---

Loi-pwi, Vax Republic
31 km southeast of Treng
04:54 AM

   It was a quiet morning, Ko Arkar thought as he stood at his post near the southern entrance to the village. Too quiet, in fact. Some of the old timers, the folks who had actually fought in the war, back in the 70s, would've called it the "calm before the storm", and they'd be right. Just a few hours ago, his unit, a part of the VNA—the Vax National Army—had received word that the Kalasinese had voted for independence, which left several disputes along the border now both unresolved and likely to be pressed. Loi-pwi sat in the middle of one of those "disputes", though Ko knew that if the Kalasinese were going to press their claims, they'd likely try to annex the entire country as they had back in '78. And that's why he was here. He had wanted to sign on back in 2017, during the revolution, to protect his home but had been rejected due to his age, yet now, six years later, it seemed he was going to be called on to do so anyways. But for now, he and his comrades had to hurry up and wait.

   Every so often, the silence would be broken up by a few locals who had already been stirred from their sleep; it may have been early, but they were out in the sticks, so it figured that someone would be doing farm work or whatever it was they did out here. Every time, the nineteen-year-old soldier would jump a little, thinking that perhaps the Kalasinese were upon him, only to realize his mistake a few moments later. This would continue on and on repeatedly from three in the morning until now, and unless he could get a grip, it would probably continue until the fog cleared. Of course, he had every reason to be nervous; if the Kalasinese attacked now, they would be cut off from any support, as the Union government would need to either fly or drive all the way across Kalasinese territory to reach them, something which they quite probably didn't have the chance to do. He would say a little prayer that peace would hold, but part of him knew that it couldn't.

   Just then, off in the distance, he spotted what looked like a pair of headlamps and heard a motor approaching from the border. Perhaps it was just a scouting party which was returning, but part of him feared the worst. He raised his rifle, an old Kalashnikov which had been "liberated" from a PKA barracks back in 2017 and spoke up.
   "What is approaching?" He said, issuing a challenge to their would-be trespasser as the vehicle drew close.
   "The new day, brother." The driver said, his voice familiar to Corporal Arkar. What he had said was correct, so he would wave him on.
   "Welcome home." He said with a nod before the car drove on. He was right. By some stroke of mercy, it was a scouting party. A few moments would pass as the car parked a few houses down and the group aboard would disembark, some heading further into the town to their command post while the driver, a man by the name of Pyae Sein, walked over to him. "Anything new?" Ko asked him when he reached him, leaning against the sandbags.
   "Nothin' yet. Not even the local gangs are daring to go out now." Pyae replied. "With all that's happened, they must be scared."
   "Shouldn't we all be?"
   "I suppose, and that's alright. Fear makes you cautious, and it's better to be careful than to get yourself killed, I say."
   "Fair enough." Ko said with a nod. "Anyways, you ought to get some rest, it's gonna be a long day."

---

   Prince, Pilot, Soldier, Leader. Eijirō, the reigning Emperor of Daitō, has held many roles throughout his life, serving his country dutifully for over a decade. This is his story, and the story of those who know him, from his family to his squadron, and from his youth into the modern day. NOTE: Posts will not be necessarily made in chronological order, however, they will be sorted in the index below.

Index
   • "Sokui no Rei" — 2020-11-06
   • "Darkest of Days" — 2023-07-25
   •
   •
   •
   •
   •
   •
   •
   •
   •

According to local authorities, two militants and one civilian were killed outside of Treng, Rayong Province, during a firefight between forces belonging to the Vax National Army and a local gang. The engagement, which started at 3:16 and ended at 3:24 PM, appears to have started as an attack on a VNA checkpoint, and left a further eight wounded while disrupting traffic into the city until 6:00 that evening. The attackers, who are suspected to belong to the criminal syndicate "Red Vax", fled the scene, and the VNA has begun a manhunt for them. A curfew has been instituted in the city that will last from 10:00 PM until sunrise. So far, the Interior Ministry has not commented on the actions of the VNA, however, it is rumored that they offered their tacit approval for these actions. A spokesperson for the VNA was quoted as saying "...these actions, this curfew, is merely standard operating procedure following terrorist attacks such as this. We urge all citizens in Treng to comply."

Preparations

---

03 February, 2023
07:33 AM
7.5km south of Mount Haku
Day One

   A thin haze clung to the plains which surrounded the Mutsu Inland Sea, not far from the mighty Mount Haku, her snow-crested peak visible, on occasion, as far away as Tenkyō. It was a lovely sight, the sun rising out over the water, but for Dr. Fumihiko Wakamisugi and his team, this wasn't a leisure trip. Fumihiko, or "Fumi" as his friends called him, had spent the early days of his career as an archaeologist in the area, playing a small but nonetheless important role in excavating the "Great Haniwa Army", as well as a number of residences and tombs in the vicinity of the grand Mausoleum of Emperor Tengyō, but now, rather than scratching the surface, he could finally do what many of his peers, not only in Daitō, but the world over, had only ever dreamed of. He was here to finally enter the tomb itself. Well, in a bit over a month or so, anyways. After all, due to the particular challenges that the site provided, be it the sheer scale, the need to properly preserve the artifacts inside, the potential for still-functional traps, or the high concentrations of Mercury inside, specialized equipment was necessary, and it couldn't be said this was an ordinary excavation.

   No, this wasn't going to be ordinary at all. A mix of geophysical methods, such as Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR), Electromagnetic induction (EI), and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) had given a fairly good idea of the layout of the tomb, which was remarkably well-preserved to the point it was possible, though not certain, that upon entry, much of the tomb could be accessed. For now, though, Fumihiko's team would be surveying the site, making the last preparations for the "excavation" in March. In the mean-time, this was a good moment for his students, who made up a part of the team working on the dig.
   "Now, who here can tell me why, other than it being the alleged final resting place of Emperor Tengyō, the Kamiishizumisanzai Tomb is so important?" Fumihiko asked the group as they walked, the sunlight breaking through the trees which surrounded the site.
   "Beyond the veritable treasure-trove of relics, Professor?" One of the students, taller than most in the group, spoke up. "Well, I would personally say the potential for historical texts predating the establishment of the Empire are quite valuable, but so is, despite the hazard it poses to any excavation, the large quantities of mercury, especially if it flows as the legends say."
   "There's a nugget of truth in that, Fumio, but I suspect you are leaning into personal preference there. Anyone else?"
   "While I concur with Takahashi-san, at least in part, I would argue that the site in its entirety is important. After all, no single section, no artifact exists in a vacuum. If it did, well, then what hope would we have of piecing together the history behind it?" Another student answered.
   "...Very good, Sanada-san." Fumi replied with a clap as they reached the top of the mound. "We are here to piece together a part of the rich tapestry of history, and just a richly-colored thread, each artifact, on its own, is but one small part of a greater image. It's our job, as historians and archaeologists to find those threads and put them together." He said, looking out over the landscape. "Imagine, if you will, you were standing here while the tomb was being built. Off in the distance, you can hear laborers, their songs helping them keep pace. On the horizon, the inland sea, and dotted between here and there, villages and farms belonging to our ancestors. What we are going to do here, my friends, is make that mental image ever-so-slightly more tangible. Now then, let's get to work, shall we?"

Background
For nearly eighty years, the skies and waters of the Rokkenjiman Sea have been the site of a long-lasting dispute between the Empire of Daitō and first the Federal Republic and later First Empire of Rokkenjima. At the heart of this dispute, though the conflict has dormant since the end of the Second Patriotic War, is a pair of island chains, the Tokara and Satsunan Islands. It was hoped, with Daitō's accession to the Cross-Straits Treaty Organization in 2020, that this dispute would, ultimately be resolved, however, following Daitō withdrawing from the organization in 2022, those hopes have appeared dashed. Now, with the appointment of Prime Minister Sadazane Konishi and the election of Premier Charles Ofdensen, nationalistic firebrands in their respective nations, it is now possible that the long-standing dispute is soon to come to a head.

---

Rokkenjiman Sea, 77.03 km SSW of Tokara, Tokara Islands
06 Feb, 2023
Early Morning

   It is a cold morning on the Rokkenjiman sea, not far from the maritime borders of the Empire of Daitō and the First Empire of Rokkenjima set in 1945. It is a border which neither side formally recognizes, both of whom lay claim to the entirety of the strategically valuable island chain which makes up the tail end of the Strait of Austrana, and thus it, alongside the Satsunan Islands further west, grant control over major shipping routes through the Rokkenjiman Sea. At around 0430 Hours, a Daitōjin Q-6 Akugyo maritime patrol aircraft, "Akawashi 304", had taken off from NAS Awara on the mainland as part of ongoing trials involving the IDN Taihō roughly 150 kilometers to the southwest. Aboard the Taihō, an element of VF-111, the "Spearpoints", was preparing to take off in order to perform CAP duties as part of the exercises underway. Said element, comprising of two fighters—Spear 102 and Spear 105—flown by Cmdr. Genta "Sparks" Saeki and Lt. Hirokuni "Hiro" Fukura, took off Taihō at 0535 Hours and began heading north-east towards the islands, accompanied, albeit further back, by an E-2 Senbōkyō AEW&C aircraft designated "Byakko" from VAW-28.

   A few hours later, at 0700, as Akawashi 304 continues its patrol and the Spear element begins to approach the airspace, Byakko detects two unidentified contacts coming from the northeast. They are heading towards Akawashi 304.
   «Akawashi 304, buster northwest immediately, bearing 350.» "Byakko" transmitted to the lone Q-6.
   «Roger, wilco.» the pilot of the aircraft replied before diving in order to pick up speed before fleeing the area, heading north. His aircraft, while equipped with an array of countermeasures, would not stand a genuine chance if attacked.
   With Akawashi 304 on its way out, Byakko's mission director turned his attention to the radar contact and to the Spear element. «102, 105, fast-movers inbound, BRAA; 50 for twenty-two at angels 18, flanking. Spear, you are cleared for cutoff.»
   «105, climbing to angels 22.» Answered Lt. Fukura as he pulled back on the stick, raising his aircraft's altitude to 4,000 feet over 102 and adopting a fluid two formation. As far as either pilot or their RIOs know, this is going to be a normal intercept, the sort of thing they practiced in Sipura, and with any luck, that would be all this would amount to.

The Union of Kalasin สาธารณรัฐประชาธิปไตยกาฬสินธุ์ S̄āṭhārṇrạṭ̄h prachāṭhiptịy kāḷs̄inṭhu̒ 칼라신 민주 공화국 Kallasin Minju Gonghwagug カーラシン民主共和国 Kārashin Minshu Kyōwakoku National Emblem Civil and State Flag ”TBA"     OVERVIEW     GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE    TBA 10 LARGEST CITIES IN KALASIN Spoiler: show Population: GOVERNMENT TBA PARTIES OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Chamber of Representatives Chamber of Councillors

National Anthem: TBA ‣ Capital: Ranong Largest city: Ranong Demonym:  Kalasinese Government: Federal Parliamentary Republic Legislature: National Assembly Population: 46,102,511 HDI: 0.691 (Medium) Currency: Kalasin Baht (฿) ER: ฿1.32 Baht = $1 USD Time zone: UTC ±00:00 - UTC +01:00 Drives on the: Left Calling code: +94 Internet TLD: .kl Space Program: Kalasin National Space Center (KNSC)

Chapter One — Dawn of the Space Age
I. — Early Developments, at home and abroad
   In the early 20th century, there had been a burst in scientific exploration into interplanetary travel, inspired by the works of authors such as Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, as well as a number of other authors. The first truly realistic proposal of spaceflight goes back to Rodinan rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky. His most famous work, "The Exploration of Cosmic Space by Means of Reaction Devices", was published in 1903, but this theoretical work was not widely influential outside Rodina. Spaceflight became an engineering possibility with the publishing of "A Method of Reaching Extreme Altitudes", a 1919 paper by Gaultier Martel, which demonstrated that his application of the de Laval nozzle to liquid fuel rockets gave sufficient power for interplanetary travel to become possible. This paper was highly influential on several later key players in spaceflight, including the future head of the Daitōjin Space Program, Hisamitsu Itokawa.

   Throughout the 20s and early 30s, the scientific usage of rockets was largely unknown in Daitō, although some amateur groups did exist at the time. But in 1934, Dr. Hisamitsu Itokawa, Isamu Maekawa, and Yasuji Chujo, nicknamed by some as the "Fathers of the Daitōjin Space Program", came together to found the Uchū Ryokō Kyōkai (宇宙旅行協会, Society for Space Travel), an amateur rocket group. Between 1934 and 1939, they successfully designed and tested the Shūkei Sh-1, -2, and -3 before the group was, by order of the YFD, folded into the Imperial Daitōjin Army merely a month prior to the start of the country's involvement in the Great War. Due to the nature of their work, there was significant pressure on these men to join the YFD, which, by 1941, they all had done, which certainly aided in their work as it was easier to negotiate for more funding to their program.
II. — A Dream or a Nightmare?
   It cannot be said that Doctors Itokawa, Maekawa, and Chujo were overly pleased with the prospect of making weapons of war. Indeed, they had all gone into the field of rocketry inspired by the works of many past authors and in pursuit of perhaps a utopian ideal, one where mankind traveled to the planets and beyond. While on one hand, they now had the backing of the Imperial Daitōjin Army, allowing them greater resources than they could've ever hoped for, on the other, it came at a sharp price. They were, after all, now forced to turn their dream into a weapon of war, targeting not other worlds, but foreign cities. From their base in Susaki, in Otobe prefecture, they worked day and night to complete their task, eventually devising the Shōri, a long-range guided ballistic missile which, in the final months of the war, terrorized Ardia's cities in an attempt at reprisal for Ardia's bombing raids in Daitō.

   Though their work was successful, few in the nation's rocket development program were pleased by their work, save for those who ordered its development. Even so, they could at least take some joy in knowing that, though today they worked on weapons that would destroy lives, they were setting the groundwork for their dream of flight. Even in 1943, at the height of the war, Itokawa had written up a proposal for a manned variant of their Shōri rocket, one which would, in theory, be capable of performing reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines before returning to Daitō or allied territory. While this particular proposal didn't make it far, it inspired something that, to the end of their lives, the men who worked at Susaki regretted.

   With a length of six meters, a wingspan of five, and a top speed of 648 km/h, the K-2, nicknamed the Ōka, or "Cherry Blossom", was an aircraft borne out of desperation. Designed to be used by Tokubetsu Kōgekitai units, better known abroad as Kamikaze, it was a suicide craft often described as a rocket plane or a rudimentary guided missile. It would be joined by the K-3 Baika in the final months of the Great War, with the Susaki arsenal being responsible for both vehicle's engines, while Aizawa and Negishi, respectively, were responsible for the airframes. Despite their intention, it is believed that only one major ship was ever sunk by one of these aircraft, more specifically a K-3 Baika on the 17th of July, 1945.

   With the end of the Great War, the team at Susaki Arsenal was greatly downsized, owing in large part to the economic depression that swept the country in the aftermath of the war. Even Hisamitsu Itokawa, who had been a founding member of the URK and the director of the Arsenal, resigned his post, instead transferring to the National Aerospace Laboratory on the 19th of November, 1945, and moving to what remained of Shinkyō.
III. — The NAL and the IDAF
   From the end of the war until 1958, Dr. Itokawa put himself to work as a high-ranking engineer in the National Aerospace Laboratory (国立航空宇宙研究所, Kokuritsu Kōkū Uchū Kenkyūjo), or NAL. Based primarily out of Shinkyō, its headquarters had been heavily damaged during the war and, as a result, would temporarily relocate to Otsu while reconstruction was underway. Of course, as he had during the war, Hisamitsu threw himself into his work, which, owing to his reputation at the time, was never in short supply. One of his earliest tasks was to assist in converting the Shōri missile into a sounding rocket, which largely meant ripping out its payload of explosives, fuses, and everything else which would allow it to carry a bomb and instead replace it with scientific equipment. As a result, he would spend much time on the island of Tsukishima, making frequent trips to the Shirasu Missile Range on the island. Of course, it was still a military program, but the pay was good and it was, thankfully, not being used in a war.

   Those who remained at Susaki Arsenal were folded into the newly-established Imperial Daitōjin Air Force, or IDAF, in 1947. Under its supervision, they would work to upgrade the Shōri missile, as well as to develop other rockets should the need arise. With Dr. Itokawa's resignation, Dr. Isamu Maekawa was promoted and made director of the Susaki Arsenal in early 1946, working alongside the remnants of Daitō's aerospace industry to develop the tools necessary to win the next war. In effect, at least as Itokawa saw it, Maekawa had betrayed their vision for the future in 1947, though the latter justified himself by promoting the idea that peace could only truly be achieved through strength. For the better part of the next twenty-three years, the two didn't see eye to eye, and indeed it wouldn't be unfair to say they considered each other rivals, although neither man wanted it once the Space Race kicked off.
   The late 1940s and the 1950s, while comparatively lacking in "major" developments with regards to spaceflight, were far from unimportant. Starting as soon as 1946, the first scientific payloads were launched into space, with a notable example being the launch of a camera aboard a Shōri missile, allowing for the first time a photo of Mundus from space. 1947 saw the first animals fly to space, though this, like many feats, was not first achieved by Daitō. NAL and the IDAF would launch one of the first two-stage rockets, the Kanshō, in 1949, and in 1951, Daitō would launch an East Ardian Macaque aboard a Shōri missile. Throughout the 1950s, Daitō, like many other countries, would push for higher and higher altitude records, all the while, the IDAF's team at Susaki Arsenal was hard at work to make its first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile as part of the country's ultimately aborted nuclear program. Finally, in 1955, Prime Minister Toshinari, like many other prominent figures across Mundus, declared that Daitō intended to launch "small Mundus-orbiting satellites" between 1 July 1957 and 31 December 1958 as part of the upcoming International Geophysical Year. The race was now on, the only question to be answered was who would do it?

---

   Daitō has long had a thriving small arms industry, producing some of the most common rifles and pistols to grace Mundus. Like with its aerospace industry, it is made up of numerous companies, all vying for government contracts, which has bred a culture of competition to provide the finest weapons and systems for the Imperial Military. This can be seen with recent programs such as the Type 81 NGSW program and older pieces of equipment, such as the AMBT program of the 1970s. This catalogue will include small arms and vehicles produced in Daitō, with an emphasis on that which is currently in service within the Imperial Daitōjin Army, although some equipment will either be purely for export or be retired but still maintained in large enough quantity for export. In those cases, it will be noted under the cost section of each piece of equipment.

[table]
[tr]
   [td][img][/img][/td]
   [td]Name goes here[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Role[/td]
   [td]What does it do[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Manufacturer[/td]
   [td]Who made this?[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Crew[/td]
   [td]How many people do you need to operate it[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Weight[/td]
   [td]in kg[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Length[/td]
   [td]in Meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Width[/td]
   [td]in Meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Height[/td]
   [td]in Meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Speed[/td]
   [td]in kph[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Range[/td]
   [td]in Km[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Armament[/td]
   [td]Stuff that goes bang[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Other Capabilities[/td]
   [td]Cool shit it does[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Cost[/td]
   [td]in $$$$$$$$$[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Background[/td]
   [td]Why the hell build this.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]
[table]
[tr]
   [td][img][/img][/td]
   [td]Name goes here
[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Role[/td]
   [td]What does it do[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Manufacturer[/td]
   [td]Who made this?[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Weight[/td]
   [td]in kg[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Length[/td]
   [td]in Meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Firing Range[/td]
   [td]in Km[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Other Stuff[/td]
   [td]Cool shit it does[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Cost[/td]
   [td]in $$$$$$$$$[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Background[/td]
   [td]Why the hell make this.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]


---

   The Daitōjin Aerospace Industry has thrived since before the Great War. Though it saw difficulties in the late 1940s and early 1950s, during which time the Empire devoted itself to rebuilding, it was revived as cold war-era tensions arose, rising like a phoenix to reclaim its place in a world of giants. Companies such as Aizawa-Shinoda, Zayasu, and Negishi have become well-regarded for their innovative designs and cutting-edge hardware, while newer companies aim to carve their own space in the international market.

   It should be noted that, while the primary focus of this thread is on military aircraft, room has also been made for civilian vehicles, for the discerning customer of course.

---

Templates
[table]
[tr]
   [td][img][/img][/td]
   [td]Name goes here[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Manufacturer[/td]
   [td]Who made it?[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Role[/td]
   [td]What does it do[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Crew[/td]
   [td]How many people do you need to fly it[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Length[/td]
   [td]in Meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Max Speed[/td]
   [td]in Mach[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Range[/td]
   [td]in km[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Service Ceiling[/td]
   [td]in meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Armament[/td]
   [td]Stuff that goes bang[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Other Capabilities[/td]
   [td]Cool shit it does[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Cost[/td]
   [td]in $$$$$$$$$[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Background[/td]
   [td]Why the hell build this.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table][table]
[tr]
   [td][img][/img][/td]
   [td]Name goes here[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Manufacturer[/td]
   [td]Who made it?[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Role[/td]
   [td]What does it do[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Crew[/td]
   [td]How many people do you need to fly it[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Length[/td]
   [td]in Meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Max Speed[/td]
   [td]in Mach[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Range[/td]
   [td]in km[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Service Ceiling[/td]
   [td]in meters[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Passengers/Cargo[/td]
   [td]How much stuff goes inside[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Other Details[/td]
   [td]Cool shit it does[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Cost[/td]
   [td]in $$$$$$$$$[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
   [td]Background[/td]
   [td]Why the hell build this.[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

---

Index
Military Aircraft
      ‣ J-9 Taka
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
      ‣
Civilian Aircraft
      ‣

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Note: This is a part of a series on the Daitōjin Military-Industrial Complex. For other entries, see:
      ‣

Aizawa-Shinoda, formerly the individual companies known as Aizawa Aircraft Company and Shinoda Hikoki, has long been one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in Daitō and certainly the largest manufacturer of military aircraft within the country. Known for such aircraft as the M4 and the J11, both of which were revolutionary when they were new, it has often been seen as being on the cutting edge of military aviation. However, one aircraft that they made holds a special place within the hearts of many an enthusiast, that being the J7, a derivative of the now-replaced J6. As it has aged, the Imperial Daitōjin Air Force has sought an aircraft comparable to it, something which will be cheap enough to field in large numbers but with improved capabilities over its predecessor. It is for that reason that Aizawa-Shinoda has been contracted to build the J14.

---

(OOC note: From this point onwards, information is classified)

---

In order to avoid the exceptionally slow and expensive research and development seen on the J11 and A9, the Ministry of War issued the following guidelines for the vehicle's development a few years ago:
   1.) "A very fast project definition process. A sensible low-risk hard- and software solution is chosen and frozen within a year. Regular software updates are planned. A 1-year PD phase seems almost impossible if there were to be competition between A-S and Zayasu. The acquisition approach is to be a Government-directed prime contractor and engine supplier (Uechi Technologies, on the grounds that the J-119 will remain in production throughout the program). Then a Wraith Works-like programme against a well-defined, but small, set of mandatory requirements, with freedom given to the main contractor to choose sub-contractors. The Government will specify the weapons fit, digital interfaces for datalinks and weapons, and all other sub-contractors to be selected by prime. The contract will be incentivized for rapid delivery, with stage payments for demonstration of successful integration of specific sensors and weapons systems. This approach should meet IDAF objectives for timeliness, while ensuing a reasonable sharing of risk between Government and Industry."
   2.) "Move fast enough to minimize pork-barreling. Bypass politicising the project through the removal of competitive element — all primary components sources decided at a very early stage unilaterally (and the same with secondary sources in the case of serious issues with primary contractors). As an alternative solution, 3D printing away from conventional factories could partly solve the pork barreling issue."
   3.) "The smallest, lowest tech production line possible is used. Plans are made for rapid expansion if large export orders are received."
   4.) "Existing technologies used for engines, sensors, and materials. Existing components are further simplified where possible."
   5.) "A lower density design with surplus volume, surplus electrical generation. Minimum onboard computer intelligence and maximum data-linking."
   6.) "A simple fuselage shape with surplus volume that could potentially accommodate a game-changing advance in propulsion technology."
   7.) "Less emphasis on low radar signature than on the J11 and A9."
   8.) "3D printing used to maximum effect. Additive manufacturing. The application of 3D aerodynamic modelling to blended shapes."
   9.) "Accelerated multiple prototype/test aircraft project concentrates on reliability and upgradability. Large test fleet is kept throughout aircraft’s left to robustly test updates."

The J14 will serve as a multirole fighter, a capable long-range, supersonic, maneuverable aircraft for both the beyond- and within-visual range environments, although it will, by design, be capable of filling numerous roles for the Air Force. With that out of the way, we can now move on to the design itself.

The wings are based on those of the J7. The cranked arrow has an inboard section of increased sweepback, creating a controlled high-lift vortex without the need for a foreplane. The wing is efficient at high speeds aiding in creating a faster fighter than, for example, the Rokkenjiman RK-80N. The RK-80N's slowness is a disadvantage for the beyond-visual range mission. The wing also allows ample room for fuel (a higher hull fraction than for the J11) and external hardpoints (one notable issue that requires long rang is the likely ability of certain potential supercruising OPFOR stealth aircraft to outrange the J11s). The wing loading is lower than the RK-80N for most given configurations. Rather than emphasizing an extremely high speed that is rarely met (as is the case with the AS-51 Cobra and the RK-74 Imperatrix), the J14 is very comfortable achieving speeds in the Mach 1.8-2 range, rather like the Achkaerinese Raptorwing. The J14 is designed, at least in its initial variant, for unreheated supersonic performance at Mach 1.4 and by using reheat for acceleration, up to Mach 2.

On agility, the large wings grant it an exceptional instantaneous turn rate, and energy maneuverability should be up there with low wave drag and a good T/W. As primary design is for BVR, sustained turn performance is less important. Internal weapons are carried in intake trunking weapons bays, cutting into the lower wing fillets. Weapons will include new generation long range air-to-air missiles. The engines considered were the J110-ZD-129, offering commonality with the J9 but lacking sufficient thrust or the J135, which suffered technical issues. As a result, the chosen powerplant was instead the J119 of the J11. This would allow the engine to remain in production and would also benefit the J11 Kotsu fleet. Owing to this fact, the J119 was selected for use aboard the aircraft, with the earliest ones borrowing their engines from a few of the J11s as the simplified engines are brought into production, temporarily grounding said J11s, though only for a few months.

Primary sensors aboard the vehicle will be the Uechi-built AN/APG-77 AESA as well as the Aizawa-Shinoda-built AN/AAQ-36 EOTS and AN/AAQ-34 DAS. The cockpit is a step back from the A9, which is seen by many as having been a bit ahead of the state-of-the-art in some aspects. It was criticized for its absent HUD and the lack of feel and unreliability of inputted commands relating to the touchscreen-centric approach. The J14 cockpit addresses both issues, featuring a widescreen HUD in conjunction with a Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System, a cheaper option than the J11 helmet system.

With modern infrared missiles almost guaranteeing a kill before fighters enter gun-range, a gun may seem an archaic inclusion, and certainly, this was a concern that was raised. However, there are several reasons that the J14 has its gun. The first is simply political: Gunless fighters have a poor reputation, while the second is practical: The J14 will inevitably end up performing Close Air Support missions. As a result, the venerable M-18 Kōjin will be mounted in the aircraft's starboard wingroot. It is, of course, not ideal to use supersonic-optimized fighters for CAS, and ideally the J14 will be complemented by new or existing subsonic aircraft better suited to the mission. With all of that out of the way, we can now begin to chronicle the development of the J14 Raijū, from testing of its individual components to it entering service.

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This thread is intended to provide information on the major families of the Daitōjin Aristocracy. These families, often referred to as clans both in foreign and local media, make up the Kazoku and the Imperial Family and are typically, though it is not necessarily the case 100% of the time, among the wealthiest families in Daitō, with many having founded corporations such as Aizawa-Shinoda and Zayasu. Ōhara Hidemasa, who was one of the principle authors of the Keiyo constitution, intended for the kazoku to serve as a political and social bulwark for the Emperor and the Daitōjin Imperial Institution, and although the system persists to this day, starting in the early 1980s, the old titles began to reemerge.

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Index

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   • The Imperial House
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[td][hr][center][size=14pt][font=times new roman]Information[/font][/size][/center]

[hr][center][size=14pt][font=times new roman]Notable Members[/font][/size][/center]

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[i]Name[/i][hr]
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[center][b][font=times new roman]Current Head[/font][/b][/center]
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[center][b][font=times new roman]Parent Houses[/font][/b][/center]
[i] • [/i][hr]
[center][b][font=times new roman]Notable Cadet Branches[/font][/b][/center]
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The "YFD Songbook" (Yamato fukkatsu dōmei, Yamato fukkatsu dōmei kashū) is a decennially-issued book by the ruling YFD party in Daitō. Featuring patriotic music, it is updated once every decade on the Imperial Calendar. Primarily intended for use in schools and as reference material, older issues of the work have become something of a collector's piece. The book contains the national anthem, multiple military marches, patriotic songs, and songs relating to the party itself, though later editions also include some folk songs as a means of preserving them for future generations. Nowadays, the songbook is seen as a way of preserving the musical heritage of modern Daitō, largely divorced from the Party which initially created it.

(OOC Note: For some songs, certain lyrics are unavailable and will be noted as such)

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Index

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Royal Emblem National Flag ”GOD, HONOUR, FATHERLAND." The Commonwealth of Lechia, Litva, and Ruthenia (LC: Rzeczpospolita Lechii, Litwy i Rusi, LV: Lechijos, Lietuvos ir Rutenijos sandrauga, RT: Річ Посполита Лехія, Литва та Русь), known simply as Lechia abroad and the Rzeczpospolita at home, is a country located in Eastern Aranye. Bordered by Niš and the Rodinian Sea to the east and Skalvia to the north, its peoples have long inhabited the region, though the Litvanians migrated into what is now modern-day Lechia in the 9th Century. The three main populations of Lechia are the eponymous Lechians, the Litvanians, and the Ruthenians, of which the Lechians and the Ruthenians are the most closely related. The Litvians are the outlier, sharing no easily traceable ancestry with the other peoples of the region and originating in modern-day Skalvia. It has a large economy for its size, coming out at around $2.19 trillion USD, while the GDP per Capita is roughly around $45,000. HISTORY NOTE: This section is a brief summary of the nation's history GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE Lechia is a country that extends along the Rodinian Coastal Plain from the Tylihul river in the south to the Narew in the north, on the Nisavan border. In the northwest, the Czarny mountains demarcate the border, while much of the southwestern border remains largely open. Topographically speaking, while much of the country's heartland is flat, it features an abundance of lakes, rivers, swamps, hills, beaches, and forests elsewhere, with the Lechian and Litvanian regions being largely wooded as opposed to the almost steppe-like south. 10 LARGEST CITIES IN LECHIA Spoiler: show GOVERNMENT TBA PARTIES OF THE LECHIAN PARLIAMENT

National Anthem: "Rota" ("The Oath") Formation:  • 1658 - Establishment of the Lechian-Litvan Commonwealth  • 1868 - First elections in Lechia  • 1906 - Ruthenia granted Autonomy Capital: Kraków Largest city: Kraków (1,795,569) Demonym: Lechian Government: Constitutional Federal Monarchy Legislature: Parliament Population: 48,638,197 HDI: 0.881 (Very High) Currency: Lechian Złoty (zł) 1zł = $0.22 USD Time zone: East Aranyean Standard Time (EAST) Drives on the: Right Calling code: +73 Internet TLD: .lc Space Program: N/A

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This thread will catalogue stories of the Daitōjin Space Program from its earliest days until the present. Posts will be catalogued below by their program or era, with those fitting into neither having their own section.

Pre-1961

Suzaku Program

Taka Program

Ryu Program

UHS Program

Other

Sojourner Program
TLI — 7/17/2022 — IRP Date: 7/17/2022 — Description: The Crew of Sojourner 22A begins their voyage to the Moon.
Misc.
Candidates — 6/12/2022 — IRP Date: 6/16/1998 — Description: A new class of uchunauts begins their training.

To whom it may concern,

It is the pleasure of the Imperial Household Agency to extend a warm invitation to you to the Imperial Palace in Shinkyō to celebrate the wedding of His Majesty and Lady Mayumi of the Tachibana family on the 21st of April. Following the wedding, a reception will be held at the palace, wherein you may find yourself the opportunity to congratulate the new couple and if you are so inclined, there will be the chance to discuss official business with the Empire afterwards.

Accommodations will be provided within the city of Shinkyō, notably state guest houses throughout the city. For those who are unable to make use of such facilities, high-quality hotels will be booked free of charge. We thank you for your time.