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Offline yasha

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #60 on: November 04, 2019, 07:38:46 PM »



Infantry of the Nurashima Defense Force. A semi-autonomous component of the Armed Himeyan Republic's military, tasked with the safeguarding of the Himeyan islands of Nurashima. The NDF consists primarily of experienced combat veterans from the AHR and local volunteers.

THE NURASHIMA PROBLEM


The story of Nurashima, also known as Styx by the Conglomerate and allies, is a grand tale of bloodshed and the the never ending cycle of change. Its pages stretch across centuries of history, from a trader's haven to a key military objective to a thorn in the side of stability in the Mhorish; switching hands and allegiances constantly in the process. This small island chain continues to persist as an unsolved problem. The mere mention of it by certain parties is enough to draw controversy. Despite its rich and complicated history, the only question on most of the world's mind is:

What's the issue?

The islands in question have been disputed by Himeyama and the Conglomerate since the 1970s, and the current situation between the Neo Quywe Federation and Armed Himeyan Republic is salt on the wound. Currently, the Armed Himeyan Republic is in de facto control of the Himeyan side of the island chain; as it is considered to be a part of the Suiseikawa province, which has remained independent from the NQF since the latter's formation. All Himeyan military personnel and assets on the island by extension, are part of the Himeyan Republican Defense Force. While Himeyan administration applies to the majority of the Nurashima island chain and most of its population, centralized in Hakae-shima; the Conglomerate maintains control over the northwest island of Voltox and all its residents, and is believed to maintain a military presence on the islands roughly proportional to the AHR's.

However, due to both nations claiming the whole island chain as their own; the sovereignty of Nurashima is controversial enough that no real conclusion can be made on its ownership. Personal convictions from both sides of the issue have to date resulted in 15 armed standoffs between the Conglomerate and the Armed Republic, sometimes spiraling into minor skirmishes with military and civilian casualties. Political analysts from both the Ardian and Alba Karinyan think tank believe that tensions in the Mhorish region could swell beyond levels seen in the past, and could flare into an active combat situation. Due in part to a third party claiming ownership of the islands.

While the Neo Quywe Federation has no known military presence on the island, and naval patrols by the Serpent's Teeth (the naval branch of the NQF armed forces) rarely come within 200km of them; their de-facto claim on all of Himeyama by extension applies to Nurashima. Consequently, Brilliant Speaker Junko Kamaejikawa of the NQF has put forth rhetoric in favor of NQF ownership of Nurashima. This in turn has led to an increase of AHR military presence on the islands, and by extension the Conglomerate's, increasing tensions dramatically in recent months.

Journalists from Free Mundus have made their way to both Hakae-shima and Voltux in order to conduct interviews.


Photo taken of Conglomerate personnel during military exercises, the photographer was escorted offsite shortly after. Officers on the scene cited safety concerns.

"Life has become difficult recently." Says Lancer Masayoshi Minoshima of the Nurashima Defense Force. "The exchange of goods between Hakae-shima and Voltux has been halted, so many things have become more expensive." Lc. Minoshima continued, never taking his eyes off the treeline. Seemingly tracing shadows beyond the trees with the barrel of his rifle. "On top of that, nobody wants to fire the first shot. Neither us or the Heyrans, but I've almost had to many times. There's just so many of them now, and they're constantly in sight."

Free Mundus will continue to report on the current situation as details become available.
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Offline Kopsje

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #61 on: November 12, 2019, 01:43:56 AM »
Spoiler: show



Abuqiya to boycott the Rugby World Cup

The State Congress of Provisional Representation and Interests, the state legislature of Abuqiya, has passed a motion to officially boycott the upcoming Rugby World Cup. The action comes after the announcement by the Mundus Sporting Committee that this year's games will be jointly hosted by the Kingdom's of Ui Cenneslaig and Cantabria. This action will be a continuation of criticisms by Abuqiya against what it claims is an “Armed Occupation” by Ui Cennslaig in what is the Celtic Protectorate of Royal Seleucid. First Minister Masood el-Nour made the following statement in regards to the motion and subsequent action: 

“ While others may be willing to look past and perhaps even support the aggression of Ui Cennslaig against Midarayne, the Qiyadi will not be swayed by international fanfare to shirk our duty to Midarayne. To attend these games is to condone the imperialist agenda of Claith and dignify the armed occupation of the Seleucid Emirate by Ui Cennslaig...”

This action is one of  a continuing trend of Abuqiya forign policy which has been officially stated to be one of “hostility to imperialist action or agendas against Midarayne and Abuqiya”. Recent escalation in tensions between the Royal Seleucid and the Commonwealth of the Iwi have been met with an equally negative reaction by Abuqiya causing the Midarayne nation to denounce, suspend all diplomatic & economic activity with, and label, the Commonwalth of the Iwi as a rouge state. Abuqiya has also voiced disapproval of attempts by Ui Cennslaig to reach a diplomatic resolutions between the Royal Seleucid and the Commonwealth of the Iwi, citing the close relationship between the Celtic and Iwi nation with “no confidence” claiming to view such action with “suspicion”.

Abuqiya's continuing negative and critical views of Ui Cennslaig, have been dismissed by some political observers as unwarranted paranoia and saber rattling in an attempt to “flex its political muscle”. Others have cited the country's narrow view of the situations in particular regarding the the Celtic Protectorate as “dangerous rallying”. The Celtic Protectorate is currently housing Ui Cennslaig military personal following agreements with the Royal Seleucid and the approval of Seleucid King Heydar Soter.   
 
« Last Edit: June 04, 2020, 03:48:51 AM by Abuqiya »

Offline Lakhzovia

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #62 on: November 27, 2019, 01:57:53 PM »


Euirasia's New Nationalist School Curriculum

International observers had expressed concern over the Commonwealth of Euirasia's increasingly radical rightward trajectory, the latest example of which has been a shift in the national curriculum taught to all children between the ages of 5 and 16.

The Free Mundus Network has been able to obtain copies of new textbooks and teaching materials destined to be introduced later this year which seek to rewrite the country's history, with a significant focus on the rehabilitation of the legacy of the Ardian Empire of which Euirasia was an integral territory.

While previous governments sought to emphasise Euirasia's state of subjugation during the imperial period, the new regime has apparently reversed course and seeks to portray the country as a direct successor to the Empire, and in the process has began to weave a new national mythos that seeks to adopt the Ardian Empire as representing its own historical golden age.

This has led to a significant revision of the events surrounding the great war which saw a coalition of nations defeat the Ardian Empire leading to its collapse. In a move that is certain to sour relations with its neighbours and other world powers the defeat and subsequent dissolution of the Empire is being portrayed as an historical crime with Euirasia being unwillingly and illegally detached from the Empire as part of an allied conspiracy to weaken the Ardian people. The textbooks are particularly scornful of the role of the Rokkenjiman Empire in what they term the dismemberment of Ardia.

In a potential sign of things to come new teaching materials have begun to refer to the Euirasia as the 'Ardian Commonwealth of Euirasia' amongst a number of changes aimed at reinforcing the Ardian character of the nation.

Euirasia has a large ethnic Ardian majority as a result of its long history as an integrated territory of the Empire, however an estimated 11% of the population are made up of ethnic Rokkenjimans mostly located in the western border region. Government policy has turned hostile to them recently, and the increasing focus on the Ardian character of the nation leaves many worried about the future plans for the community.

Offline Beatrice

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #63 on: December 07, 2019, 08:24:45 AM »



President Nekhtou is still a target for a FMN interview.

"I Just Wish For A Free Clysperis" Proclaims Nekhtou


President Nekhtou is a difficult figure to cover. On one hand his forces are accused of horrid war crimes while, on the other, he claims to fight for the freedom of the Clysperi People. In two recent posts from the notoriously hard to contact President I've gathered his comments for your convenience.

"Look, I want a referendum," he said unprompted. "I want to know the People have my back, you know? I started this fight as an insider privy to the information of the Clysperi royalty, and their depravities, but I didn't do it to rule as their King. Did you know our system of governance is not only thousands of years old, but tied to the belief that Beketaten's line is derived from divinity? The People are in chains, not physical, but of the spirit, and it may take generations to mend that level of control."

"It's been that way since I fought for my nation against the Soviets," he continued. "I didn't fight for Ramses V, or his daughter, but for our People. And trust me we tried to nudge them toward reform but, the allure of the power of the gods had them corrupted. I don't know what will happen next, how this war will go, or whether an Achkaerinese missile will snub me out, but I fight for the People and their right to live life free, not under the rule of gods our People created thousands of years ago. Mistakes have been made, but I'll make sure they're not made anymore and will make an example of the bad apples."

"Fleur and New Derusmia are courageous, I mean, Achkaerin to the north and now Rokkenjima to the south coming at the throat of the Confederacy? Our democracy is being smothered before it has a chance to succeed. I'll allow any investigators, observers, or other non-biased forces to observe the conduct of our military in freeing Clysperis from this point onward. At the end of the day I didn't have a professional army to lead as I did against the Soviets but a multitude of different groups who stood against this Pharaoh and her archaic regime. But I think we've worked the kinks out and should see good and proper order enforced on those under my command."

The FMN is seeking a proper interview with President Nekhtou and will update you should he grant that request.

Beatrice Anselmo
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Empress of the First Empire of Rokkenjima

Factbook of the First Empire of Rokkenjima - Kingdom of Clysperis

Offline Markus

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Analyzing Tamoran involvement in the Clysperis civil war
« Reply #64 on: December 08, 2019, 01:36:46 PM »




Tamora’s large military is not the only or even the main weapon that Djerb has deployed in the Clysperis civil war

Analyzing Tamoran involvement in the Clysperis civil war



Those following foreign relations especially those of the Midaranye region know that Djerb (the capital of Tamora) – Khemnen (capital of Clysperis) relations are exceptionally close: the two countries share a common currency (a legacy from the time Clysperis was a Protectorate of Tamora), Manism ( the native religion of Tamora) is recognized as a peer faith in Clysperis, the two countries share an agreement that greatly reduces barriers in the labor market and the two royal families are set to join through the marriage of Pharaoh Akasha and Prince Naser. So it of little surprise that Djerb is involved in the Clysperi civil war by supporting Pharaoh Akasha. We will try to present some less well known aspects about Djeb and civil war or provide more detail to aspects that are well known:

1.   Djerb is not happy with the presence of non Midaranye forces in Clysperis. Pharaoh Akasha has talked at length about the coalition forces that are supporting her government and has praised their involvement but there has been no mention of the coalition forces from Djerb. In fact, if one is to look at their press or their government statements one wouldn't even know that Achkaerin, NQF and Dragovah are actually involved in supporting Pharaoh Akasha. The one mention that the Tamoran government did regarding those forces in Clysperis was to agree with Vanora and Safraen that they shouldn't be made permanent. This is not by accident. Various Tamoran foreign policy experts that I have talked to all agree that Djerb sees the non MidAranye troops in Clysperis as a sign that Tamora cannot protect or stabilize the region and therefore foreign intervention is need. Furthermore, Djerb is concerned that those troops might become permanent and will seek at all costs to avoid anything like the Celtic Protectorate in Clysperis that involves foreign (non MidAranye) troops.

2.   The number of Tamoran troops and ships sent to Clysperis is quite small compared to other coalition forces. Tamora has deployed five thousand soldiers to Clysperis and has sent one corvette and two subs. That pales in comparison with the aircraft carrier and its task group sent so far by Dragovah, the estimated 13 thousand soldiers which will be deployed by NQF and the aircraft carrier and approx. ten ships sent by Achkaerin. Furthermore, the troops sent by Tamora are the same that were announced prior to the civil war. This shows that for whatever reasons, Tamora has not tried to “outbid” the other powers in the troop numbers games. It also means that Pharaoh Akasha has more room to maneuver since should she need more troops she has at least one ally that has the ability to send more.

3.   Tamoran efforts in the civil war are not exclusively focused on the military aspect. Tamora has lessened the restrictions for Clysperi to come to Tamora allowing them easier access to the country to escape the fighting, has pledged support for refugees centers in Abuqiya, Safraen and Venora( whether that help will be accepted remains to be seen) has raised money in its religious institutions to send to Clysperi religious organizations. Djerb seems to spend a lot of effort to win the hearts and minds of the Clysperis population (or better said to preserve the high trust Djerb already enjoys among Clysperi) and to present itself as the “older brother” (to quote the words of Pharaoh Akasha) they can turn to for help. It does this for several reasons but one of them is clearly to counter the Confederation (the Clysperi rebels) propaganda. In fact it is in the propaganda war that Tamora is most heavily involved. The Confederation and its President has often made the argument that Tamora has too much influence over Clysperis, that Pharaoh  Akasha is using religion to subdue her people and has promoted the idea of democracy and pursuing a foreign agenda less bellicose towards nations outside of Midaranye. That message is totally opposed to Djerb’s foreign policy goals as well as the values it holds and promotes. In order to counter the Confederation’s message Djerb is seeking to show Clysperi people they can rely on it for help (like handling refugees in other countries or receiving more Clysperi) and is also engaged in a propaganda campaign on its own. It is why you see domestic movies like the “A time of darkness” being heavily promoted by Djerb. It seeks to remind Clysperis and Tamorans alike of the history the two countries share but also seeks to indirectly portray the Confederation and its president as “a spiritual successor” to Soviet values. This is done just as much for the Clysperi population as is for the Tamoran one because Djerb knows that the ideas and values promoted by the Confederation could take root in Tamora, something that Djerb will definitely want to avoid. The risk to Djerb must not be underestimated; Tamora is a majority minority country when it comes to both religion and ethnicity. That is fertile ground for ideas like the ones promoted by the Confederation. Djerb, and that includes both the government and private institutions like their church, are heavily engaged in a propaganda campaign that seeks to draw ever closer the Clysperi population to Djerb, to enhance religious ties between the two countries, to promote the Parthian language and Tamoran values among the Clysperi diaspora in Tamora and fund organizations in Clysperis like the local Manist church, the Common Defense League and various other organizations that are friendly to Djerb.

4.   Tamora has been very active on the diplomatic side, especially when compared with the other nations that are part of the coalition in Clysperis. Djerb has been very vocal against New Derusmia and Fleur which have showed support for the Confederation and has declared the entire staff of the Derusmian embassy in Djerb as persona non grata and indirectly threatened Fleur with closing their schools in Tamora. The reason to why Djerb is so active in this front is linked to the previous point we made. Djerb sees itself as the protector of the region (whether that is a reasonable expectation is a topic that is outside the scope of this article) and seeks to project that imagine of itself in Tamora, Clysperis and the rest of MidAranye. Foreign policy experts expect that Djerb will continue that approach regarding the nations that support the Confederation and will make little concessions on the issue for fear of losing face if it does.

5.   Djerb is discreetly training, arming and soon will be deploying freedom fighters in Clysperis. Not many regular people know Tamora has a very lax guns laws and a vibrant gun culture. Lately though, Djerb has turned a blind eye to Clysperi citizens residing in Tamora that are acquiring weapons and training alongside Tamorans. According to estimates hundreds of freedom fighters (both Clysperi but also Tamoran) could be deployed to Clysperis. Whether these will join the Common Defense League ( a Clysperi militia that is heavily Manist and pro Pharaoh  Akasha), start a new militia or both remains to be seen. While military analysts are correct in saying that hundreds or even a  thousand freedom fighters will not make a significant difference compared to the massive numbers of troops deployed by the coalition that is not likely the goal of Djerb.  The most likely goal of the Djerb will be to use them for propaganda purposes and to increase their influence in Clysperis. One can only imagine the impact it will have when the Tamoran propaganda will use the freedom fighters as examples of Clysperi returning home with Tamoran “brethren” to fight for the Pharaoh  Akasha. It will also be used as proof that Tamora’s influence is Clysperis is not top bottom but is based on a large support among the general population.

6.   The Manist Church (the native religion of Tamora) is heavily involved in supporting Pharaoh Akasha. While we have previously mentioned that the chuch has raised funds to support the Manist community in Clysperis that is not the main support the Church is providing to the Clysperi Pharaoh. Those not familiar with Tamoran society are unaware of just how huge the influence of this organization is in Tamora: schools, universities, hospitals are owned either by the Manist Church or other religious organizations. Imams are everywhere in Tamoran society as one could observe during the Elysium Economic Forum.  The Manist Church is also not shy in mixing politics and religion and even going so far as to declare a jihad in 2018 against Slava Lavosk. The influence the Church has over Manist faithful remains huge, and while only approx. 11% of the Clysperis population is of the Manist faith most of them have been radicalized against the Confederation. The Church leaders preach daily against the Confederation, have made it a religious obligation to not support the Confederation in any way and are actively suppressing anyone in their community who even dares show any pro Confederation views. In the Manist communities of Clysperis supporting the Confederation is seen not just as treason but as an offense against the Church and the community. That is why it is no surprise that the Common Defense League is led by a Manist Clysperis and has so many Manists among its ranks. Of course, the Confederation treatment of the Manists in its controlled areas is also to blame but that is a different topic.

7.   TINS (Tamoran Imperial News Service) and its subsidiary Clysperis is one of the most effective tools of Djerb's propaganda machine. Not many outside of Tamora know but the network is not state owned and is instead owned by the Manist Church. We will not comment on the reputation the network has outside of MidAranye and the Manist communities in Mundus. We will say that the network enjoys high ratings in Tamora, especially among the Parthian and Manist segments of the population and, while we lack specific data, the network also enjoys a significant audience throughout MidAranye including Clysperis. Pharaoh Akasha had developed good relations with the network before the start of the civil and is of no surprise that the network is a major supporter of the Pharaoh. The network is openly pro Pharaoh Akasha and gives wide coverage to the terrorist attacks and other crimes committed by the militias of the Confederation.

8.   Djerb is already planning and acting with the aftermath of the civil war in mind. This is why it seeks to include Clysperis on the list of countries that will be financed by the Sharia compliant bank proposed by Djerb to Abydos and Pramoria. It is also the reason why Djerb does not make any positive declaration about the collation of forces supporting Pharaoh Akasha. Foreign policy experts believe that as soon as the Confederation will look like is defeated, Djerb will begin the rhetoric that those forces need to leave and that they risk becoming occupiers bent on stealing the resources of the Clysperis people. In fact, as we speak the Tamoran propaganda machine is promoting the idea that the President of the Confederation is willing to sell the resources of the country to foreigners, it’s not hard to imagine how that message will be easily changed to “the foreign powers keep their troops in Clysperis so that they can steal the resources of the Clysperi people”.

To conclude, Djerb is making use of many if not all of its soft power weapons in its arsenal and is using the Clysperis civil war to cement its influence there. It will also attempt to use this civil war to increase its influence in Midaranye.

Offline Markus

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Analyzing Tamoran involvement in the Clysperis civil war part 2
« Reply #65 on: December 15, 2019, 04:00:38 PM »



Tamora’s use of web brigades shows just how engaged they are in hybrid warfare

Analyzing Tamoran involvement in the Clysperis civil war part 2: the internet propaganda



We are now continuing the analysis by describing the most recent propaganda tool used by Tamora. Djerb’s intelligence services have been recruiting from among the Clysperi diaspora living in Tamora for some time now. It is hard to estimate the number of people that have been recruited so far but a rough estimate indicates from as low as dozens of people to more than a hundred.  What do these people do? They are part of what is informally known as web brigades. They are paid to post 8 hours a day, seven days a week. comments, articles, memes and other material that promotes the interests of Tamora in Clysperis. There is ample evidence that Djerb intelligence services made  use of such web brigades at home but we are now seeing them being used in Clysperis. Tamora is a Parthian speaking nation, like many MidAnraye states among them Royal Seleucid and Pramoria, while the Kingdom of Clysperis has its own native language far different than Parthian. It is for this reason Djerb has acquired Clysperi speaking operatives in order to be able to spread its propaganda in CLysperis.

What type of messages are these web brigades promoting? We did our best to analyze them and we have grouped them into the following categories: 
   
1.   Anti-Confederation propaganda: the messages spread by Djerb’s web brigades are painting the picture that the Confederation and its president are spiritual successors to Soviet ideas, they flood social media and forums with pictures of the terrorist attacks committed by forces claiming to be loyal to the Confederation, they promote the idea that the Confederation is wholly responsible for the war and devastation of the country and push the idea that the Confederation is selling Clysperis and its resources to foreign powers “just as they did the graves of the ancestors”.


Spoiler:  examples of such propaganda • show


Confederation democracy in action: 57 dead in Apne


The number one export of the Confederation.

Q: What is the difference between Stalin and President Nekhtou?
A: Stalin never had the audacity to claim that he was raping the country for the good of the Clysperi people.




2.   Pro Pharaoh Akasha propaganda: the message here is to put the stable and peaceful Clysperis in contrast with the civil war caused (according to them) by the Confederation.


Spoiler: examples of such propaganda • show



The Tamoran Imperial honor guard welcoming Pharaoh Akasha during her visit to Djerb. Because having Djerb greet you with the highest of honors makes you their puppet.



Heskinen (a large city in CLysperis that is now under the control of the Confederation) while under the rule of Phraoh Akasha
Heskinen “improved” with democracy thanks to the Confederation


On the left, the Pharaoh recognized by almost all the countries of Mundus, the one who has criticized unapologetically the highest powers of Mundus, the one who represents more than four thousand years of tradition and soon to be part of the Safavid Imperial family aka just a “Tamoran puppet”.
On the right, the Confederation President, a man who is labeled as a terrorist by more states than he is recognized as president aka a “strong and independent leader”.

   



3.   Anti-Coalition propaganda: Djerb is not shy to push anti- coalition propaganda though its web brigades. In case you were wondering, Tamora is not considered part of the coalition according to the propaganda. The messages they put forward paint the following picture: why has the coalition made of former antagonists (like Achkaerin) or countries that have little relations with MidAranye (NQF and Dragovah) amassed tens of thousands of troops and dozens of ships against a rebel force with little equipment and fewer numbers than the coalition? Because they want the oil of the country and because they have no intention of leaving, they have arrived in such high numbers so they could no longer be dislodged when the rebels are defeated so claims Djerb’s propaganda.

Spoiler:  examples of such propaganda • show


Jokes:
Q: Why did the coalition forces send 20 thousand troops to Clysperis while Tamora only sent five thousand?
A: Because Tamora already has oil back home.

Q: What does a 20 plus ship coalition force do in the Gulf of Safren?
A: It looks for oil.

Q: How does the coalition plan to defeat the Confederation?
A: By making sure they get the oil first.

Q: What is a Clysperi free trade zone in coalition terms?
A: An oil rich zone where they trade oil free of Clysperi interference.

Q: Is it true that Emperor Peter of Achkaerin only agreed to help so he can take our oil?
A: Of course not, silly. He does it out of the kindness of his heart.



Can you see the difference between these coalition tanks and the Soviet ones?
That’s because there isn’t one. They are here for the same thing.






4.   Pro Djerb propaganda: it is of little surprise that Djerb tries to paint itself of the savior of Clysperi people, that was always been there for Clysperis no matter what. The propaganda often puts the Tamoran forces in contrast with the rest of the coalition and presented as interested only in defeated the “terrorists”, aware of Clysperi culture and part of its history, fighting alongside the Common defense league etc. They are also not shy in promoting Tamora as a haven for Clysperi people.

Spoiler:  examples of such propaganda • show



Can you tell which one is Clysperi Common Defense League and which one is Tamoran? No, because they all fight for the same side.


Tamoran “masters” returning home.

Q: What does democracy mean?
A: Democracy happens when the people want to be ruled by Pharaoh Akasha, have good relations with Djerb but are not allowed because of foreign powers.

Q: If Tamora has always helped us in the past and continues to do so in the present, why are they oppressors?
A: Because they don’t have elections like Soviets did.




One of the key questions regarding the propaganda Djerb is spreading though its web brigades is how effective it is in convincing the Clysperi people to believe its message, especially when one has to take into account all the other weapons employed by Djerb’s propaganda machine of which we have described many in our previous article. We lack the proper tools to give an answer, we will however say that the “army” of people posting such messages all over CLysperi internet sites and social media does create the sensation of an overwhelming majority of support for Djerb’s message as it simply "drowns" all other opinions.     

Before we conclude the article we also want to raise another issue of concern. When the war is over, and according to analysts it will likely lead to either a two state solution or a Pharaoh Akasha victory, it will be interesting to see how Djerb will “redeploy”  the web brigades by promoting another message since it is unlikely that Djerb will dismantle such a weapon. If we were to guess, they will attempt to further promote Tamoran values among Clysperi people and solidify Pharaoh Akasha’s grip over her country. 

Offline Beatrice

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #66 on: December 19, 2019, 07:25:14 AM »



President Nekhtou issued a plea for international attention.

Nekhtou Promises Change, Openness


President Nekhtou of the Clysperi Confederation has often lamented that foreign powers didn't take his offer to send observers. "I left an open offer, come, see what we are trying to build, and the world was silent," he said with lament. "Where is Rokkenjima, East Moreland, all the great fathers of freedom of choice in a moment like this? What more do we have to do to prove our intent? Why even try when the world is silent to your plight unless it benefits them?" he asked rhetorically.

"And now we've at least four armies aligned against us from foreign nations," the President continued. "I'm doing the best with what I have, I'm diverting resources from the front line to ensure that things like the Apne mosque attack don't happen again, but there's only so much I can do. We're out here fighting and dying for democracy, and the world passes us by as if everything is as it should be. We're fighting against over 2,000 years of religious dogma that says we're the devil for questioning a woman born into her position, yet she gets the support of all these foreign governments? The word of Mundus is hollow!" he continues with anger.

"Look, I'm doing what I can with the militias, and my invitation for observation remains. I'll halt my armies today if an international referendum effects a free Southern Clysperis; if we can't save our northern brothers, at least we can offer them an alternative. Give us a chance, meet with us, send observers, anything. Do not accept the lies of Beketaten!"

FMN has reached out to Pharaoh Akasha for a reaction. We will reach out once she has responded.

Beatrice Anselmo
Grand Chancellor of the Independent Order
Empress of the First Empire of Rokkenjima

Factbook of the First Empire of Rokkenjima - Kingdom of Clysperis

Offline Beatrice

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #67 on: December 20, 2019, 06:30:15 AM »



President Nekhtou speaks with FMN, offering a different look at a man not truly known to Mundus.

Nascent Clysperi Democracy Being 'Smothered In Crib' As Complacent Mundus Watches, Claims Nekhtou.


President Nekhtou of the Clysperi Confederation is a man who is somewhat hard to understand. When one looks at him at face value it is hard not to distrust him, to dislike him, for the conduct of forces under his command. "I didn't do enough," he says to me as he sets the glass of water down, "I didn't take the concerns seriously enough, soon enough, to prevent actions like that from taking place. We've completely distanced ourselves from the militias we had to rely upon at first and are now working solely with a young, but fully professional, Confederate Army of Clysperis. Once our Congress has had the opportunity to hold a formal vote, I also intend to see the Confederation sign the Uppsala Convention as well as the Mundus Convention for Universal Rights, two Treaties the Pharaoh has gone great lengths to not only not sign, but also to run an active campaign to undermine them."

As we spoke Nekhtou revealed that he is complex, multi-faceted, and that there is indeed more which is to be discovered about the man than what is publicly visible. "When the Pharaoh turned down the help offered by the IRSA I was shocked, I mean, these are people who dedicate their lives and specialize in crises like what we're seeing in Clysperis, and she basically tells them to kick dirt. The Confederation has airfields, and we're willing more than willing to work with the IRSA, that is if the Coalition is willing to allow their aircraft to operate for this humanitarian mission. Ms. Lusk, if you're watching, or if you read my words please, I know I may not be the man you wish to work with, but let's get these people out of harm's way and allow your talented people to do the work they live for."

Nekhtou laments, more than anything, the apparent apathy toward what he says is a movement for democracy. "Fleur, thus far, is the strongest voice for our democratic movement, yet you look for the great stewards of democracy and where are they? Silent, content to sit in comfort as this nascent democracy is smothered in its crib. One voice normally friendly to democracy, one of the most advanced militaries of Mundus, is instead aligned with the Pharaoh as she holds the pillow over our faces. Democracy isn't often seen in Midaranye, but when it's before you, when the lives of millions living in absolute poverty are right before you, you turn the other way and align yourselves with a tyrant. Then again, despite our advances in science, the advent of democracy, you look at all the great powers and the number of monarchies that comprises them, and perhaps it's of little wonder that democracy in Clysperis hasn't gained greater support. The rule of kings, queens, emperors and empress', this archaic system of governance is all too sadly the norm."

We spoke of the atrocities, which clearly moved Nekhtou, who stirred as I listed off the brutality forces under his command had carried out. "Again, I didn't take it seriously enough, and I didn't have the luxury of turning away fighters who were willing to align themselves against a so-called deity. I'm doing what I can though, purging the militias from my ranks, signing Uppsala, shifting our armed forces to a professional institution...it's not easy when you've this many armies aligned against you. When we're not fighting the Royalists and their allies we're trying to keep the lights on, fixing pipes that burst to keep clean water flowing, checking up on and delivering food to the elderly who can't go outside due to the conflict. Winning hearts and minds from the Pharaoh and the Church that keeps them in chains. Without help, we're stretching limited resources, and I know what happened initially was evil and it pains me that I didn't step up sooner to combat those elements. Many less would be dead."

"And the tomb raiders, they're being dealt with, arrested. I've posted what security I can at the tombs and temples while working with local police where I can't spare forces. I'm not a politician, I'm not as great an orator as Beketaten, my expertise is on the battlefield. I'm learning what to do on a daily basis and trying my best, I haven't had years of preparation for leading a nation like my opponents. But, by the grace of the People, I think I'm starting to do well and, if given a chance, Clysperis can have a brighter future. Maybe we'll have another opportunity like this but, if not, thank you for helping me to get my side of this story out. People need to see both sides of an issue, you know?"

Pharaoh Akasha, meanwhile, reached out to us and issued a short statement on Nekhtou's proposals.

"The Kingdom of Clysperis has been clear, and remains clear, that we do not negotiate with terrorists or cooperate with their efforts to gain legitimacy. Nekhtou is disgraced, betraying his vow to his Kingdom and his People, conducting actions which disrupt harmony, justice and all sense of good order within the Kingdom. There will be no referendum, no partitioning of Clysperis, only the destruction of the rebels and their campaign of murder, rape and theft. Honey-coated words will do nothing to bring back those killed by the forces of the Disgraced, nor the damage he has done to the Kingdom and its People."

Beatrice Anselmo
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Factbook of the First Empire of Rokkenjima - Kingdom of Clysperis

Offline DaveIronside

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #68 on: December 30, 2019, 10:47:51 PM »




"PRINCE" JAMES WANTS TO RETURN HOME


In a videoed interview at an undisclosed location the fugitive "Prince of East Moreland" James Ironside has revealed that he wants to return home after nearly five years on the run. James was sentenced to life in prison following an attempted coup to replace his cousin, the current King of East Moreland, King David. However he and another prisoner managed to escape and have been on the run ever since. The coup was aided by the Borlanders and after his escape the Morelander royal was captured by the terrorists before escaping their clutches. During the interview it appears James' life on the run has been rather adventerous "I've been worshipped as a God in Zimalia, been part of a religious cult, was in Krokom during the disaster there, hid in Royal Seleucid during the genocide posing as a Odinist, I've been all over constantly looking over my shoulder. I'm never sure if a knock on the door is a Borlander looking for vengence, local police or maybe even a Red Legionnaire with orders to kill me."

FMN:- "So are you saying you believe your cousin would have you killed?"

JI: - "I believe he would yes. I may have only done 21 weeks in the East Moreland military before being declared "unfitting of military duty" but I saw enough to know that the East Moreland military would be capable of getting rid of someone they felt was an embarrassment or a threat. I'm sure if it came down to it if they couldn't be sure of the locals handing me over if they found me then they would wipe me out. I may have only been King of East Moreland a few days but in that time I know the military had trained for hits overseas if need be.

FMN:- "Do you think you'll ever be able to go home."

JI:- I wish I could say yes but honestly I think my cousin will never permit it. David is a man who is very much guided by his faith, in the eyes of the Cult of Helus I am essentially a cast out, a Lackblade as they call it in our faith. As long as that label remains he would struggle to treat me with anything other than contempt. Until the Cult accept me back in then I know David never can. Even if by some miracle the Cult did give me my name back David would then still see an issue with accepting me back because of how I allowed the family to be treated. I made the mistake of allowing the Borlanders to corrupt me via some friends I trusted over years unknowing they were essentially grooming me to be their puppet. I allowed them to target Freya and Joanna and so having targeted his beloved sisters I think that has sealed my fate.

FMN:- "You've a son you've never seen. Do you have any contact with him?"

JI:- My son Tristen is someone I think of all the time. Every year I've arranged through the internet to send a card and gift, Moonpig is great for sending them without compromising where I am. He'll be three years old now and I'm not even sure if he knows who his father is. I write letters to him regularly but know they can't be sent. I've got about 100 letters in a folder that I wish I could give him. I've not even been able to do the things a father should, begin smithing him a sword, teaching him about the Gods. I feel grateful to my cousin David for standing by Tristen's mother Charlotte and now I'll never be able to repay him for that.

FMN:- "You've also a wife out there somewhere and how is that relationship?"

JI:- I have no idea where she is, she has disappeared pretty much like I did from East Moreland. If I'm honest that was a scrape I got into that I didn't really think through. The issue being to divorce I'd need to appear in a court somewhere and I'm pretty sure if I did that I'd find an extradition order waiting for me. As such it means we're probably going to be married for a long time yet.

FMN:- "You recently visited the Celtic Protectorate in Royal Seleucid. Why should the international community listen to your views on that?"

JI:- I can appreciate why some people may not trust me. Ask yourself this though, I took a major risk going there and as a result what I say is something I think people should listen to. I've got no connection to any nation involved in this whole saga and so I'm not on any side, its not in my interest to aid anyone. I was able to visit undercover almost and so I'm more likely to be able to see what things are actually like rather than the propaganda show an announced visit would bring with it.

FMN:- "As someone who knows the Borlanders better than most people on Mundus what would you have to say about the Ruud Rumpelstilzchen interview where he says the conflict could be solved by "free cake and coffee, sitting down with each other and talking things through peacefully"?

JI:- This man has never meet an actual Borlander and I suspect reading some of his interview a real Morelander. Since King David began ending the nations isolation we've sent Morelanders around the world on annual exchanges or extended prison escapes. East Moreland doesn't really need its eyes opening to the world, I mean David is about to marry a Lodjain, that would never have been imagined ten years ago back home. What Ruud needs to also consider is this, the Borlanders don't want just a little bit of East Moreland they want the whole cake. This is not like someone saying "Give us Keepton and we'll be happy" this is someone wanting to fundamentally change a nations future direction. Kyle Barren as King is not a prospect I'd wish on the world, I wouldn't even want him being King of an apartment block.

FMN:- Do you think there is a solution to the Borlander issue?

JI:- It'll die out eventually. Look back to the Medieval period and you had tens of thousands of people who felt the Barren family were the ligitimate bloodline of Raimond Unasson. Now you've probably a few hundred. The only difference is that it is easier in todays world for a handful of people to make big waves. Look at the terror attacks in Tytor, a handful of people can make a huge impact on fighting for what they see as a cause. It gives the impression that the group enjoys much more support. I suspect as the years pass and more people switch to the view that the Unasson bloodline myth is just a metaphorical one the religious zealots will disappear and that will end the Borlanders support. Give it 100 years and this shall be a footnote of history.

FMN:- Is there a message you'd like to send your cousin King David

JI:- I don't think any would make a difference. I'd just like him to know that I regret being taken in by those I called friends, I had no idea they were Borlanders and they prayed on my insecurities as a young man. I was weak, I allowed myself to be manipulated and its happened time and time again. I believe fully I am a weak man and I need help. That help is not prison, even there I found myself being taken advantage of time and again. I need wise reliable people around me who will help me see how I should live my life. I pray daily to Helus that he will allow David and Freya to help me by letting me return home. I could accept house arrest, I could accept being constantly under guard and limited if it meant being able to see my son. If it meant being home and I could regain his trust. I do not wish to live a lonely life wandering Mundus overlooking my shoulder. I beg my cousin to allow me to have a home.

Offline Lakhzovia

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #69 on: January 03, 2020, 11:31:00 AM »


Euirasia goes dark as military crackdown begins


Photo: Tanks roll down Krimeon Boulevard in the Capital Maldun as military begins crackdown

Euirasia was plunged into a media blackout today as the military appears to have begun a widespread crackdown in the wake of the assassination of Prime Minister Ventham.

The blackout has seen the internet cut off across the country, while television and radio stations are broadcasting a repeating message that a curfew is in effect and for citizens to remain in their homes.

Foreign journalists have been restricted to their hotels with military guards posted in the lobbies to prevent them leaving to document the events. There are also reports of journalists having had equipment confiscated.

While the current situation makes it difficult to get information on what is happening on the ground  some foreign correspondents have been able to find ways around the blackout to provide a scattering of reports. Our FMN reporter was able to snap the above image from the window of her hotel on the Krimeon Boulevard in Maldun, while she reports that gunfire can be heard in the distance.

Euirasia has endured over a year of civil disorder as the right-wing government faces down the unions and left wing opposition parties on the issue of economic and social reforms. The economic fallout of the mass strikes and daily disruption has left the country on the brink of complete collapse.

The Christmas Day assassination of Prime Minister Ventham led to the election of the hard line August Crassen to the role. Crassen of the Nationalist Party of Euirasia promised to utilise the full force of the state to end the crisis and it would seem he has wasted little time in setting about this.

The Euirasian government is yet to make an official statement, while the international community appears to have been caught off guard.

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #70 on: January 08, 2020, 10:45:08 PM »


PRESIDENT KRAVEC KILLED IN FAILED COUP ATTEMPT


Vaclav Kravec, President of the Republic of Slava Lavosk, has been killed in a failed coup attempt. The President who rose to power in 2006 following the collapse of USR rule was a man with a contrasting figure, to many inside Slava Lavosk he was a man who saved the country and brought it out of the ashes of civil chaos, to many outside the nations borders he was a pariah.

The tragic events happened sometime during the night, as members of the Slavan military thought to be co-conspirators with Markus Bathory, Minister of Foreign Affairs and noted communist hardliner, raided one of President Kravec's estates in the ensuing gun battle the President was killed. In the capital city of Sarajevo there was further tragedy as Premier Merak was assassinated, only the swift response from Admiral Konrad Radvak, Minister of Defence, has prevented the country from returning to civil chaos. Speaking to the press this morning Admiral Radvak said the following:

"Today our country mourns a great man and a national hero. President Kravec gave so much to our nation and for that we shall always be thankful. Until such time as a Presidential elections can be held the cabinet has agreed that I am to act as interim President. In the hours after the attack on our President and following discovery of evidence we have arrested former Minister of foreign affairs Markus Bathory on charges of treason and conspiracy to murder. It appears Mr Bathory sought to replace President Kravec and return our proud nation to being under the boot of Communist rule from abroad. Today I send him and his conspirators this simple message, if you think just because President Kravec is gone that we're weakened then you are wrong because the fire and passion that Vaclav Kravec had for this nation burns deep within all of us, we will never again suffer under Communist rule, this is our home and it's future is ours to determine."

Offline Beatrice

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #71 on: January 10, 2020, 07:02:07 AM »



President Nekhtou announced incoming elections for the Confederation.

Nekhtou Announces Elections


President Nekhtou has announced that next week will see the first elections held in Clysperis "in living memory" for "a Congress of the Confederates." Despite the losses suffered in Apne the President remains committed to enacting an agenda of Clysperi Democracy while warning the people to "Vote with Clysperis, not a Party, in your hearts. While one Party may promise swift reconciliation, and another the whole of Clysperis under a democratic regime, we cannot allow our democracy to fall into the trap of party over country. Vote well, vote often, but do not allow the will of the Party to smother the will of Clysperis."

"The road ahead is bigger than any one issue," the President continued, "and one vote alone will not heal our nation. Already Apne has fallen to the Pharaoh's foreign legion, and the calls of stalling our military efforts grow amongst certain political circles. We cannot rest, however, until our borders are secure. Should we stop where we are, with what we have, and build a Clysperis worth defending, one that stands free, strong and true? Perhaps, but that would leave our brothers to the North in chains. We shall see what the People call for at the ballot box."

Beatrice Anselmo
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Empress of the First Empire of Rokkenjima

Factbook of the First Empire of Rokkenjima - Kingdom of Clysperis

Offline Markus

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Analyzing Tamoran involvement in the Clysperis civil war part 3
« Reply #72 on: February 29, 2020, 04:48:28 PM »



The liberation of Tarfu from rebel control has been celebrated by Tamoran media as both a major win for Pharaoh Akasha and as proof that the rebel government enjoys little popular support

Analyzing Tamoran involvement in the Clysperis civil war part 3: state building in Clysperis




A few weeks ago the town Tarfu has changed hands from the rebels to the Tamoran forces and their Clysperi allies, the Common Defense League. This is the largest settlement that is now under the control of the Tamoran coalition and gives us the opportunity to analyze what Djerb is doing in the regions of Clysperis it controls alone or together with its Clysperis allies.  We have shown in the previous parts of our analysis that Djerb sees putting troops on the ground and fighting the rebels just one part of its effort in the Clysperis war. Now with settlements such as Tarfu under its control we now see them engaged in a new facet of the war: state building. We will present below the steps Djerb has undertaken in Tarfu and its surrounding villages that show a consistent effort of Djerb towards their goal:

1.   The commander of the Tamoran forces in Clysperis has decorated 5 militia members of the Common Defense League (CDL) with the Order of the Friends of the Prophet, the highest military decoration that can be given to non Tamoran military soldiers. This is part of an ongoing process to legitimize the CDL and also maintain close relations between the Tamoran military and the CDL.


Tamoran officer awarding the decoration to Clysperi militia member

2.   Djerb has created a new paramilitary organization, called the Basij, with members from the rebel army that have switched sides to the Tamoran forces.

3.   Djerb has begun pouring funds to rebuild the infrastructure of Tarfu which has been affected by the civil war. Djerb is aware that a large part of the population of Clysperis is becoming wary of the war and wants to show them that backing Pharaoh Akasha is the sure way to returning to their previous standard of living. Djerb is now funding the rebuilding of roads, utilities, schools and medical facilities. Also, the Tamoran forces on the ground are always quick to frame any attack the rebels do against them an attack on the fragile economy that is slowly rebuilding and presenting the rebels as terrorists. 

4.   The medical facilities in Tarfu have been receiving free medical equipment as well as volunteer medical staff to operate the facilities. 


Tamoran medical staff and equipment has been brought to Tarfu to help the medical system of the town


5.   Djerb has been using its influence to over the large Tamoran business to pressure and incentivize them to continue working with Clysperis businesses. The announcement made by Polakis Energy, the company in charge of the construction of the Haghighi Dam, that they continued to work with Clysperi companies despite the civil war in Clysperis is not a singular case. Many Tamoran big businesses have continued to do so under pressure from Djerb which is giving the Clysperi a lifeline they badly need under the current conditions. Of course, Djerb has made sure that Clysperi businesses from the rebel side are no longer  welcomed to do businesses with Tamora thus rewarding Clysperi that are loyal to Pharaoh Akasha as well as crippling the economy of the Clysperi rebel state.

These are just some of the steps Djerb has undertaking to both increase their influence in  Clyperis as well as prop up support for Pharaoh Akasha and her government. Knowing the Tamorans, there is no doubt that there are other measures that they undertook which are more discrete and have yet to surface.   

Offline Kopsje

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #73 on: April 13, 2020, 09:20:26 PM »
Spoiler: show


First Minister Absent

Masood al-Nour, the First Minister of Abuqiya and the country’s de facto leader has seemingly vanished from the public scene. The first Minister was last seen in an official address to the Qiyadi public regarding the developments of the Clysperi civil conflict, a conflict which has become a major concern for the Midaryane nation who shares a border with the war-torn nation. It is unclear why the First Minister has yet to make a public appearance since then, even to the people of Abuqiya who seem equally perplexed by the vanishing.

Prior to the disappearance the First Minister and officials aligned with the Monarch of the nation did appear to have disagreements regarding the unfolding situation in Clysperis. The ruler and his supporters sought to establish a humanitarian effort via “Refugee Centers” which would accommodate incoming Clysperi Refugees. The First Minister and his own supporters were opposed to the idea. Citing financial problems caused by the effort.

Government spokespersons have remained quiet on the topic. Though seeming to silently acknowledge the absence of the First Minister. The sudden vanishing of a prominent official has led to a plethora of speculations. From a discreet resignation on the Minister’s part to rumor of a political purge. Many are seeking answers to the alarming development within Abuqiya. Regardless of what may be the truth, the Government of Abuqiya appears to be continuing with business as usual. Discourse is underway regarding the possible appointment of a new First Minister in the country’s legislative assembly; the Supreme State Congress of Representation and National Interests (SSCRNI) .

For now all many can do is wait and speculate.

« Last Edit: June 04, 2020, 03:49:27 AM by Abuqiya »

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #74 on: May 12, 2020, 02:40:25 PM »




First Minister Ousted Over WMRA Links

Marcello Catino the first Minister of Awhaele has been ousted from office following a vote of no confidence in the Awhaele Parliament. The vote follows allegations emerging over the weekend that Mr Catino was linked to the Vaguzian terrorist group the WMRA. In a statement following the vote Mr Catino apologized for the situation, however he is expecting to be investigated in relation terrorist offences and has pledged to fully cooperate.

In the interim the political landscape of Awhaele is now up in the air as the vote of no confidence triggers a snap election, and leaves many people wondering if the days of Vaguzian sister parties holding sway are over.

Offline Dijel

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #75 on: May 23, 2020, 11:53:27 AM »



Smoke rises over Makeni in the aftermath of a government air attack

Merinan War: Mass Gas Attack in Makeni

(Makeni, Merina) "Mass casualties" are reported in the wake of a suspected government chemical attack on the densely-populated rebel stronghold of Makeni, part of an ongoing offensive by government troops in the region. In shocking images, first published by Kaedwen's Daily Sun newspaper, Merinan National Air Force aircraft can be seen dropping bombs somewhere in the city centre, moments before a cloud of the suspected chemical weapon engulfs the area.

Medical services within the city - still believed to be held by the Merinan Peoples' Army - have been reportedly overwhelmed by the attack, according to a statement from the Merinan Red Cross. In this statement, Kubu Ngei, the head of the Red Cross in Merina described the strike as a "despicable act, made by a regime which has long since abandoned all pretense of morality", going on to describe the conditions of medical services inside the city as "completely overwhelmed; we've seen these kind of attacks in the past, but never on this scale, we simply weren't prepared to deal with this many casualties... made even worse since almost all those we've been treating have been noncombatants - the area targeted is miles behind the front lines. There can be no justifying this, the intention was solely to spread terror amongst the defenseless..."

The true number of casualties may never be known, though it is suspected to number in the thousands, if not higher.

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Analyzing the Tamoran involvement in the Merinan civil war
« Reply #76 on: June 04, 2020, 05:25:36 PM »



Tamora makes use again of the web brigades just like in the Clysperi civil war

Analyzing the Tamoran involvement in the Merinan civil war




With the civil war in Clysperis concluded ( we also have a series on the Tamoran involvement there that can be checked here and here and here ) Tamora seems to have gotten involved in another civil war. This time however it is on a different continent and in a country they have few relations prior to their involvement. Still, the Tamora seems to apply some of the same methods that have proven successful in Clysperis. One aspect we will be focusing on is the online propaganda that Djerb's cyber brigades have started to engage in. We have analyzed the social media in Merina and we have come to the following conclusions:


1.   The Tamoran cyber brigades are focusing on promoting the idea that President Nguessa is the only solution to a peaceful Merina. The articles, comments and video blogs that have sprung up recently push the narrative that any other option is not just worse but that they have no chance to win and that they only continue the conflict for their personal gain. Slogans and hash tags like "Merina United" , "One Merina" , "Peace in Merina" are all used for pro Nguessa propaganda painting the idea that Nguessa equals peace and an united Merina while all others just want to carve a piece for themselves. It is worth noting that the propaganda deployed seems to be aware that Nguessa is not popular in the country so the focus is more to present him as the rational choice, the best option among those available or the best option to bring peace fast since he alone can make the other stop fighting. In order to alleviate public concerns they also promote the idea that Nguessa will allow for elections once the other factions have been defeated.

2.   Tamoran propaganda has steadily increased since Tamora has made public its involvement in the civil war. We have monitored the number of posts, articles and sites that are pro Nguessa and the increase has been steady and substantial.

3.   There has been a spike in comments on social media immediately after the chemical attack became public all pushing the narrative that the rebel forces are getting desperate and have resorted to using chemical weapons to get the international community’s attention. Any opinions suggesting the government might be responsible is immediately drowned with questions like "why would the government gas its own people when it is winning? ", " why would it do that now that the whole world is watching"? Etc. There is a coordinated effort to pin the chemical incident on the forces of National Liberation Army.There are dozens of articles and dubious sites dedicated to the incident which present circumstantial evidence at best that the forces of National Liberation Army are behind the incident.

4.   There is an effort to create the narrative that Nguessa’s forces are winning battle after battle and that the more the war drags on, the more the people suffer since the outcome has already been decided. All collateral damage and destruction are presented as being caused by the stubbornness of the other factions that continue fighting instead of making peace with Nguessa.

5.   There is a coordinated campaign to paint the other factions and especially their leadership in the worse possible light. The communist faction is painted as wanting to wipe out religion,  Marshal Diakame Bemba is painted as a power hungry wannabe dictator that will kill all those who did not support him, the Free State as amoral foreigners stealing the resources of the country and Pindari Fedayeen as secessionist wanting to oppress the Catholic minority in their areas or even to engage in potential cultural genocide should they ever become independent.

6.    Because Tamora has very few historical connections with Merina, it has been more subtle in promoting its involvement in Merina and it is usually done in contrast or opposition with the other Council of Albion countries which are presented as wanting to take control of the resources and impose their will on Merina. The fact that Tamora is not rich like the Council of Albion countries is presented as prrof that they are not a nation which has made their wealth from stealing from other countries. It is an attempt to paint Tamora as more trustworthy to understand the needs of Merina and to not attempt to “neo colonize” the country. The Clysperis civil war is often cited as an example of where Tamora was involved and brought peace quickly. The role of the other coalition partners in that war is simply ignored as is Tamora involvement with slavery.

7.   The campaign also focuses on presenting a vision for a post war Merina. Since the announced Tamoran involvement in the civil war there has been a spike in the number of mentions about the Tamoran investments in Zimalia and how those could be replicated in Merina. All this goes to create the impression that should the fighting stop, very soon prosperity would begin to return to Merina.


It seems that just like in the Clysperi civil war, Djerb pays close attention to the public opinion on the ground and is actively engaged in trying to influence people's opinions and perceptions.
It is hard if not impossible to accurately assess the effectiveness of the ongoing Tamoran propaganda campaign and it will remain to be seen what its impact will be. For now we can say that their propaganda is extensive to the point that it seem to drown most other narratives that are critical of President Nguessa.

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #77 on: June 14, 2020, 05:41:07 PM »




AWHAELE ELECTS NEW GOVERNMENT - "SOVEREIGNTY QUESTION" TO BE RESOLVED

Following the ousting of Marcello Catino from the office of First Minister, in the wake of his links to the WMRA, elections have been held in Awhaele and the newly elected First Minister is Joachim Mortimer, from the Awhaele Liberal Party. The first act of the First Minister has been to announce that a three way referendum on the future of the territory will be held at the end of June, which will see "the status of the island resolved and the sovereignty question answered." the territory of Awhaele has been governed under a joint Achkerinese/Vaguzian treaty since 1880 but the treaty was not renewed by Vaguzia this year which coupled with the recent ousting of the former first minister is the basis on which the referendum is warranted. The referendum will see three options on the ballot paper 1) Achkaerinese sovereignty over Awhaele 2) Vaguzian sovereignty over Awhaele or 3) an Independent Awhaele.

Offline DaveIronside

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #78 on: June 30, 2020, 10:38:28 PM »




THE MINORITY OF MORELAND

East Moreland today began the first of several repatriation flights for some 80,000 Lakhzovian refugees to their homeland. Of the 80,000 who were evacuated through the Utman Conflict in Lakhzovia only 874 of the refugees will be remaining in East Moreland. This mirrors a similar process during the Mavrosia refugee crisis several years ago where some 35,000 refugees were evacuated to East Moreland and all but 1,000 returned home. It begs the question of why when the government of East Moreland are so open to taking refugees why do so few remain after in what for the Lakhzovians at least has been a lengthy stay. One need only look at the demographics of East Moreland to see that it is perhaps one of the least diverse nations on Mundus. 97% of the East Moreland population define themselves as "White", with 92% identifying as "White-Morelanders". In addition 95% of the population identify as devotees of the Cult of Helus while among the remaining 5% are the faithful of the Sisterhood of Helus and even a handful of the Helusan faith, which in essence means that perhaps less than 3million Morelanders describe their faith as "non-Helus related." It begs the question the as to why East Moreland seems to be the land that lacks diversity so we went on a journey to explore the lives of the the minorities of East Moreland.

If we look at how a nation can measure equality it is how minorities are represented in their elected parts of government. In East Moreland that means the 350 person Representative Council which is elected every five years. The Council has only existed for five years however has in that time seen two rounds of elections because of resignations and reshuffles which gave no party a majority. Out of the 700 potential seats that have been determined in those elections not a single person from a minority race has been elected as a Councillor. The lack of diversity goes even further with only 5 non-white candidates standing. The other part of the East Moreland government is the King's Council which as the name suggests is selected by the monarch there has only ever been one member from a minority background and that was Edward Tamana who served as both a Science and Technology Minister before becoming Foreign Minister, his time in the King's Council lasted just under five years however as irregularities in his National Service forced him to resign. Tamana is the son of Zimalian immigrants who moved to East Moreland in the 1980's. We caught up with Mr.Tamana, who is currently lecturing in International Politics at Keepton University, to hear about his experiences. "Growing up in Rockhampton I was very aware of being different to the other children. I don't remember life in Zimalia as we moved when I was two years old so life in East Moreland has always been what I know. It was hard at times to make friends because I was seen as different, there was name calling and bullying. Quiet a lot of it was calling me racist names but the adults in my life, by that I mean people like teachers and football coaches, always stood up for me and stopped it. They always made the people doing it ashamed by reminding them the Code of Canley made it their duty to protect people who needed help. It wouldn't solve the problem overnight but it helped. I think though as people get older they perhaps understand the Cult's teachings more and became more accepting. I found my 16 weeks in the military very eye opening and realised why there is perhaps a problem for those of us from immigrant backgrounds to make our way in the world. East Moreland has such an entrenched military tradition that people place an emphasis on traditions like serving in the same units as grandparents. There was even a guy in our platoon called Jack....I can't recall his surname sadly, who was the 11th generation of his family to serve in the unit. As such he was automatically like part of the furniture. Meanwhile when asked about my families military history the fact my Dad was a militia man in the Berko tribe didn't quiet give me the same respect Jack had. When you go into a job in civilian life, so in my case OsmanTech, the idea of your families military heritage becomes important again until you've proved yourself. Once you've done that then there are no problems. I was lucky that I was able to raise pretty far as I was great at my jobs, I in the end let myself down and I feel guilty as I now think people will view the fact I falsified my national service record as a reflection on others from immigrant families."

It seems then according to Tamana that the root of the lack of diversity in key parts of East Moreland isn't down to racial discrimination but rather down to a lack of "Moreland Heritage" through things like their military service. We then went to speak to Lance Fusilier Promising Winthrop, whose grand-parents moved from Zimalia to East Moreland in the 1960's, he is one of around  150 "Career Legionnaires" in the East Moreland military. As a nation with a manditory 24 months National Service programme all Moreland citizens are required to undertake 16 weeks of military training before being streamed into either military service or alternatives such as environmental conservation, auxiliaries in hospitals or helping look after national memorials. Many though elect after their 16 weeks to sign up for a career in the military and sign on for a minimum term of 5 years as a "Career Legionnaire." That is exactly what L/Fus Winthrop did at 18 and now four years later he is looking to extend his service for a further decade. "I grew up in Northfort and as the capital we perhaps saw a little bit more diversity than the other cities in East Moreland. When I turned up for the military though there were questions asked about where my family had served, neither of my parents had done the full term of national service in the military and so I found myself already looked down upon. I loved the training though, I've always been really active and sporty so it became second nature. When I graduated top of my intake I wasn't offered a place in my first choice unit and so was surprised as I wanted the Royal Northfort Rifles as they're a very prestigious unit. At first I thought it might have been because I was not a "Morelander" in some people's eyes however later that day the Training Centre's Commander took me to one side and said they were sending me to the Rapid Advancement Course which helps promising soldiers become leaders quicker. I was the first black soldier to attend and people trusted I was a capable soldier. It did mean though going to the Fusiliars as they lacked NCO's at that time but I got over the disappointment of not joining the rifles as I'm effectively 18 months further along in my career than I would have." L/Fus Winthrop has served in Seaforth and Royal Seleucid operations and has since our interview had his service extended further and is being admitted to Officer Training School should he complete the next 12 months with no demerits on his record, this would make him the first black officer in the East Moreland military.

East Moreland lacks not just ethnic diversity but diversity of religion. We spoke to High Priestess of the Cult of Helus Skye Maddix who offered one potential reason why. "To the Cult of Helus East Moreland is THE Holy Land. Every bit of soil was once walked upon by Helus himself I think therefore this pulls to East Moreland cultists across the world. People wanting to reconnect with the Gods or in some cases people who have discovered the Gods and now want to live alongside them. Take our Queen for example, not a Cultist herself but a follower of the ideals of Helus. Long before becoming Queen she opted to come and live in East Moreland. The Cult is the centre of daily life here, its traditions shape our calendar and our attitudes. It perhaps is something that puts people of other faiths, such as say Catholics, off from living here. Its not that they are not welcome just perhaps the land isn't as appealing." This is an argument that is perhaps clear to see as the nation where most immigrants to East Moreland come from is Bakkermaya, a nation that shares both a language and religious connection with East Moreland however their are hints of perhaps more discreet attempts to maintain the Cult as the dominant force in East Moreland. A long standing law prevents any building of a religious use standing higher than the Temple of Helus in a settlement. In the capital of East Moreland that means no religious building may stand higher than 98.9 meters ensuring the Cult retains a visual dominance of any settlements skyline. In addition to this the Temples of the Cult play a huge role in day to day life as social hubs. For example even as a Christian living in East Moreland it is likely if your a rugby playing youth the Cult will be helping organise local leagues, the Cult will run local youth clubs and the Cult will be hosting major festivals throughout the year that appeal to young people. As a result of this it is easy to see why so many immigrants, such as the parents of Edward Tamana and Promising Winthrop converted to the Cult. For some this is done by a genuine warmth towards the Gods as described by Skye Maddix however some it will be a feeling of necessity with the need to have a "Sword Ceremony" a kind of coming of age ceremony for Cultists, being almost a requirement for many routes to success in East Moreland. Without a Sword Ceremony you can not hold political office and you can not be part of any of East Moreland's prestigious orders of chivalry. While there are routes to having sword ceremonies created for non Cultists these still require an individual to be approved by a Priestess of the Cult giving the religion a significant influence that perhaps limits the spread of other religions.

East Moreland is by no means alone in its lack of diversity. Waddan is perhaps even less ethnically diverse than East Moreland, largely thanks to its long isolation and nomadic lifestyle. Religiously Nya Aland is perhaps less diverse but this is done by design through their pro-Odinist anti-non Odinist laws. It therefore remains a sociological mystery why East Moreland lacks real diversity. We asked the government how things might be made easier for minority groups to flourish in East Moreland and current Chief Councillor Grant Nightingale meet us in the Museum of Blades in Northfort, a place where East Moreland venerate the swords that play a central part in many cultural traditions. The highest ranked elected official in the nation choose the venue for a specific purpose and took delight in showing us the blades on display. A vast timeline of sword design and technology from the Bronze Age until modern day. Among them designs from various places across Mundus, one he was keen to show was the replica of the sword of Anezaki Ayanami. "Today people were surprised that a Lodjain has ended up as a Queen of East Moreland, lets remember though that she isn't the first. We've seen through Paul the Explorer a Achkaerin Queen, we've seen him make connections with Rokkenjimans and Paul's followers ended up setting up communities and living in Bakkermaya and even Royal Seleucid. We've shown historically East Moreland embraces and welcomes others. It does though seem that we lost our way in this process some 300 years ago when superstition and "Prophecy" shut us down. Its something that will get reversed and we are gradually seeing it come through. There are no barriers to minorities in East Moreland and I think that one day we will see a Black Chief Councillor, I think it may take at least a decade as our society sees military service as such an important qualification for public service and it will take time for 2nd generation immigrants to complete their service and make their way up the ranks. It will happen, Edward Tamana opened a door that anyone else can easily walk through."

Nightingale though may have to wait longer than a decade. With Promising Winthrop set to become East Moreland's first black military officer and with what he hopes is 15 years more military service ahead of him then a suitable individual with the preferred military service may take more time. Even L/Fus Winthrop isn't sure this is a path he wants to follow. "There has been in the history of Red Legion one black Legionnaire, but never a Red Legion officer. I hope to change that. I'd like to think that when the time comes to leave the military I'll be in my late 40's and then hopefully a career in intelligence could be a path I'd take, perhaps my ultimate aim could be to be the first black Head of the National Intelligence Agency." It is clear however that despite these lofty ambitions there are not yet many others to follow in his footsteps in what may be the most un-diverse nation on Mundus.   

Online Achkaerin

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #79 on: July 02, 2020, 06:03:35 PM »



AWHAELE REFERENDUM RESULT

The Awhaele referendum result has been announced, the people were voting on the future sovereignty of their nation, the options on the ballot paper were as previously reported Achkaerinese sovereignty, Vaguzian sovereignty or independence from both. The results of the referendum were as follows:

Achkaerinese Sovereignty - 65%
Vaguzian Sovereignty - 22%
Independence - 13%

So a clear result in favour of Achkaerinese sovereignty, to some it may seem a shock however with a population that's majority wise made of Achkaerinese and Vaguzian nationals its perhaps not that surprising that the independence vote didn't gain traction. It's also likely that the recent debacle with the former First Minister of Awhaele being linked with the WMRA swung undecided voters toward the Achkaerinese option. The current First Minister Joachim Mortimer spoke following the declaration of the result saying: "Today we have a clear result and a direction that we as an island wish to take, accordingly I will be contacting the Achkaerinese Government in the next few hours and we shall begin the transition to the future that the people have voted for."

Offline Beatrice

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #80 on: July 08, 2020, 04:41:24 AM »



JOSIAH RHODES PUTS TO SEA QUIETLY RAISING QUESTIONS

As Cecelia Anselmo makes steam for Portworth, East Moreland another Reverence Class battleship, IRF Josiah Rhodes steamed quietly in the Rokkenjima Sea. Imperial High Command declined several requests for comment as to the deployment of the supposedly decommissioned class of ship, however, sources who did speak with us have claimed that Josiah Rhodes is serving as a testbed for further automation of the Reverence Class. The program has a reported goal to see the compliment reduced to 975-1,000 per vessel, further improvements upon the propulsion systems of the class, as well as pairing the Reverence Class with a carrier which would field the new Akuma autonomous fighter.

"The focus of the Empress remains on a fleet which pays greater attention to the submersible capabilities of the IRN," one such source shared with us, "however, much time and funds have been devoted to the Reverence Class and the Harbinger shells which are employed upon them. Providing fire support to Rokkenjiman forces is a role which the Reverence Class was tailored for, and one which some within Imperial High Command wish to invest further in. Josiah Rhodes has seen further modifications, with work being attempted to automate her turrets, reducing the crew required to operate them from nearly 100 to 25-35. These projects represent the ambitious goals of Abstergo and Rosa Shipyards in reducing the crew requirements of the Reverence Class beyond the reduced yields already realized.

While it remains to be seen whether this project is an active pursuit of the Imperial Rokkenjiman Navy or an experimental pursuit which serves as a testbed for other projects the IRN is pursuing, it does raise the question as to why a second vessel from a class which has been formally removed from active service has set to sea. Those we spoke to theorized that only three or four of the Reverence Class would be pressed back into service under this alleged program. "The firepower of the Reverence is apparent, so too is the changed world in which we live. We will see what comes of this project, if it is intended for utilization in the Imperial Rokkenjiman Navy or if these tests are a part of some pursuit which we do not clearly understand as of yet."

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Offline Persephone

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #81 on: August 28, 2020, 07:58:57 PM »


Grissin Human Trafficking and Drug Bust

The Griss Confederacy has long been an isolated bulwark from the rest of Mundus. The Council of Elders, its leading executive government body, has mostly ignored Mundus because it maintains that the nation has few ties and meaningful connections outside its borders. Outside of the political idealism of this belief is the reality that the Confederacy is deeply connected to the international criminal world. The Confederacy refusing to cooperate on any level with foreign and international intelligence and policing agencies has devastated the security of the nation. Because of this the Griss is a major player in international money laundering, the organ trade and drug, arms, and human trafficking.

But the country has chosen that rather than dealing with this, it is better to sweep these things under the rug. It has long been theorized that the Confederate government can't tackle these crimes due to heavy rates of corruption in lower government offices and urban police districts. Any legitimate effort to investigate political corruption is mired by infighting and scandal until it disappears. Speculators say that if the government were to make a fully realized effort to stamp out corruption, it would take years and millions, if not billions, of Guilders.

This situation has dramatically changed as of yesterday. In a stunning raid, the IDNPD (Illegal Drug and Narcotic Policing Division) were able to bust a major drug and human trafficking safe house. The house had over §30 million in drugs and narcotics (divided between mainly between cocaine and heroin), another §10 million in cash, over 100 firearms and 40 unidentified individuals thought to be victims of human trafficking. It is believed that the safe house is a transit location as the victims are both domestic and foreigners. Some of the international victims come from countries such as Toshikawa, Neuva Ardia and Lodja. It is currently believed by the IDNPD that international victims are meant for domestic sex trafficking while the Grissin victims were meant to be sold abroad. The raid is reported to have been relatively peaceful, the criminals were stunned by the IDNPD storming the safe house and quickly surrendered. 

It is reported that several high-ranking members of various criminal organizations were among those taken into custody. An IDNPD spokesperson said that, "this could be one of the biggest breaks in Confederate history. From these criminals we get everything. We get their ties to the government, we know which cops dirty, which judges are being paid off. But the difficulties are in is the international nature of these crimes. We've never had to really deal with foreign nationals before." Foreign language specialists had to have been flown in from across the nation to translate. 

The Confederate government has made no comment as of yet. Sources state that the government is quietly exploring avenues to deal with the situation. This is said to include reaching out to foreign governments.

Offline Geo

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #82 on: September 20, 2020, 01:46:27 PM »
Report On Religious Oppression in Aschlon

Please note: PORs are the official designation for people who openly worship in the People’s Republic of Aschlon

This report, written by Willaim Donald, follower of the Manist religion and once teacher at the University of the Low Lands, has written and published this report to inform the rest of Mundus on the injustice facing open worshippers of faiths in Aschlon.

Employment

In a series of questions to 256 business owners on religion, 27.9% said that they would not employ PORs, 44.3% said they would be hesitant to employ PORs and 27.8% said that religion was not a factor in deciding who to employ.

As is publicly known, the option to join the military, ASSO or the police force is not available to PORs, apparently due to security concerns, as well as protecting the right to dishonourably dismiss anyone who converts to faith whilst serving.

In addition, ASSO’s ability to remove from employment people who teach or care for minors has been used almost exclusively on PORs. This has apparently stopped many minors from being influenced by PORs at a young age, stopping any chance that they could be converted.

There has also been a limit on how much a POR is allowed to be paid, with a maximum salary of 32000 Fiste. If they are paid more than the limit or have multiple occupations, their wealth is confiscated for use by the state. This was apparently put in place to discourage them from taking well paying jobs from non-PORs.

The most likely reason for PORs being held back employment wise is most likey due to discrimination, not security claims.

Representation in Media and Education
PORs are often represented badly in modern day Aschlonian fiction. Most fictional tales, both in literature and television, in Aschlon are written with religious characters being portrayed as the antagonist or rival of the protagonist. The few Aschlonian ones that do present them in a positive light are often quietly taken off the market.

Religious Education is not a subject taught in Primary or Secondary Schools, however it is taught in most universities. In the rare case it is taught, RE presents religion in an extremely negative light, which is opposed to the usual way of teaching subjects with a neutral view. 

The majority of foreign media is usually much more expensive compared to native Aschlonian works, probably to discourage purchasement.

It should also be noted that the process required to obtain a religious scripture, such as the Bile or Qur'an, is rather similar to the process of getting a gun, with the purchaser being marked down as a POR, their family and employers being notified as well as extensive background checks.

PORs are also not allowed to work in any news broadcasting service, including newsletters as insignificant as a school newsletter.

Civilian Rights
PORs are not given the same amount of rights as non-PORs. They, for example, are not allowed to own a gun, get married in an open ceremony, or collect unemployment benefits. Until several weeks ago (3/09/20) they were also illegible for homeless benefits, free health care or public transport, however the Tarc reversed these policies.

There is no law stopping PORs and non-PORS marrying, except that the newly wedded couple will both be classed as PORs, as well as their next generation of children.

The children of two PORs are not classed as such, except in the aforementioned example. However, any action that would result usually result in being classed as a POR, for example attending a religious service or having evidence of prayer.

Lynching and Looting
The Lynching of PORs (or suspected PORs for that matter) is sadly not uncommon in the capital, Hootoft City. Though the government actively attempts to stop these lynchings, due to the often crowded streets and ban on vehicles bigger than a bicycle, by the time the police arrive to try stop them it is too late, and the perpetrators have disappeared into the crowd.

In addition, very rarely (about 4 or 5 every year) POR owned shops will be looted, often with all its stock being robbed and massive damage to the fixtures on the property. Unlike looting, the government takes very few steps to prevent this.

Public View
The large percentage of the population are not PORs. Due to anti-religious propaganda (usually done by ASSO), terror attacks done by groups such as the NACG as well as the King’s policies (apparently instructed to him by God) public opinion of religion is low, particularly in the Hootoft provenance. The opinion generally goes up the further you get from Hootoft, with the Eastern Island and Mainland having a much better (yet still negative) opinion on religion.


Offline Libby

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #83 on: October 18, 2020, 12:22:02 PM »
THE KAITAINE STALEMATE

Today marks the third anniversary of the ending of what is often known as the Seige of Seitch, an event sparking what is essentially a civil war within Kaitaine. Back in 2017 the Western city of Seitch was ordered to be evacuated on "environmental and health" grounds by the Soviet government of Kaitaine, the city however contained a large number of people still loyal to the outlawed Bene Gesserit faith who see the city as one of two Holy sites. With a large number of its residents refusing to move and an early attempt by a Light Infantry unit to clear the city failing the city became besieged and the world was introduced to the Truthsayers, an all female religious militia, who effectively held out against the seige for several months. It was then on October 18th 2017 that an event now called the "Liberation of Seitch" by the Bene Gesserit but the "Horror of Seitch" by the Soviets took place. During the night a force of Truthsayers had apparently treked across the desert which dominates Western Kiataine and in a co-ordinated assault with those within the city defeated the beseiging force. To date no one has discovered where exactly those who walked across the desert began from however some of those involved came from nations such as Ui Cenneslaig, Achkaerin, Aosta and Cantabria where the Bene Gesserit diaspora access private schools known as Chapterhouse Lifeboats which are named after the faiths so called Holy Island which is in the East of Kaitaine. Over the next few months there were back and forth skirmishes through the region saw the Truthsayers establish themselves in the city which now three years later has returned to almost daily routine life.

While the Soviet forces would normally be able to easily overwhelm the Truthsayers there have been two huge stumbling blocks to this. The first is the geology of the area. It is well known that Kaitaine is a nation rich in coal and several seems run under the city itself. Experts speculate that the use of certain weapons could ignite the close to surface coal seams causing a fire that would be burning underground potentially for decades. The second factor is that in the months following the battle at Seitch the Soviet forces fell into disarray with sabotage of equipment, high profile assassinations, espionage and desertions all taking place by members of the Bene Gesserit faith who had seemingly infiltrated the Kaitaine Defence Forces over a long period of time hoping for a chance such as this. Recent estimates have reached the opinion that around 10% of the Soviet forces may infact be loyalists to the Bene Gesserit cause however because of the nature of Soviet media and reporting many intelligence experts suspect this number may be as high as 15%. One example of what these infiltrators have achieved was evident at an airbase just outside the capital of Arrakeen where around three months ago a pair of explosions saw a supply depot used to house components for the Air Force and a large fuel depot destroyed. The Soviet media portrayed this as a failed assault by the Truthsayers however local residents who we managed to interview said there was no sound of gunfire or any other indication of military action beyond the explosions of the depots.

Out in the East of the nation the geography of the nation is also no friend to the Soviets. The border between the territory controlled by the Bene Gesserit and Soviets is largely made up of a network of steep and high mountains making it extremely easy to stop an advance through them. The Bene Gesserit have become experts at repulsing these kind of attacks with effective use of IED's and having an extensive knowledge of the underground network of caves that are present in the region. That left only the Southern Highway which ran through the town of Secundas. This town was reinforced heavily by the Soviets however in May 2019 this strategic point was capture when a Regiment of KDF effectively began fighting among itself following the assassination of its commanding officer by a Bene Gesserit loyalist known as Ruth McSheffrey, who had been married to a KDF major for 10 years. Today McSheffrey is living in Secundas under the control of the Bene Gesserit. She told us about the day she effectively caused a civil war within her ex-husbands regiment. McSheffrey is a member of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood holding the rank of an Honored Matres. "Normally we are attached to significant members of the faith to help bring about the birth of the Kwizach Hadrach. In Kaitaine though we have been used as information gatherers. I was presented with a chance to get inside a high ranking circle of officers and then when the liberation began we took a chance and I had only really hoped to take out the officers, I never expected the unit to have so many loyalists." Today the city is heavily fortified and has a strong prescence of both the Truthsayers and their male militia men known as Pangolins. The Soviets meanwhile explain that the city is effectively being used as a holding centre by the Bene Gesserit for those unwilling to convert to their faith and point to the checkpoints present that they claim prevent people from leaving. The Soviet High Command claim the only reason they have not retaken the town is because it would cause "a huge loss of innocent life." From our reporters visit to the town however we are of the belief that people are free to come and go largely as they wish.


A typical pass between the "Theocracy" and the Soviet controlled Kaitaine

What many would perhaps accurately call a civil war is in effect now more a case of probing attacks along the divide between the territory each control. Over the last year the Truthsayers admit that a total of 62 of their members have been killed either in combat or through execution after being discovered in Soviet Society, this number even included a 42 year old woman who was a secretary to Vice President Vadik Pasternak. On the other hand the Soviets claim that only 17 members of their armed forces have died in the last 12 months yet from what our reporter saw this number is a massive under report. During their stay in Seitch they witnessed a group of trucks return from duty in the Highlands and they brought with them a number of injured KDF soldiers, these alone told us that they had originally been 30 men in their unit, however only 7 remained the rest believed to have been killed. Those who find themselves in custody in Seitch are locked up in the old dungeon of the Red Palace in Seitch and we were granted permission to speak with them. We saw around 200 people in conditions that are not ideal but certainly are not designed to be inhumane. They are feed, given access to washing facilities and access to medical care. Those we spoke too complained of being kept undergound since their capture which in some cases has been two years. They have though been permitted to write to their families and it is understood the Truthsayers distribute these letters by essentially posting them from within the Soviet controlled part of Kaitaine. Letters though can not be recieved. We contacted the parents of one such soldier who asked us to keep his name out of our report. They had recieved two letters and explained that they now believed others may be being intercepted by the Soviets keen to push the narrative that the Bene Gesserit execute Prisoners of War. Those capture by the Soviets however are routinely tried for either treason or terrorism and executed.

In terms of what the future holds it would seem that a long standing stalemate will last for potentially years. It is clear the KDF can not put together an effective push to retake the territory that the Bene Gesserit have claimed due to the lack of trust in their own forces. Meanwhile the Bene Gesserit lack the heavy firepower, air force and manpower to push the borders of what they control any further. The prospect of a negotiated ceasefire is also impossible. The Bene Gesserit believe the land they claim is sacred and are unlikely to give up any of it without a fight. Additionally the fact that Chapterhouse Island which sits just off the East coast of Kaitaine is seen as the faiths most sacred site and is firmly under Soviet control is likely to mean the Bene Gesserit couldn't accept a compromise. A more likely end to the stale-mate would perhaps come only if Rodinha, a nation rebuilding itself after its collapse, joined the conflict or perhaps if Chistopol, a nation to the North of Kaitaine and bordering the "Theocracy", could be persuaded to enter the conflict against their former Soviet occupiers. Additionally as the Bene Gesserit seek more recognition as a legitimate religion they could find support elsewhere. The faith was labelled as terrorists in many nations after they sought to steal nuclear waste from East Moreland, an incident that Erin McGregor, the head of the Bene Gesserit faith says was not carried out on her orders but by rouge members of the faith. This stance has been supported by Ui Cenneslaig intelligence who have presented evidence to East Moreland however to date the Morelanders have not changed their stance against the Truthsayers and still label them as terrorists, going so far as to share intelligence on Bene Gesserit activities with the Soviet Kaitaine authorities. Rokkenjima are also providing financial support to the Soviet Kaitaine government in their efforts to remove the Truthsayers who they also label as terrorists. On the reverse of this is the fact that Tamora have recognised the "Theocracy" as a nation going so far as establishing an exchange of ambassadors with them.


Chapterhouse Island, today used as a military training centre for KDF Officers

For now it is clear that the conflict is not going away and life for those on and around the border of the Soviet and Bene Gesserit controlled areas will remain a daily test of nerves.

Offline Libby

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #84 on: April 12, 2021, 10:40:15 PM »
END OF THE KAITAINE CONFLICT

Moments ago news had emerged from talks going on in Tartu, Chistopol, that a ceasefire has been put in place between the forces of thE Soviet Republic of Kaitaine and opposition forces of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. The talks are the colmination of a lengthy process that had brought to and end the four year long conflict and has been seen by many as largely now creating two nations, the communist controlled Soviet of Kaitaine in the East of the nation and a new "Theocracy of Kaitaine" in the West. Negotiations between the two parties have been chaired largely by the government of Chistopol with go betweens from Tamora, Ui Cenneslaig and Rodinha also said to be involved.

The war between the Soviets and the Bene Gesserit has a long history going back to the 19th century when the Bene Gesserit faith was the dominant influence within Kaitaine. Following a communist invasion by the USR which saw a lengthy period of persecution for the Bene Gesserit. Their sacred island of Chapterhouse which housed the faiths now famed scholarship network was turned into a Kaitaine Defence Force base for many years and the faith was outlawed with members routinely being accused of treason and executed. In early 2018 however the city of Seitch in Kaitaine, the 2nd most sacred place to the Bene Gesserit, was ordered to be evacuated by the Soviets however a force of Bene Gesserit female soldiers, known as Truthsayers refused to leave and utilising the narrow streets of the ancient desert city fought the Soviets off. As a result a six month long seige was lifted on the city when a 2nd force of Truthsayers, who many believe had infiltrated from either Chistopol or Rodinha helped spring an ambush on the beseiges. This lead to a lengthy campaign that eventually saw most of the Western region behind the mountain passes that split Kaitaine fall under Bene Gesserit control.

There were further road-bumps during the conflict such as an attempt by allegedly splinter members of the Bene Gesserit trying to steal nuclear waste from East Moreland which lead to East Moreland recognising the Bene Gesserit as terrorists. As a result East Moreland for several years provided intelligence and logistical support for the Soviets as they waged their war against the Bene Gesserit. Other nations also backed the Soviets with Rokkenjima contributing undisclosed sums of money to the Soviets in order to support their anti-Bene Gesserit efforts. This situation however began to change in May 2019 when the East Moreland ambassador to Kaitaine was ambushed and kidnapped. For several months the ambassador was unheard of until in a year later that she was returned with evidence emerging that "misguided and ill intentioned" special forces soldiers from the Soviets had been holding her as part of their ploy to bring East Moreland further into the conflict. This revelation saw East Moreland, and then Rokkenjima withdraw support for the Soviets.

Meanwhile several nations were very clear in their support for the Bene Gesserit. Extremely early on in the conflict the Empire of Tamora issued a recognition of the Theocracy existing and even went so far as establishing an embassy there, however until December 2020 this embassy had nothing more than an office and a flag hanging outside until the first Tamoran arrived. Chistopol also supported the Theocracy having permitted the Bene Gesserit faith to construct a library in their nation before in November 2020 announcing that their border guards would "Not intervene to stop transit south" effectively meaning anyone was free to cross into Bene Gesserit controlled Kaitaine from Chistopol thus effectively giving Truthsayer reinforcements from across the globe a route into their "homeland". Many argue this was a significant turning point in the conflict.

There were two other significant turining points in the conflict. The first coming in January 2020 when the Kaitaine submarine known as the Leighton essentially halted Kaitaine maritime operations in a significant port. When the sub was returning to base a sabotaged torpedo exploded leading to the sub being evacuated only for a senior officer to betray the Soviets and scupper the vessel effectively closing the port. This lead to a huge amount of mistrust in the Kaitaine military as it was believed Bene Gesserit's or their sympathisers had infiltrated many key positions. This helped render the KDF a less effective fighting force. It further lead to an investigation among top ranked individuals that saw Minister of Defence Jacob McRobert uncovered as a member of the Bene Gesserit. Mr.McRobert escaped the nation into Chistopol however many of his associates were executed drawing condemnation from some nations across Mundus.

The second major turning point was the creation of the "Gates of Hell" which is an environmental disaster which had major consequences on the war. The unique geography of Kaitaine sees pockets of coal fields and associated gas pockets spread across the nation. These factors had been a large reason for why large scale bombing couldn't be used on the Bene Gesserit positions for fear of underground fires beginning. In order to investigate this situation President McPherson of the Soviets ordered test drilling in a remote area of eastern Kaitaine. Having released a large amount of gas the "Gates" were ignited. As of yet no one has taken responsibility however initial reports now say the fire will burn for decades. The disaster also caused sink holes, subsistance and damage to natural water sources across Eastern Kaitaine reducing the support for the Soviet as well as meaning large numbers of the KDF were needed to handle the situation.

There were also a series of propaganda victories for the Bene Gesserit including in June 2020 the Reverned Mother of the Bene Gesserit faith, Erin McGregor, appearing in Seitch for the sacred festival of the "Spice Harvest" which sees shell castings from a unique speices of millipede collected and ground up to make a spice called Melange which is central to the Bene Gesserit rituals. This had followed action in August 2019 when a group of Truthsayers effectively took control of Chapterhouse Island for two hours taking part in a sacred ritual, meditating and making videos before escaping.

The Soviets though also had taken their toll on the Bene Gesserit faith. An estimated 12,000 Bene Gesserit faithful had been imprisoned during the conflict with around half having been connected to the Truthsayers in court being executed.

With the war reaching a point where it seemed neither side would be able to bring about a decisive victory Reverned Mother Erin McGregor issued a series of suggested terms to bring about a ceasefire. With President McPherson at this point having ordered a huge border wall to be built between the disputed territory and the Soviet it was probably the case these would be likely to be seen favourably. The initial terms put forward would see a formal seperation of Kaitaine into two nations, the Soviet and the Theocracy. It would also see the new border fence policed by Rodinha on one side and Cenneg, Tamoran and Chistopol forces on the other. The Isle of Chapterhouse was to be made an effective Cultral Exchange Treaty Organisation protectorate. The final article would see free transit for Bene Gesserit between the Soviet and Theocracy. McPherson however rejected some of these while amending others. However the initial draft was supported by Tamora, Chistopol and Ui Cenneslaig with surprisingly Achkaerin's Emperor Peter offering his support, effectively giving Achkaerin recognition of the Theocracy a few days later. By early March 2021 McPherson was willing to meet with mediators in Tartu, Chistopol to discuss the situation.

It is understood that today following weeks of mediated talks in which McPherson refused to meet face to face with any Bene Gesserit an agreement has been reached. A team of three Rodinhans, a Cenneg, a Tamoran and a Chistopolian acted as go betweens and reached an agreement that was signed by all parties in seperate rooms just hours ago. The agreement, which is known as the Tartu Accord, is shown below in its keypoints.

Quote from: Tartu Accord Keypoints

1. Neither faction will cross the border fence (Insisted on by McPherson so as to not permit a document to exist calling the Theocracy a nation.

2. Created a border made up of the Soviet erected fence which will be policed on the Eastern side by Rodinha and on the Western side by Ui Cenneslaig and Tamora. Wth Chistopol being a bordering Kaiatine it is thought McPherson inisisted that Chistopol soldiers not be involved.

3. The Soviets will permit the creation of an air corridor between Chistopol and the Theocracy however any aircraft outside of this will be considered hostile and shot down.

4. Chapterhouse to remain Soviet controlled with CETO monitoring.

5. A deadline for moving from the East to the West will be put at three months from the agreement being reached meaning it will cease on 12th July 2021.

With media being strictly controlled in the East it is hard to gather what public opinion there is of the agreement however in the West, what is now the de-facto "Theocracy of Kaitaine" scenes of street parties in Seitch have been witnessed with internet blogger Sarah Bradshaw officially closing her blog tonight. The 24 year old Sergeant was one of the relief force during the siege of Seitch and has kept weekly video journals of the conflict as well as writing extensively from within the "Theocracy" during the conflict, some historians have said that her writings could be considered "One of the most significant and insightful primary sources from this affair." The 24 year old filmed herself and her unit in the streets of Seitch of dancing before addressing the camera a final time saying, "For life to begin there must at some point be an end. To those who willingly went to their end so we may live I will dance your memory with joy in my heart, I will go now and pray as I travel our new land, free by the lessons you gave." Her final words mimicing part of what has been adopted as the Theocracy national anthem.

The next few days are likely to be hectic on the international stage as nations must now determine whether they will recognise the Bene Gesserit controlled portion of Kaitaine as a seperate nation or will deny the Theocracy a chance at statehood either way for now the conflict in Kaitaine is over. 

Offline Kopsje

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #85 on: June 21, 2021, 05:30:08 AM »


Foreign Nationals Released: Ibueri

Three Foreign nationals were released from detainment today. Maxence Delarue & Jean Pichon, both from the Republic of Fleur, and Aldric Leutwin, from the Federal Union of Jugland, were released from the Ilirne detainment center among others. The three individuals were apprehended by local authorities following their suspected involvement in political activism in the form of demonstrations against the Government of Ibueri within the town of Illirne. Branded as foreign agents and officially accused of acting "with intent to undermine the authority of, and threaten the unity of, the country" the three were promptly detained by authorities following a clash between law enforcement agents a demonstrators.

Within Ibueri it is illegal to engage in any organization, gathering, or assembly with intent to publicly criticizes the Government or the Bilyar, with many such breaches often resulting in prompt disruption by local authorities and subsequent prisons sentences. The release of the three offending individuals is an act many within the country itself, and international observers, have deemed "uncharacteristic" for a government often criticized as "authoritarian". Even more unusual, the release of the three individuals, and of native Ibuerian activists is reported to have been a direct request from the office of the Bilyar himself, an official letter of pardoned dawning the leaders signature securing the their release. 

Whether an act of genuine judicial mercy or the machinations of politicking not yet known, the act is a potential sign of a new shift in domestic policy for Ibueri. As for the three now freed foreign nationals, part of the official pardoning calls for the three  individuals to voluntarily leave the country by the end of the week or otherwise be deported. 


Offline Beatrice

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #86 on: August 22, 2021, 09:31:15 AM »


Clysperi Guards Arrest Hundreds Across Kingdom

Reports of hundreds of arrests across the Kingdom of Clysperis poured into our offices in Khemnen as the day progressed, many of family leaders resisting the call of Pharaoh Akasha to release indentured servants from the binds of their service. One family in Khemnen, who had four servants under one roof, said that the decision "came as a shock" and didn't know what they would do. "They wronged our family, they were sentenced, and now they gets to walk free? Sure the check will be nice but by what metric is the Pharaoh determining the remaining value of their service?"

From former servants simply dropping their tasks midway through to servants not returning to be formally relieved the effects of the Pharaoh's words are being felt across the Kingdom, to which she has stated "They have served their time and owe nothing further to their victims; I alone have taken on that burden. Those who refuse to release indentured servants will face the full force of the law." In Khemnen alone four families were arrested for refusing to release their servants, with many other across the Kingdom choosing to face the force of law for not releasing servants.

The Pharaoh reminded all Clysperi that "compliance is not optional; these people are now free and those who keep them against their will, will be prosecuted accordingly." We will continue to bring you the latest as conditions change on the ground in Clysperis.

Beatrice Anselmo
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Empress of the First Empire of Rokkenjima

Factbook of the First Empire of Rokkenjima - Kingdom of Clysperis

Offline KrisNord

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #87 on: September 11, 2021, 09:20:29 PM »


ENVIRONMENTAL CALL CAN BE "HOLLOW"

Yesterday the Rokkenjiman government issued a press statement which was critical of "some nations who refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the science as well as those who do nothing to curb emissions or make only token gestures." and that these would be labelled as " threats to the national security of Rokkenjima" While this is a noble call from a nation which is a signatory of the Treaty of Wellow it is also a call that rings slightly hollow.

Rokkenjima is a nation which utilises for its diplomatic transport a specialised supersonic airliner. There are several nations who have also taken a keen interest in supersonic passenger transport in the last few years including New Derusima, Tytor and as of late Nya Åland have also experimented with technology that would permit supersonic passengers planes to operate over land. At the best of times diplomatic aircraft are poor for the environment. While a traditional tourist passenger plane will transport upwards of 300 people in a modern aircraft a diplomatic flight will often feature less than 100. This already increases significantly the flights carbon footprint however when we take into consideration that a supersonic airliner would consume 5 to 7 times as much fuel per passenger as subsonic aircraft on the same routes if full we can imagine the exact amount burnt per person to be much higher. It is reported that the old "Imperial Concorde" would burn 22 tons of fuel an hour, twice that of a passenger filled aircraft using traditional engines.[1] With several nations, Achkaerin and East Moreland among them, having recently experimented with electrical powered propulsion for aircraft this is a route that would be better served rather than development of gas guzzling supersonic vanity projects. Even then these electrical powered aircraft, if brought to scale, would still require careful monitoring of how electricity is produced to refill their batteries. Currently there are approximately 25,000 commercial aircraft in the world[2] and estimates are that if just 500 of those were to be supersonic airliners then they would produce the same amount of CO2 as 10%-17% of the current fleet, a substantial increase to global emissions while also reducing the amount of capacity for routes. With the Treaty of Wellow stating that nations should "Reduce pollution caused by air travel by 35% by 2030." the introduction of supersonic aircraft, and their continued use is unlikely to see nations reaching these targets.

While it can be argued that Rokkenjima utilises ships for some diplomatic missions the Austrana and its newely commissioned replacement as the "Primary Yacht"  the  Azukishima are not without environmental issues. The Austrana currently weighs in the region of 10,000 tons and similar designs are capable of carrying around 700 people, a combination of luxury passengers and crew required to meet their needs. Vast quantities of fuel are required to move the immense mass of a ship of this types, with commensurately huge emissions of CO2 as well as nitrogen and sulfur oxides. It is estimated that a typical 3,000 capacity cruise ship burns around 0.40kg of fuel per passenger per km[3]. With much of the Imperial Yachts manifest being kept secret it is likely that they have many less people onboard considering the design, and furthermore the ship weights much less it is hard to be certain of the exact fuel burn for the Imperial Yacht, however it is likely to produce a significant amount of CO2 during its criss crossing of Mundus. In addition to the fuel concerns ships criss crossing Mundus can also damage the biological nature of regions. For example ships routinely need to utilise water for ballast. This often see's water brought onboard in waters of one part of Mundus and off loaded in others, while more modern techniques allow filtration and various other minimisation protocols there are still routinely cases found of biological organisms being transported to non native waters, this has in the past also seen diseases such as cholera taken across Mundus.  There is also the risk of pollution within the sea from water from the bilges of the ship which often contain oil, urine, detergents, solvents, chemicals, pitch, particles, and other materials which can damage the oceans. It is often impossible to store waste waters onboard as it is estimated that an average cruise ship produces up to forty liters of sewage and 340 liters of water from sinks, showers, and drains, per person, per day[4]. It is therefore impossible to store such quantities onboard and often these are removed into the ocean and even with onboard sewage treatment systems, likely to be state of the art on the Imperial Yacht, this can still lead to pollution. Even when docked the ship and those like it can damage the environment. Paint used to prevent the growth of barnacles often contains plastic and metals. This paint often flakes off during voyages and can linger in the waters causing significant pollution in the local ecosystem. While advances of technology have begun to minimise this the problem is still significant around port areas.

Rokkenjima are at the forefront of many space endeavours and as of late are in what could be argued as a "Shuttle Off" with their Cross Straits partner Daitō and this too has significant environmental impact.  Each space shuttle spewed thousands of pounds of metals and other chemicals into the air, many of which will eventually find their way to the ground causing damage to flora and fauna. With space tourism being expected to quiet literally take off in the next decade or so the amount of pollution caused by these launches is likely to multiple significantly. With the average space shuttle launch releasing 443 metric tonnes of CO2 this is a significant impact on the environment. With the burning of fuel and the falling metals there have been noticeable impacts on animal life. Take the example of Ui Cenneslaig whose launch sight for their space programme is located on the edge of a coastal region inhabited by seals and rivers close to the site are home to beavers. Studies on these animals have shown they have higher than average amounts of iron in their livers[5] and also have shown significantly elevated thyroid hormones, which can disrupt growth. It is therefore likely that the recent "Shuttle Off" may have had significant impacts on local wildlife in addition to the environment.

With these measures having been discussed it is therefore the case that many nations that have signed the Treaty of Wellow have yet to fully embrace their responsibilities. It can also be said that those individuals who have signed it are also among those contributing the most to the issue the Rokkenjiman government have highlighted. Diplomacy is a huge cause of pollution. As diplomats criss cross Mundus, King David for example having undertaken eight overseas state visits this calendar year so far, they leave behind them a significant amount of pollutants. We live in a day and age where video conferencing is getting more reliable, more secure and more utilised in business, this should therefore be used more for such measures. So what should be done. First the idea of supersonic airline travel should be placed on the back burner, it often has minimal time impact for diplomats who have access to large luxury aircraft with palace like facilities and no waiting times at airports. Ironside One for example has facilities that have allowed the King to manage international incidents while still in mid-air meaning that there is minimal time loss. More must be done to support measures of electric powered aircraft, these however for the time being are likely to be less luxurious and slower meaning diplomats must resign themselves to a loss of luxury. This would send a clear message that the environment is truly what matters and that it is the role of us all to tackle climate change not just select individuals or nations.

Article by Dr. Henrik Rathmalsson from Krokom University
 1. https://www.transportenvironment.org/sites/te/files/2018_05_TE_Supresonic_briefing_0.pdf
 2. https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2017/jun/paris-air-show/global-commercial-aircraft-fleet-to-grow-to-more-than-35000.html
 3. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41510783?mag=the-high-environmental-costs-of-cruise-ships&seq=5#metadata_info_tab_contents
 4. https://daily.jstor.org/the-high-environmental-costs-of-cruise-ships/
 5. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/space-shuttle-blast-offs-spewed-metals-chemicals-into-wildlife-refuge/ - substituted gators for other wildlife
« Last Edit: September 11, 2021, 09:30:31 PM by KrisNord »

Offline Tytor

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #88 on: January 10, 2022, 10:54:04 AM »

Live TV Report: Centralia's Secret Civil War


File photo of the Presidential Palace in New Providence in 2010

International news regarding Centralia has been sparse since the rogue broadcast that hijacked a CNTV newscast back in September.  Centralia has not sent athletes to sporting events in which it usually participates.  International flights into and out of Centralia's major cities have all but ended.  The Imperial Rokkenjiman Navy has quietly dropped Innsmouth and other Centralian ports from its port-of-call rotation.  With no official statement from President Tanner or his cabinet, the world is mostly left to wonder about the situation inside the country.  A Free Mundus Network journalist, Gail Featherstone, made her way into the Hermit Republic with a small camera crew at the beginning of January to find out.

According to early reports Featherstone made to FMN via satellite phone, the Lord's Resistance Army's broadcast seems to have been real.  Security has been heightened extensively in Centralia's major cities, and a rapidly escalating guerilla war appears to be underway in the countryside.  The extent of the rebels' territorial control seems difficult to determine, as the Centralian government, especially the Department of Homeland Security, keeps a tight leash on domestic information flow, but it seems to be fact that the rebel leader, former televangelist Nehemiah Godfrey, is using his old church in Ashboro, state capital of New Jordan, as his headquarters.

Indeed, Godfrey seems to have turned Ashboro into a veritable fortress, using it as a staging point from which to--

Hold on.  <Muffled> Is this for real?  Do we have her?  What do you mean, "no"?  Just the footage.  So, like James in Ubakasa however many--  All right, fine, hang a moment.

We go now to footage we here at FMN just received from Gail Featherstone in New Eastland City.  As I understand it, her team shot this all of... an hour and a half ago.  <Muffled, to offscreen> Phil?

Quote from: New Eastland City footage
<Recording begins>

<Off camera> "And we're rolling."

"Good.  I'm Gail Featherstone, reporting from the observation deck of Grant Tower in New Eastland City, Centralia.  The largest city in the country is less than a hundred miles, or a hundred and sixty kilometers, from New Providence, the capital.  And now, as I record this, the LRA is in the suburbs, moving further toward the city center with every passing moment."

<Distant gunfire off-camera, followed by explosions>

"Fighting is heavy, from what we can tell.  The Federal Army is here in force, but the LRA seems to have heavier weapons than one would expect from a backwoods guerilla force.  The few soldiers I've been able to talk to over the past hour or two make it seem like there was some sort of army base outside Ashboro that the LRA got its hands on months ago."

<Jet passes overhead, camera focuses on missile strikes>

"Good grief, that's 31st Street!  How many blocks away is that?"

<Off-camera> "Uh... I'd say nine or ten.  Running full-tilt, those fighters could get to this building in, what, thirty minutes?

"Well, then we've got time.  Okay.  Now then, where...?  Oh, yeah.  As we can see, the domestic line that this is nothing more than a few disgruntled farmers making trouble in the countryside is complete crap.  For the rebels to be in New Eastland means that they have momentum, possibly enough to make a break for New Providence itself.  It must be truly a mark of how few true friends the Federal Republic has around the world that it has neither asked for nor received aid internationally.  It may be only a matter of time before the Tanner administration is toppled outright at this rate."

<Off-camera> "Hey, you, <expletive> reporter lady, don't you know we're evacuating this building?"

"I'm in the middle of recording--"

<Off-camera> "I don't care if you're the Empress of <expletive> Tamora, get your <expletive> butt downstairs before I make you!"

"Gah!  Fine.  You win.  All right, Hank, let's get this show on downstairs.  You and Will get the equipment dismantled, and let's find a place to send this home."

<Off-camera> "Righto, Gail, cutting out right--"

<Recording ends>

...Well.  From that, we can gather that the initial reports were inaccurate.  Centralia is engulfed in a civil war the likes of which it certainly has never seen before.  This "Lord's Resistance Army" is in the process of taking over the country's largest city -- or at least it was, about an hour and a half ago.  It's unclear at the moment how much of this Mundus's major powers already know, but it's clear to me that Centralia's public silence has been concealing an unmitigated national disaster of epic proportions.  It is now up to the international community to determine how -- and whether -- to respond to the Centralian crisis.

This has been the Free Mundus Network.
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Offline Abertone

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Re: Free Mundus
« Reply #89 on: June 19, 2022, 10:59:25 PM »


NO PEACE IN THE EAST

In the 16th Century the world saw improvements in maritime technology that allowed longer and faster voyages thus opening Mundus up for trade and in many cases conquest. One such conquest was that of the territories of Northern Albion by the military of Abertone. Having grown on the continent of Ardia the Empire had reached as far as it could without coming into conflict with its neighbours and so looked across the oceans for new oppurtunities. This saw Emperor Bruno III authorise an expedition by a group lead by Duke Silvio Martinelli in 1544 that laid claim to an area bordering modern day Kermah. With this region full of semi nomadic tribes the expedition was able to establish a coastal settlement at what today is the city of Lafiagi, the capital of the Eastern Empire. Since then the fortunes of this Albionic outpost have been vastly different to those of the West.

Demographically the two Empires are very different. Emperor Bruno II did not flood the newly acquired territory with settlers instead encouraging locals to come and gain the relative security of an established trading port. The Eastern Empire went from strength to strength as it took advantage of disorder among the tribes in the region however following Bruno II's death his soon saw the new territory as something more akin to a store of resources and a people to be converted. Emperor Roland II sent missionaries to spread the Catholic faith and while giving with one hand took with the other as the boats that brought the missionaries took home gold, silver, slaves and various other resources ensuring the wealth of the Western Empire. This divide today is still visible. Any individual who visits Lafiagi will, as they enter the old port, see the Citadel of St.Nicholas, the last spot in the East slaves would have spent time before being taken to the West. The Citadel today is used as a museum that embraces the wrong doings of all those years however there are some in the East who wish to see it wiped from existence. One of those is Massimo Umbecki a 23 year old student of Eastern origin and is part of the Rediscovery Project. This project aims to help teach young people in the city and surrouning area about the heritage that Black Abertonians have had hidden from them. "Today there is the idea that we are one Empire, that we all are treated the same. Even this attempt at bringing in the Arbahamic Declaration is an attempt to hide the past. We are not treated the same all over the Empire. Our past is closer aligned to the people of Kermah that the people of Abertone and the Citadel is a daily reminder to the people of this city that our Emperors ancestors saw us once as nothing more than a trading commodity."

It is this sense of growing understanding of the past and the inequality it has caused that has lead to some of the tense situations that are found in the East. Just last week a sniper attack in the city left eight people dead. Polls suggest that there is a growing number of young people who are in favour of some form of independence. The most recent poll suggests almost 1 in 5 citizens of the Eastern Empire would support some form of independence however this increases to 1 in 3 for those aged between 18 and 30. The Republican Front are among several groups described as terrorists by the Empire who are active within the East. So far this year the Republican Front have carried out ten different attacks and currently 12 members of the organisation are awaiting trial for such crimes as bank robbery, kidnapping and murder. In the first six months of 2021 that figure was around half the amount for 2022 showing there is perhaps growing support for the groups aims. The task of dealing with groups such as this often falls to the Carabinieri, a form of military Police, who are regularly seen patrolling in military fatigues. Their current commander in the East is Lt-Col Gianni Donado who has served the last five years in the East and is of mixed East-West heritage. "We've seen the level of sophistican within these groups increase this year and we are yet to work out why. We've seen a better standard of weapon and they are becoming better funded and trained. We are currently investigating several avenues to reverse this and turn the Front into a ineffective body but that takes time and in the meantime people will be dying. Polls suggest that the people of the East don't want to become seperate from the Empire and it is our job to ensure they are not forced out by terrorists." So far 7 members of the Carbinieri have died this year in attacks.

The East of the Empire though is slowly changing. Since becoming Emperor in 2019 Emperor Marco IX has seemingly supported work to improve things in the East as explained by his Consol and cousin Graziano. "The East is a beautiful part of the world. Crystal blue seas, some amazing landscapes and with some investment it could well become a major producer of agricultural products and other materials. Its our job to make sure that these things happen and that the people there benefit. There was in 2019 a differential of around $11,000 in terms of GDP per capita between the East and West. We have still got lots to do with a gap that large being unacceptable. We have though in three years reduced that differential to $8,700, its still got a long way to go but its a start." When asked whether this process was purely an economic one the Consul said, "The East retains elements of its own culture and we should celebrate that. We are an Empire and Empires that are strongest have accepted and embraced diversity. We're trying to ensure that the curriculum of schools in the East gives them the freedom to ensure that their culture and past is presented in a way that is accurate and relevant. I think it is safe to say that as my cousins reign continues so will the improvements there."

The Consuls confidence though is not shared by people like the young Massimo Umbecki. "In Graziano we have a man who I think does have peoples best interest at heart. He has visited us several times and I know he's tried to appoint to his staff people from the East. Meanwhile we have an Emperor who has been here just once. I don't think he could even spell Lafiagi yet alone find it on a map. I think many young people would embrace the idea of Republicanism just because of Marco." Umbecki though is aware of the advantages of being part of the Empire. "One positive is that we have a way of escaping poverty here. We can travel freely to the West and there access good quality education. The problem is though once educated we need people to come back and help improve the East and fight for better treatment here but people seem content to remain in the west and enjoy the better quality of life there."

This brain drain from East to West has however raised concerns by some in the Imperial Senate. The right wing Capital Party have several times called for a form of immigration control for those moving from East to West. The Party won 5% in the last elections but are very vocal on the streets of the city Abertone. At one of there latest rallies the parties leader Silvano Manaderi explained. "The people in the East flood here knowing we have created a society that is safer, that is wealthier and one that is only going to get stronger. We have always propped up the East and as more and more immigrants come here our services and resources are being taken up by the Easterners rather than them working as hard as us to improve their community. We need to put in place strict vetting procedures so that we ensure these Republican terrorists don't come here as we have an open door. We also need to stop these unskilled workers coming here and taking opportunities for locals. We need to send more troops to the East, vet every person coming here before they get on a plane or boat and then limit how long they can stay here." It is unlikely that the party will do better in future elections however there have been reports of members of the party getting involved in scuffles with campaigners for reform in the East who have held rallies in the city of Abertone.

While the Empire has been around some 500 years there still remains questions about it stability. While the present situation suggests the Empire must weather another round of terrorist attacks these have in the past come in waves. As each peak of terrorist activity comes so do reforms, investment and various other strategies these usually has the consequence of bringing a reduction in the attacks that last several years. With Consol Graziano Lupin currently pushing a raft of measures to help the East it is likely the activities of the Republican Front will find fewer supporters in the years ahead. The problem though is the fortunes of the East rely squarely on who sits on the throne in the East and with many seeming to lack any confidence in the current Emperor it remains to be seen if the Consols work will actually have an impact on an Empire that has always been divided.