Song - Director of the Secret Police

Mathurin Mbuta - Head of the National Labour Corps

Ibrahim E'tabe - Chief Accountant

Bernard Akkoto - Head of the Border Protection Corps

Etienne Ekeke - Head of the Civil Service

Christian Atandje - Director of the Foreign Service

The former president, Olumbe Nguessa, is not a part of the council, though they are each individually and collectively answerable to him. When in power, an ancillary organisation - the Merinan People's Assembly - existed, from whom the members of the council required approval, providing a measure of democracy to the process, although polling for the MPA was inconsistent and said to be riddled with corruption, with local assemblymen often becoming embroiled in the bitter back-and-forth of inter-clan politics and feuding. The Merinan Armed Forces formerly incorporated a core of long-service professional officers and NCOs - including a variety of foreign mercenaries, nominally 'advisers' - around which the forces were brought up to strength with young men undertaking national service. The exception to these were the 'elite' formations; the Impera Brigade - the presidential guard before their defection - and the Kaedweni-styled Paracommando Brigade are volunteer-only throughout. Regardless, the Merinan Armed Forces swore allegiance directly to the President, who styled himself as the father of the nation, as well as the head of the armed forces.

146
Diplomacy and Events / Breaking the Cycle
« on: August 12, 2018, 12:18:35 AM »
Prince Ike Ezana; Fasal Gebi, Katamba, Merina

An unseasonable rain was falling on the capital, dark clouds swirling overhead, as the column crusied down the Martyrs' Boulevard. Katamba bore the unmistakable scars of war, from the shell-holes in her mightiest buildings to the hollow looks in the eyes of her children, yet a modest crowd nonetheless watched with trepidation as the victorious allies passed before them. Though the fighting in the city was all but over, their convoy still bristled with weapons, from the Impera Brigade tank out front with its powerful gun and armour plate, to the militia fighters crammed onto every available surface of their trucks, every man among them scanned their surroundings with wary eyes.

The three allies were odd bedfellows: Brigadier Diakame Bemba, the commander of the erstwhile presidential guards, the Impera Brigade; Sony Muamba, the charismatic former excile; and Ike himself, the rebellious nobleman down from the mountains of Pindar. But united they were, by mutual animosity towards the regime of President Nguessa, if little else. So had been the pattern of much of Merina's recent history - a warlord became a tyrant, only to fall before another, more ruthless warlord. But perhaps this time could be different. Perhaps.

The Fasal Gebi, the ancient fortress which squatted on its low hill in the middle of Katamba like some great beast, was already in the hands of allied troops, who raised a cheer as the column reached the gatehouse and swung around to come inside. The fortifications, as the focal point of the old city, had long been used as a royal - and later, presidential - palace, and although Nguessa remained at large his capital and most of the country were now in the hands of the rebels. The writing had been on the wall for some weeks, admittedly, and some thought had been put into winning the peace, as it were, by all sides. The Impera Brigade, so often the kingmakers in these kinds of conflicts, would undoubtedly have their own candidate for the presidency and call for a status quo ante. Sony Muemba would, more than likely, move to put his foreign ideals into practice and replace the powers of the warlords with the powers of the people, or something similar.

Ike, for his part, was satisfied to concern himself primarily with the future of Pindar. For the time being, at least, the Pindari clans had at their disposal more than enough fighting power to maintain their independence from Katamba, and maybe enough to go it alone, if it came to it. The feeling in many of the other rural corners of the country was much the same, so Ike felt confident enough that his homeland would emerge from the war in a better place then they were when they started, even if Bemba and Muamba went for each others' throats once the dust settled.

For now, however, there was a previously agreed declaration to sign, making clear their triumph and the transfer of power from the old presidency to the new 'transitional' government. The "National Unity Council" - which was neither wholly national in character nor truly united - would now take over the running of the country, until such a time as a satisfactory arrangement could be reached for the long term. Perhaps this would require more blood to be shed, but perhaps not. Nevertheless, the signing ceremony would be one for the cameras.


Commonwealth of Merina

Official Dispatch

Let it be known!

The excesses of the corrupt Nguessa regime are at an end! Through the valiant sacrifices of her sons and daughters, Merina has been freed from her shackles! Hear a hundred million voices call out in relief!

Yet as the work of liberation comes to an end, the work of rebuilding is just beginning - the physical and moral damage wrought to our nation has been great, and shall take time to undo. Foremost in this must come closure; the warlord Nguessa is still at large, as are many of those complicit in his crimes. We, the National Unity Council, hereby place a bounty of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) upon the head of former President Nguessa, for his capture - dead or alive - or information leading to his capture by Merinan allied forces. Further to this, the NUC places a bounty of one million dollars ($1,000,000) upon the heads of the members of the so-called "council of twelve" - those degenerate individuals known to be integral to the machinery of the Nguessa regime, payable under the same conditions previously stated.

Furthermore, we ask all the right and god-fearing nations of Mundus to recognise the National Unity Council - being constituted from the membership of the former National Alliance, those who have fought and died to bring freedom to Merina - as the true custodians of Merinan sovereignty. Nguessa and his thugs no longer posses even the thinnest pretense to legitimate government, therefore it has been necessary for the NUC to take control of the institutions of state on a provisional basis until free and fair elections may be conducted. Any attempt by a third party to reinstate, or otherwise support, elements of the former regime will be considered an indelible act of hostility against the Merinan people.

With the help of our friends at home and abroad, the NUC shall endeavor to eradicate the foul legacy of Nguessa and restore the glory of the Commonwealth of Merina to her people. The cycle of violence must, and will, be broken, in the name of our children and the future generations of Merinans to come.

The Co-Chairmen of the National Unity Council,

Prince Ike Ezana
Brigadier Diakame Bemba
Sony Muamba

147
Factbooks and Maps / Re: Commonwealth of Merina (WIP)
« on: August 08, 2018, 10:04:09 PM »
Merina At a Glance

Full Title: The Commonwealth of Merina
Common Title: Merina

Population: 183,750,000 (2010 estimate)
Demonym: Merinan

Capital City: Katamba
Currency: Merinan Shilling (s)

Government Type: Presidential Republic
Legislative Assembly: Suspended
Current Head of Government: President Olumbe Nguessa
Current Head of State: Vacant

Drives on the: Left
Internet TLD: .ma

148
Factbooks and Maps / Commonwealth of Merina
« on: August 08, 2018, 09:19:57 PM »
Commonwealth of Merina


Reference and Statistics

Merina At A Glance
Merina 2019 Update

Government and Politics

Nguessa Regime Overview

Faction Overview: Merinan Free State
Faction Overview: Pindari Fedayeen
Faction Overview: National Liberation Army
Faction Overview: Peoples' Army of Merina

The International Association for a Free Merina

Military and Defence

Armed Forces of the Nguessa Reigime

History and Culture

Religion in Merina

Merinan Crisis: Flashpoints

Climate and Geography

Map of Merina

Key Personalities

Economics and Industry

Miscellaneous and Other

Historic Factbooks

149
Map / Re: Claiming Your Spot on the Map
« on: August 08, 2018, 09:19:43 PM »
Could you rename "Numenora" to "Merina" please Ach.

150
Factbooks and Maps / Re: The Republic of Kaedwen
« on: August 08, 2018, 08:57:29 PM »
Political Parties in Kaedwen - An Outline

As a conventional parliamentary democracy, Kaedwen has her fair share of political parties, factions and pressure groups. The main political parties and their typical stances are outlined below:

National Liberal Party - Current National Assembly Majority - Traditionally liberal and laissez faire, the National Liberals are one of the oldest and most established Kaedweni political parties.

Democratic Party - Current Loyal Opposition - Socially liberal, but more authoritarian in nature than the National Liberals, the Democrats rank as the closest contenders for power.

Green Party - Minor Party - Environmentally focused, but also proponents of social welfare and inter-communal reconciliation.

Freedom Party - Minor Party - Libertarian, advocates of significantly reduced government.

Socialist Democrats - Minor Party - Leftist party, advocates of substantial government control over the economy and socio-economic cooperation.

One Nation - Minor Party - Right-wing party, advocates of "strengthening the nation" and proponents of ethnic theories.

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