Dust Settles

A Long Time From Now

The great mouth of Minerva, the gateway of blood and tears that had been built so many years ago opened once more with a shuddering befitting a giant. Ancient marvels of engineering, mechanisms so dated that they couldn't even be compared to those in the decade old light-rail that had carried the congregation to the Maw in the first place hummed as electrical power, unheard of in the modern era began to course through the wires that still held the whole thing together. Pulsating lights began to take shape around the edge of the great circular doorway, scientists and engineers that still held the thing together could be seen in a control room as they gave the go-ahead for the occupants of the light rail to step out and approach.

Today it was a small honor guard for a single ambassador, his demeanor befitting of someone far older than his own body portrayed, around him stood a handful of knights each clad in the banners of their birth countries, the oldest of which where a pair of senior robots still tinkering away even in the modern era, a miracle by most who had audited them as of late. Despite his guards however, the new ambassador still stood somewhat in a state of unease as he prepared himself to step through the gateway. His grandmother had told him much about the assembly beyond, she had known them all quite well. She had proclaimed the other-side to be a wonder of the worlds, a statement only the wonder child could have made. It was said that he would see the most wildly eclectic architecture and group of humans this or any universe could gather, he himself having only known the people of his own world could have made no estimation as to what that could have meant. Though he was about to find out.

"Everyone ready?" A voice carried across the intercom that bridged the control room and the gateway. A single nod and thumbs up from one of the honor guard was all it took and the portal was lit even brighter with the fury of ten thousand suns, each member of the congregation had been given a pair of reflective glasses, the ambassador now saw why. With only two steps forward, he emerged on the other-side.

It was only a momentary heat as his body was thrust through the gateway and in place of the dark frozen continent of Antarctica was now a bustling metropolis surrounding the plaza of crazed pink streaked marble. The ambassador took a moment to adjust his suit and another to inspect his honor guard ensuring all was in order. The swords at the sides of his knights, pilot gloves tucked neatly into side pockets, each was checked meticulously before the greeting party arrived. And when they did arrive, the ambassador and his crew where blown away. It was just a normal group of humans, he was told ahead of time he'd have met a few in his time at the Academy but then again, who hadn't he met growing up in the palace walls of Stockholm.

"Hello and welcome, Ambassador." A Pakistani-Indian looking man with a multicolored orange and green turban smiled, a thick mustache moving with the man's lips as he spoke. "We are very glad to be the first to welcome you, the rest of the assembly awaits."

"I hope you didn't find the transition into the cyber-space to be overly cumbersome, though travel between worlds has been made more difficult since the Eventide, I believe you'll find the Citadel to be far nicer than any physical realm. I'm Kash by the way, though we met when you where quite young I doubt you'll recall me in particular." Said Kash as he gestured for the group to follow. They walked through all manner of peculiar form of architecture, passing through the largest city that the Ambassador had ever seen, from his vantage point as he walked along the path however, the city seemed to shrink as he looked back only now just realizing that he was now on the outskirts of the metropolis.

"Quite the achievement isn't it? You'd have no idea we just walked the equivalent of twenty miles in only a dozen paces." Kash spoke with glee, cherishing the opportunity to once more showcase the scale of the Citadel. "You see that large circular building? That's the general assembly hall, most ambassadors go there. You'll meet the Canadians in time, they run that professional gong-show of an arena"

"So why aren't we going now?" The ambassador's Scandinavian-Japanese creole was seamlessly translated in this cyber environment.

"Because, the higher council has requested they meet you personally, before regular proceedings begin. Who wouldn't want to meet the great grandson of one of our founding members?" Kash smiled again as the group was led down a path that increasingly turned to dirt and gravel, surrounded by wild growing grasses and trees. Ahead, a small cabin like out of the English countryside stood at the foot of a hill, an old man who looked almost native American tended the gardens out front.

"Good morning Sam, how is Eden's garden today?" Kash waved as the group reached the fences and gate. The old man just smiled and waved, giving a nod of approval as the group passed through the threshold of the yard lined by a small trail of salt. Even the Ambassador noticed the small amount of white powder, familiar with it from his family's own protective wards first placed well before he was born. "If you'd please, I believe our beloved General Valens will care for the honor guard. It will give some time for Captain Haytham to catch up at least."

The Ambassador smiled and motioned for his guards to remain outside the cabin. As the wooden door opened into Bron-Y-Aur, he was taken aback by how quaint the inside of this little hut appeared. And inside was only a small handful of individuals some of whom he recognized.

"Ambassador, this is Representatives Trahallen and Newell, from Earths One and Eleven respectively. I believe Representative Alix Ibodin will be joining us shortly." Kash gestured across the room. "And of course, our host, Sophia."

The Ambassador nodded as he made eye contact with each.

"Members of the council, this is our newest Ambassador from Earth Ten, Carl the Seventeenth, of the Yamato Dynasty." Kash looked directly now to Sophia as he bid farewell and exited the cabin.

"Alice was quite the firestarter back in our day, how is she enjoying retirement?" Sophia spoke with a softness that could only come with wisdom and age.

"My grandmother is well." Carl smiled as he took his seat at the table.

An incomplete and entirely unedited excerpt from what would have been towards the end of the campaigns.

Rubio's Gambit

Camp David, Maryland

It wasn't right, they'd taken his Presidency and twisted it, maneuvered against him at all turns and now it was time for them all to pay the price. His hands shook even as he sipped his small glass of water, secret service agents stood at the door and the loyalist 3rd Infantry Regiment, or what was left of it, stood watch across the whole of Camp David which had been turned into a fortress within a forest. Deals had been negotiated out with the BOIL senators and with God's Choir, and in New York the 10th Mountain Division had remained loyal despite the continued fracturing of the States that Marco once governed as President.

There was of course those who hadn't agreed, some he hadn't even told. In the Lakes Country, they'd refused to even meet with him, he hadn't even tried to negotiate with Cascadia, but Dakota and Middle Canada...they had folded to his demands quickly. It was clear too, if ongoing peace negotiations pointed to anything at all that the Heartland Project would turn once his plan came to it's conclusion. Rubio rubbed his hands together knowing that Ellsworth and Minot both had already been folded back into Federal Air Command and that B-52s and B-1s. It wasn't the air fleet of F-22s that the Cascadians had stolen from the American people but it was certainly an addition most welcome. Even Admiral Koehler had come back alongside, though the Admiral clearly was a political fluke, unaware of what was truly going to take place. But Rubio knew that his plan would go into motion the minute Admiral Koehler took to the White House grounds two days ago and gave his pledge to defend the American people in the event of any attack on civilians as part of the transition of power about to take place.

Now it was just a matter of time as he sat in the cottage in the forest once known as Shangri-la. He wouldn't feel the ground shake from all the way in Maryland, but he'd hear about it as the shockwave of his plan was broadcast live on television. Because of course, today he was supposed to step down, allow for fair and free elections which would bring the Heartlands on side and maybe even change some hearts and minds in the Lakes. He'd be the peace-making President that Trump never could have been, the humble man who could step down when he saw the reality of the political climate. Sadly, Rubio was running a bit late for that ceremony which was supposed to happen along the Washington Mall.

New York, United States of America

The July 4th Attack

Over five thousand dead, more injured or in critical condition as Cascadian terror attack destroys D.C., President Rubio survives and affirms he will step down, President Hamadeh takes the reigns.

CNN International | Issued July 4th, 2032 - 12:00 | New York, United States of America

NEW YORK - The attacks in D.C. will stand as the darkest day in American history, eclipsing the attack on Pearl Harbor and the September Eleventh Attacks all in one tragic attack on the American people. On July 4th, the day of Independence that was to celebrate and memorialize the stepping down of former President Marco Rubio, terrorists from the States of Washington, Oregon, and North Cascadia in conspiracy with the states of the Great Lakes and California, openly attacked in a series of military-level attacks the American capital. The Washington Mall's core monuments, including the statue of Lincoln, the Obelisk, and the Smithsonian have been partially or fully destroyed. The graves that hold our brave men and women in Arlington have been desecrated. And across the Congressional Building and White House, thousands of civilians and dozens of senators, governors, and soldiers present for the ceremonial resignation of Marco Rubio lay dead at the hands of terroristic VX and Anthrax attacks launched by West Coast Radicals. For the first time in American history, the people of America have been subject to an attack so horrific not by enemies of the State across the seas, but by those they once called brothers and sisters.

Despite these attacks, former President Marco Rubio has continued in his promise to step down from office, placing power once more into the hands of the American people. Vice President Hamadeh has stepped up to the position of Presidency until elections are concluded, with elections to take place in November across the states that constitute BOIL, the Eastern Seaboard, the Dakotas, and the Heartlands. In his first act, President Hamadeh has declared Governors Lilian Hale, Bob Ferguson, Doug Ford, and others involved in the secessionists and rebels of middle and Western America as traitors. Retaliatory strikes against government and military bases are to begin in haste, loyalist bomber wings out of the Dakotas have already followed through with missions against key supply lines and forward operating bases in Alberta and Minnesota.

The governors of BOIL have likewise pledged the full support of the National Guards and personnel at a State level, already the 1st Armored Division "Old Ironsides" out of Texas is being redeployed to the Heartlands, alongside the 4th Infantry Division "Iron Horse" in what will become the combined fighting task force to retake California from the hands of the wretched traitor Governor Newsom. President Hamadeh has promised that the mistakes of the past operation will not be continued, as the Heartlands federal air assets have once more pledged loyalty to the American people and Federal government and as a result, operations will be supported by the 388th Fighter Wing of F-35s, and the F-16 wing of the 8th FW.

It is also rumored that Admiral Koehler who had only recently repledged his own allegiance to the flag and constitution, is assembling a battle fleet to retake the Pacific Ocean from the hands of the traitor Admiral Hannifin in an act of vengeance for the American people. Early reports suggest that the USS Enterprise, USS Harry S. Truman, and USS Gerald R. Ford and their appropriate destroyer escorts and submarines are making preparations to sail south with plans to cross into the Pacific through the Strait of Magellan. It is also rumored that the Secretary Aga Khan has pledged the USS Carl Vinson to the same operation as a statement of loyalty to the US Federal Government. Concerns over a potential ambush attack however by pre-deployed Cascadian submarines have raised tensions through the roof, with some naval experts warning that the Magellan strait may be the end of American naval dominance if the transit is to go ahead.

In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, Cascadian and BBB forces would also launch a series of air-attacks against critical American army and air bases across the US Continent, which experts have said is further proof that the terror attacks had been long since planned by Cascadian officials in advance. Using B-2 wings out of California/Nevada and other bombing wings and supported by F-35s, F-22s, and other aircraft out of Cascadia and BOIL, a series of attacks would lay waste to American air bases in Colorado (including surface attacks on Cheyenne), in BOIL territories, and most notably across Virginia. Support facilities like Norfolk for the US Navy have also been temporarily hampered though the damage was far less significant. And while Cascadian and BBB officials have firmly denied any involvement in the terror attacks, the actions speak for themselves. Some critics of the Rubio regime have however pointed out that recent publicized "operations records" do show (if they can be trusted) that the Cascadian-BBB Air Operation was planned over a year ago, which according to critics based in Michigan and California affirm that the terror attacks and air operations had nothing to do with each other. However, Federal intelligence agencies including the CIA and FBI have both published documents and made public investigation records previously classified that seem to affirm the disappearance of VX and other bio-agents during the hostile takeover of Federal assets by traitor-units in the Pacific Northwest.

As of right now, the American people are enraged as they deal with the trauma of the recent attacks and have become increasingly galvanized against the three core rebel factions that are actively tearing apart the Great Union of America. The three rebel factions have however seemingly remained stalwart in their own convictions, denying involvement in the terror attacks and yet continuing operations against the United States of America including the continued occupation of Fort Knox, Middle Canada/the Dakotas (which includes operations that are laying siege to key Federalist air bases) and of the Shoshone Forests. Barron Trump as self-declared "Secretary of Hypermogea" has affirmed that Quebec and the rest of his territories would "remain neutral" in the coming conflict and has begun offering the same extension of protection to New England states which have increasingly been considering their operations to avoid further catastrophe. In Mexico, it would likewise seem that sentiments are increasingly split with a growing base of "Cali-Mexico Revivalists" beginning to take root in the regions of the Baja California, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, and Michoacan+surrounding areas, while Federalist supporters seem concentrated in cities such as Saltillo, Monterrey, and Mexico City as part of a broader "Independence Deal" believed to be under negotiation between BOIL (on behalf of President Hamadeh) and the local Mexican government.

President Hamadeh maintains his promise that elections will be forthcoming, with all those who accept the American amnesty deal put forward by Rubio being permitted to vote and participate. However with concerns over further terrorist attacks against the American people, it is believed a greater emphasis on mail-in-ballots will be made to ensure the safety of the American populace. Naturally, the strongest condemnations against the Cascadia-Lakes terrorists has been made and continues to be made.

As this is a developing story, CNN will update this article as necessary.

NOTE: This was pre-written weeks ago before the season pause. It is being posted as there is no point just letting it sit complete but not publicly available.

Robert Bigelow was not a young man. Hell, he couldn't even say he was an old man. 60 years is old. 87 is ancient. He still was sharp, had managed to do some exercises - but at this point, he spent more time at checkups than actually managing the Custodianship. Still, he was moving along. Susie was a great help, and she still has a decade-two in her. And it's too early to retire - not when the world is on fire.

He still had enough credibility on the world stage, and used it to fly around, making deals and acting as a diplomat to many, many factions on the world stage.

One faction, however, was sitting right in Moscow. A good man, a family man, an American Man. De-facto representative of the United States in Custodianship, Gen. Joshua Lewis.

Liasons were once quite scary, when USA held full control. All Secretaries treated them sacred, feared, respectful. But now, when the concept of Federal Government itself became murky, most side-stepped them and begun direct acts.

And yet, it's good to hear out what Lewis feels about the whole situation. What is his aleigance - to a faction, to a concept, to what else? Is there anything he can do to help Custodianship stabilize the planet? What we can do for him?

Robert decided against grand declarations and meeting agendas.

He just bought a case of craft beer and walked straight to his office at closing hours.

Red Pill / \ Blue Pill

It was good to be back near the equator, the atmosphere even in spring held a humidity, warmth, and comfort that he had sorely missed while spending winter in D.C. and New York. Gone was the snow at the front doors of his hotel lobbies, gone too was the racing in the rain and the chill that would run down Jair's spine whenever a draft hit him. Now as the helicopter flew across the ocean blue of the Caribbean, he could feel only the warm freshness and the smell of saltwater as it was carried upward. The helicopter had only been flying for a short while and frankly Jair felt a little turned around and wasn't sure of the final destination. All he knew was that the creep [Kenneth] who bid him farewell in Puerto Rico hadn't elected to come on the flight and merely promised it wouldn't be long until he'd landed.

Jair Bolsonaro knew that getting in the helicopter was a risky bet, but he was an old man and had too much at stake to not board. Though, had the Admiral from the States heard about this, Jair probably would have been told just to go home. Holsey was after all a far different man to the cutthroats in Brazil, not the kind who was willing to take unnecessary risks. However, now was no time for caution as the palm trees of the island began to near.

"Pilot, what island is this?" Jair yelled in the hopes he could overcome the hearing protection they all had been wearing. Evidently however he couldn't as his own didn't come with a microphone. So he could only watch as the island grew closer and closer. Seems familiar...like I've seen it in a picture or something Jair thought to himself but couldn't pin why. Even as the helicopter landed on the white sandy beach, waves crashing as the tide came in, he still couldn't tell. But the sand was warm under foot, touching his feet as he took his first steps.

"Jair Bolsonaro, or should I say, Mr. President...a pleasure to meet you." The woman who got out of the golf cart was a startling sight, like a hawk with her hooked face and jet black hair. A summer hat, wide-brimmed and made of straw was the only thing protecting her face from the sun while a bathing suit was hidden beneath a short towel. She was not a pretty face, so Jair paid little attention beyond an initial glance.

"And who are you? A member of the banking clans?" Jair asked as he took in his surroundings.

She laughed like a hyena, hackling as the two got in a golf cart. "Something like that, I assume Ken sent you here."

Jair nodded as she took off, feeling the cart lurch as he remained seating.

"So explain the business, Ken said you could bring states to our side?" Jair watched as the sandy beaches turned to dirt and green grass as they climbed in elevation, driving away from the water. "Which bank do you represent?"

"Not any of the traditional ones, sweetheart." Again she laughed as they reached a plateau area on the island. "But we keep safe more than just money, and our contacts run deep...very deep."

The Brazilian ex-President wasn't satisfied with the answer but didn't press the issue, but as they rounded a grove of large trees in the center of the roundabout, his heart suddenly went cold as it dropped to his stomach. There, like a long forgotten nightmare was the Temple of Blue and White otherwise known as Epstein's Temple.

"What the fuck is this!" He yelled, grabbing at the wheel just before the woman could bring the cart to a full stop. "Who in the hell are you!"

Jair's heart was racing, he'd heard of the island, even been invited but always turned it down. Had warned his friend Donald to do the same...but knew that the suggestion hadn't been followed. Now he found himself in the same belly of the beast and his hands trembled for the first time since he was arrested all those years ago. "Your..."

"Yes darling...Ghislaine Maxwell at your service." The hawk woman smiled with confidence as she got out of the cart. "You best follow me."

Jair complied realizing quickly he had no other options and soon he was in the temple itself. Children made of gold lined the walls, Jair looked away in disgust until his eyes where drawn to the center of the room. There he saw the man who the world had come to despise. "Thought I was dead, didn't you?"

It was him, there was no denying it. Jeffrey Epstein was standing in the center of the room.

"I see that your having troubles on the mainland. The kind of troubles that a little extra...motivation can resolve." Jeffrey waved his arm and several younglings walked out with a television, a slideshow of kompromat on play for politicians across the USA. "Your Admiral has a choice, Mr. Bolsonaro. The red pill..."

Jeffrey extended one hand, a symbolic red pill in his palm. "Will grant your admiral all the support he desires and more, enough to retake America. We have agents, ex-senators, businessmen, even military officers...everywhere, and they would rather burn down the world than see this reach the light of day."

Jeffrey again motioned to the TV, the message was clear. "Bankers in New York, you've met one of them; we have generals in God's Choir, air marshals in Virginia, businessmen and senators in the Great Lakes, oil magnates in the South, Newsom...in California. The only buggers who have escaped our reach so far...you guessed it, those troublesome folk in Cascadia, Melinda Gates tipped them off, the fucking bitch."

"But you know what? We've even got some in Brazil, in the Navy that swears it stands with Koehler." Jeffrey smiled and then opened his left palm, a blue pill revealed. "If Holsey comes here and takes the red pill, America is yours. If you take the blue pill...well, she falls apart doesn't she? And we'll remain here, safe and sound until someone else comes to find the truth, to control America."

Jair was silently terrified, in his mind he uttered the prayers that he once said as a boy.

"Run back to your Admiral, if you go public, would people even believe you? 38,000 files and Trump was President for a decade." Jeffrey's gums showed as he smiled, unholy. "The red pill or blue, it is Holsey's choice. How much is America worth? Surely more than one man's personal honor."

The Directorate has, to some extent, already extended very far into the New American Civil War. It has supported Hawaii's independence, deployed military troops to protect Californian sovereignty, signed economic and non-aggression ties with the PNW, and even has exerted some sort of soft power into New England.

From that standpoint, further horse-betting, even from a hedging standpoint, isn't seen as very wise. This applies doubly-so for the Heartlands, a faction with little strategic depth, few military assets, and not much economic utility. However, there are some benefits to its existence: it acts as a buffer state for between the secessionists and federal government, and would be the first seed for restoring any sense of normalcy to the American continent. More significantly, it would appear as though Ivanka Trump, wife to Larry Ellison's boy Jared, has interests in this area, and it would be uncouth of Larry to not least try to make things work for them.

As such, Larry will make a last-ditch effort to keep the Heartlands as independent as they could be and mediate some sort of agreement, with the main arguments for California and PNW being providing an effective buffer state / DMZ against Federal intervention, and the main arguments for the BBB and Feds / BOIL being the maintenance of de-jure sovereignty over the Heartlands (saving face) for the latter and economic interests for both.

The terms will be:

1. All signatories (PNW, California, BBB, America) agree to cease armed hostilities and formally acknowledge the Heartlands' jurisdiction over all currently controlled territories (e.g. current battle lines)

2. All signatories guarantee the Heartlands' de-facto independence (this could be worded more nicely for the Feds)

   a. The Heartlands is de-facto independent, but will (by itself) declare itself a de-jure territory of the United States of America. The Heartland government cannot interfere with their citizens' right to vote in American elections (if the American government allows them)

3. Military forces of these signatories cannot be present, either stationed or in transit (including air space), within the Heartlands' territories

4. The Directorate, as well as any additional states (including secretary assets), will guarantee all terms of this deal by economic and military means

   a. These states have the capability to, at Heartlands discretion, deploy military forces into its territory not to exceed 50,000 troops in total. The resupply and replenishment of such presence through signatory territories shall not be inhibited

5. Free commerce (including private investment and multinational commercial activities) and movement of goods shall not be inhibited within Heartlands territories

Signatories invited to this conference, held in Port-au-Prince, include the PNW, California, the BBB, and the United States of America.

Observers invited include Secretary Holsey, affiliates of BOIL, Secretary Fink, and Secretary Peters: those noted as having significant presence in the American continent

Following the historic creation of the Hypermogartha Economic Corridor, the Mogarthan Crown has wasted no time in commencing its nation building endeavors.

Peters has announced that he will devote a modest $30 billion to the Hypermogean project, as a sort of "gift" for the ample support Barron has provided Mogartha in years past.

The Hypermogean nationbuilding project will aim to homogenize the Canadian territory into Mogarthan society and build up its economy for potential southward expansion. Hypermogea's current level of influence is shamefully borderline nonexistent however with the right leadership and blueprint, it can Ascend and become a force to be reckoned with.

A party of 40,000 Mogarthans (primarily of Sgandynavia and Moggerlands descent) has migrated to Hypermogea, assigned with the duty of local leaders and socialites to support the final push in transforming Eastern Canadian society.

As was successfully seen in Bavaria a couple weeks back, the first step is the implementation of the Lundgren Protocols, Mogartha's blueprint of transformative social programs and policies. With Canada already being socially progressive in nature, it is believed that the Lundgren Protocols will be seen favorably, establishing a strong national identity while still maintaining their beloved Nordic-Canadian socialism.

In addition to the Lundgren Protocols, Barron and Clav have agreed to a monumental merger, with the Eli Lilly Company officially being added to the Agarthan Ascent Inc conglomerate. Eli Lilly's addition will exponentially increase the value of Ascent, providing a wide array of pharmaceutical products and expertise. This unification is expected to strengthen the economy bilaterally and result in even further innovation in the realm of physical ascension.

To that end, a third Ascent research campus will be built in Laval-sur-le-Lac, employing 10,000 Hypermogean construction laborers. This comes after the two built in Florø and Osaka which have seen great progress in their looksmaxxing research and development.

Construction of the Lundgren Protocols infrastructure and the research campus will commence immediately with the latter expected to reach completion in late 2033. Conversely, a bulk supply (roughly $1.5 billion worth) of Ozempic, Wegovy, and other Ascent Inc pharmaceutical products will be shipped to Hypermogea.

FROM THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY LARRY FINK

The tribute system and the break down of the Continental United States has meant that piracy is on the rise and sea lanes are breaking down. While the WDC currently has a stay of execution in regards to the most prolific pirates, even if this lasts, it is only a matter of time before more independent 'pirates' rise up to begin causing issues to both tribute fleets and normal trade.

While the WDC's current system of utilising major naval fleets to protect tribute fleets has worked so far, it is not an effective system and cannot be used well if the tribute fleet is split up or if normal trade needs protection. At the same time, the reality that the vast majority of pirate vessels do not pose a significant threat to anything beyond the most lightly of armed vessels means that the WDC's assets are, for the most part, overkill.

This situation has led to the current solution, that being the Democracy- or D-Ships. Based upon the Q-Ships of WW1 and WW2, these Decoy Tribute Vessels or DTVs will serve to protect tribute and trade fleets in a cost-effective manner. In the same manner as a Q-Ship, these D-Ships will be upgraded and converted merchant vessels, whose defences have been disguised as to lure in enemies for easy destruction. They will be made from converted cargo ships, and as such, will serve as an 'upgrade' platform as opposed ot a completely new ship.

Democracy-Class Decoy Tribute Vessel (D-Ships)

D-Ships will see the addition of multiple weapons and radar systems added to them. Firstly, the D-Ships will see 6 KNDS Narwhal 20mm autocannons added to them, 2 near the bow, 2 at the centre, and 2 at the stern. These, much like all of the ships' upgraded parts, will be hidden by faux containers, which will be autonomously collapsible from the ship's control deck. In addition, 2 Mistral-3 SIGMA systems will be placed onto the ship to allow for defence against missiles. Inside the ship's control tower, the Lyncea combat system of the Patrouilleur Outre-mer patrol ship will be installed, alongside hidden sensors and radars.

On deck, containers will be welded (internally) to the ship, to create rooms that can be utilised as sleeping quarters and armament rooms for up to 20 soldiers. These soldiers will be equipped with rifles, machine guns, and rocket launchers as necessary, as well as small drones for reconnaissance.

The research cost of the D-Ship project will be budgeted for $20bn, while the upgrade package itself will cost $4mil per ship. 30 D-Ships will be 'created' after the initial project timeline of 2 years, with the conversion of a cargo ship to a D-Ship taking 1 year.

The D-Ships will remain secret for as long as possible, and will upon use will only be allowed to reveal their 'true forms' upon the instruction of Naval command. Once the existence of the D-Ships is revealed, the WDC will offer them to other secretaries and private cargo companies throughout the world.

Bellevue, Cascadia

The City of Arcadia Bay

Mt. Vernon, Burlington, and surrounding burbs set for transformation as Cascadia announces new capital city.

STEAM Patch Release | Issued January 1st, 2032 - 12:00 | Bellevue

BELLEVUE - As promised, the Cascadian government is pleased to announce that the former towns of Mt. Vernon, Burlington, and Sedro-Woolley have been incorporated into a single city-entity that will now represent the capital of Cascadia upon the completion of construction and modernization projects. In order to preserve the "Pacific Northwest" experience the farmlands that surround these cities will be retained in almost entirety, meaning development and new construction will be centered within the city-limits. This location was selected after a negotiation and discussion period that also saw the San Juan Islands, Point Roberts, Olympia, and several other locations put forward proposals for a new city project. Ultimately however, the Mt.Vernon-Skagit area was selected due to its central location, being an equal distance from Seattle, Vancouver, Abbotsford, and Victoria while having ease of access through ports at Shelter Bay and proximity to naval bases such as Whidbey Island.

GALLERY: Proposed transit map

The name of the city was inspired by the pastoral utopia mythos of Arcadia, hence the retention of the farmland of the surrounding region. As a planned city, Arcadia Bay will likewise feature a significant national mall that will include a national museum, library and archives, executive building, legislature building, and other buildings for government functions. Most importantly will be the expansion of the formerly Canadian skytrain system that has become a standby of Vancouver. The current routes will be expanded connecting major cities such as Seattle, Vancouver (Oregon), Portland, Boise, Spokane, and etcetera. The final destination cities being Redding and Reno in the south, Twin Falls (idaho) and Helena in the East, and Kamloops and Kelowna in the North. At this time, the financing does not exist to connect Northern BC, the Yukon, or Alaska within the network. Instead, regular train railways will be upgraded to provide broader connection of the fringe zones. The expansion will also facilitate the move of VALVE CHIPS ARIZONA to VALVE CHIPS YAKIMA, which will see the facility's construction in Arizona cancelled in favor of construction of the new facility in Yakima, Cascadia.

Quebec, Hypermogea

The Hypermogartha Economic Corridor

Barron Trump announces economic special zones in conjunction with Secretary Peters, states partial funding from "private investors in Cascadia".

Quebec LooksView | Issued January 12th, 2032 - 12:00 | Quebec

QUEBEC - Barron Trump has affirmed that financial investments have been gathered as part of a broader push towards the construction of a "Hypermogartha" economic special corridor which will ideally boost trade between Hypermogea and Mogartha. The special corridor which will designate Montrael, Quebec City, and Halifax in the East as "special economic zones" will allow for Mogartha to invest with minimal taxes and restrictions as part of a nation-building venture. Completing this on the European side will be the cities of Oslo, Gothenburg, and Stockholm which will implement similar policies. As part of this major push and opening of investments, Barron Trump has secured investment packages from private investors in Cascadia and the Great Lakes as part of a negotiated economic arrangement which will see financial capital diverted into Hypermogea, as part of a package guarantee for a "reduced transit" fee on the St. Lawrence Seaway and a general promise of uninhibited transit for the Great Lakes. The arrangement marks the first major trade agreement between any of the new nations that have been formed as a result of the New American Civil War and a major step towards the continued independence of all three countries. The three-way agreement has also tempered many of the original concerns the Great Lakes leaders had made public, regarding the inconsistent nature of Hypermogea prior the agreement.

CASCADIA

RE: TSMC Shareholder Outlook

DIPLOMATIC NOTE

FROM THE DESK OF PRIME MINISTER LILIAN HALE & SECRETARY OF MARKETS GABE NEWELL

Alis Volat Propriis

RECIPIENT

• Secretary Copeland

---

Secretary Copeland,

I am writing to negotiate the planned sale of the 6.38% stake in TSMC held by Valve Software and by extension myself (Gabe Newell). Having now been appointed as Secretary of Markets, ownership of TSMC places me in a position of conflict of interest given our own TSMC-derived facilities and technologies in Yakima which would make me responsible for chip-industry related ventures in two separate nations and by extension competitors on the market.

Therefore, I am affirming that my stake of 6.38% is to be sold, and am willing to offer TSMC (and Copeland by extension) the opportunity of first buyback. Obviously the purchase of 1.65 billion shares, coupled with the existing approximately 5.86% of shares already owned by Eagle Mountain would place Eagle Mountain as the single largest shareholder with the chance of retaking firm control of TSMC as a whole. Therefore, Valve Software is seeking a premium purchase-back price of $500 a share, or approximately $825,000,000,000. While this is approximately $200 or so more than the average share price at $300-$390, Valve Software with approval from the Cascadian government is prepared to sell on the below terms,

• TERMS OF SALE
• 6.38% sold at $500 a share (with approx 1.65 billion shares to be sold)
• Sale price: $825 billion
• Currency disbursement: Approximately 50% of shares will be approved to be purchased with the CFX$ exchange note.
• Recognition of Sovereignty by Secretary Copeland, of Cascadia, the New California Republic, and Great Lakes Consortium.

It is believed that the sale of half of the shares in the Copeland-derived CFX would be a major selling point for the $500 a share pricepoint, as it would provide untold legitimacy to the CFX$. Additionally, the Secretary of Markets has already affirmed that the full sale amount of the 6.38% of shares held would be used towards a Cascadian Sovereign Wealth Fund, reducing the risk of inflationary outcomes on the global economy due to the printing of CFX or purchasing of other currencies.

Adrian Schembri was formerly an executive at the APS Bank in Malta charged with handling the account of the archdiocese. He resigned his post to take a position as one of the managers of the Outremer Treasury. The job was relatively easy in the beginning as the economy was the 2^nd smallest in the world at the outset. However, after the many expansions of the state, the inclusion of Switzerland, and the massive injection of $55 billion into the economy of Outremer with most of it being retained in Somalia.

His next assignment brought him to Havanna the richest city in the world. He had a meeting with Justin Trudeau and Colonel Corey. He entered into a beautiful complex overlooking the sea, beautiful women were serving drinks to the men who served as the fund’s accountants, bankers, and actuaries. He entered the meeting room of the two men, after pleasantries were given and round of Mai Tais were handed out Schembri began his presentation.

“Gentlemen, thank you for meeting with me. It is no secret that the United States and its dependencies are nearing a state of conflict and collapse. It is inevitable that once the first domino falls many more will fall after it. It is also inevitable that one of these factions will see Havanna and its riches and come to the quick conclusion that it is a ripe apple ready for harvest. You men and the city as a whole will be utterly decimated while the jackals feast on the corpse. However, there is time to move the money, bit by bit, and store them in mountain bunkers in Switzerland, Ethiopia, or both. This would secure the money and once peace and security returned to the United States the money would be shipped back to Havanna. All that would be required is that Outremer retains a 1% fee on moving and storing the reserves. There is no threat that Outremer would renege on this agreement as it is understood that whatever federal government emerges would utterly crush Outremer if it were to break its deal”

With formal military organization finished with Military Rage further peacekeeping operations will need to be conducted in order to secure the safety and prosperity of the German people. Much like Operation Gunther there is little expected resistance to our efforts, however it is paramount now that the German people see that it is in fact Germans ensuring their safety. The main objectives of this operation is to secure the cities of Hanover, Osnabruck, and the towns of Emden and Leer. This will be a crucial step in the overall goal of totally securing Lower Saxony.  Diplomatic overtures will have to be conducted after the operation towards both Mogartha and the Eurasian Custodianship in order to ensure peaceful relations in the region. For all pacification efforts Local police and governments will be contacted and utilized.

Operation Van Vader

Day 1: Jaegar 1 will travel down Highway 27 and Highway 7 and take up a command position at the Hannover Airport. After setting up a headquarters the regiment will then spilt into three battalions to better cover the city. 1^st Battalion, with Jaegar 1’s tank unit, will secure Hannover Central Station and Mitte in order limit external movement and control the center of the city. 2^nd Battalion will maintain control of the airport and further pacify the surrounding area of Langenhagen. 3^rd Battalion will take the area between Langenhagen and Stocken. The first day should see the complete pacification of the Northern and central portion of the city.

Day 1: Jaegar 2 will travel down Highway 29 and Highway 1 to Osnabruck. The regiment will drive straight through the town in both a show of force and as a parade for the local population. They will establish their headquarters at the Osnabruck Performance Center. As the city is a fifth of the size of Hannover pacification will be far more swift. 1^st Battalion will pacify the center of the city, 2^nd Battalion the Northeast, and 3^rd Battalion will pacify the SouthEast.

Day 1: Jaegar 3 will break into one battalion sized group and then smaller company sized elements and conduct a sweeping operation of the whole of East Frisia excluding the outlying islands. There is no expected resistance in the sparsely populated area thus this exercise is mainly to reassure the population that the region is stable. The single Battalion will move to secure Leer and then move on to Emden. The towns are small thus there is no expected protest movement occurring in them at the moment.

Day 2: Jaeger 1 will continue to secure the town of Hannover. 1^st Battalion will spread out and secure the whole of Hanover-Mitte and Sudstadt-Bult. 2^nd Battalion will secure the area between Langenhagen to Misburg-Nord. 3^rd  Battalion will secure the area between Stocken and Hannover-Mitte.

Day 3: Jaeger 1 will finish ensure the whole of Hanover is pacified.

Day X: All three regiments, after taking their core objectives, will begin a general pacification and annexation mission across Western Lower Saxony. This will extend to Highway 31 in the West as to not get too close to Mogartha and Highway 27 and Highway 7 in the East to prevent overextension. To the South forces will not be permitted to secure anything south of Hanover, I the East, and will stop at the Lower Saxony/ North Rhine-Westphalia line in the West.

It is unexpected that any serious resistance will be encountered during this operation, however $20 million will be set aside to pay for assistance and loyalty of various police and local politicians.

RAND | The RAND Corporation

TIMELINE: New American Civil War, you're a Grand Old Flag

"Tensions escalate between Cascadia and the Heartland Project while border disputes fracture BOIL and God's Choir."

January 1st, 2032

WRITTEN BY

Jake Meyer

"The show is over as border-wars begin to spread and an emphasis on special forces causes localized yet highly violent outbursts of conflict."

  - Ret. General David Hodne.

The Battle for Shoshone

He could hear the patter of the occasional bout of gunfire burst through the thick woods that shrouded the mountain face, it mixed with the rain that poured down in buckets and had soaked through his national guard's uniform. In the deep, dark, green woods of the Shoshone National Forest, he, a mere private in the Utah National Guard stood out like a sore thumb in his desert camos that had taken on a darker brown from the mud and wet mulch. His mates stood out just the same, good Mormon boys from the Salt Lake, most of them still red in the face with acne and hardly men, yet they clutched their M4s tight as they continued walking through the pines.

"You think they can see us?" His friend whispered the question and was hit on the back of the helmet for it by the Corporal who had managed to reattach with the fireteam. There was four of them in total, two carrying M4s and another with a SAW, the fourth had lost his rifle in a fall only a few moments prior, the gun having gone over the side of a cliff. Their squad had been deployed with the rest of the platoon, apparently to deal with a handful of sappers that had made residence in the national park. Now the four surviving members of the squad had been quietly trying to find the rest of the platoon, instead however they found only the blood remains of their fellow guardsmen.

Even though the sun was sending rays down through the forest canopy, the light still was only barely enough to illuminate the full forest. The team of four therefore never stood a chance, walking right by the Cascadian sniper sitting in the roots of one of the giant old growth trees.

---

Small skirmishes of special forces seems to have become the defining factor of the New American Civil War that remains ongoing across the continental United States of America. At least this is what analysts are claiming to be the case following a series of deadly skirmishes in Wyoming's north-west, a continuation of the ongoing border wars which has seen Cascadia attempt to enforce control over the heavily forested parklands of the border regions. The skirmishes thus far have largely consisted of small engagements, numbering no more than a dozen or so combatants on either side, but have been heavy with casualties for the Wyoming National Guard which has been launching defensive assaults into the woodlands in an effort to rid the area of Cascadian sappers and sniper/scout teams.

Cascadia's preparations however have made it extremely difficult for Wyoming guardsmen to actually retake or otherwise gain control over relevant sectors in the theater of war, experts liken the experience to the mountainous/wooded areas of Afghanistan, with Cascadian sappers in particular making it almost impossible for armored support vehicles such as MRAPs to make it into the mountain depths where it matters. The unwillingness likewise of the Heartlands to commit a full deployment has meant that what mountain guard units exist in the region, are heavily undermanned for the terrain and are facing constant harassments from Cascadian forces. Furthermore without Federal air support, the Heartland Project has been considering the option of negotiation and it is rumored the most recent series of bodies to return in caskets have sparked the shift in local governments that are not willing to see their people die for a bunch of trees and a Federal government that has yet to lift a finger.

---

de_Luxor: Firefight in the City of Lights

Secessionists

"They'll be coming in two days." Gavin Newsom was out of place inside the LAPD armory, nevertheless he addressed the five volunteers that had been called up from the secessionist militia. They had been the most experienced that could be found on such short notice, two veterans of the global conflict, another from the second Iraq War, two from Afghanistan. All had earned medals of honor or some other award in service and now they found themselves arming up while the "governor" of Lower California gave them a briefing. "The feds tried using Luxor as a rally point during the withdrawal, which means there are untold amounts of classified documents in the building. We've already got teams there emptying out what they can, but their unarmed and untrained...your job is to protect them."

One of the men grabbed an AR-15 off the wall, it was a stock weapon only with a sling. Another grabbed an AK-47, donated generously by patrons outside the Secessionist state. None of them had much in the way of personal protective equipment, the best that could be mustered was a few kits from the LAPD office that hadn't already been disbursed. Two of them took as many grenades as they could, being careful to budget out the weight of their kits. One even elected to take a shotgun as a backup.

"We're deploying you tonight, get in there and defend the hotel...do what you can and buy us time." Newsom shook each man's hand before sending them off. Just before they left however, the veteran of Iraq grabbed a special case off the wall.

75th Ranger Battalion

"Check right." The soldier flashed his IR towards the black glass pyramid that was now within twenty yards as his team moved silently through the pool area that sat at the foot of one of the iconic Vegas hotels. On his arm was the patch of the 75th Ranger Regiment, a patch his whole team wore as they trudged through the dark. Power to the city had since been cut off after two groups of 1st Special Forces Group seized control of the Hoover Dam and a major natural gas generating station, plunging the once city of lights into darkness. Only the occasional generator-powered spotlight or home-depot flood light now illuminated corners of the strip as much of the city hunkered down indoors. With night vision turned on, the team of five operators in their multi-cam camo kept pace moving forward being careful to check corners as they went.

The lead soldier raised his Mk.18 rifle to check a window, bringing his team to a halt behind one of the now vacant wet bars that littered the pool area. He had for only a brief moment thought he'd seen a sniper in one of the illuminated windows of the Luxor, but couldn't make it out clearly enough so brought his team behind the wall. All of them had been armed to the teeth, three including himself carried the standard Mk.18s, another had an M110 SASS, the fifth had a Mk.18 Carbine variant, shorter in barrel but good for laying down fire all the same. "Alright boys, you know the mission already. Get in, destroy the objective, get out."

There was an affirmative from the team before they moved again, but immediately found themselves ducking for cover once more as one of theirs fell to the ground, a clean shot through the head putting him down. Return fire erupted as they tried to pinpoint where from.

"Go on, I'll stick here and deal with the bastard." The marksman yelled as he ran right drawing fire as he did so. The surviving three couldn't argue as they proceeded inside.

---

Escalation in Las Vegas has continued in what has been the Federal's only major response to the ongoing civil war with another series of operations to wrestle for control of the city. The most recent operation which the Secretary of War Hegseth had called "Operation Paul Revere" consisted of another batch of 75th Rangers supported by the Dagger Brigade, otherwise known as the 5th Armored Brigade out of Texas. The more significant force however was repelled when a strategic strike from the CS Queen of Pain, formerly the USS Ohio would launch a payload of Tomahawk cruise missiles at the 5th Armored Brigade as it traversed the open deserts of Nevada. The resulting carnage amounted to the largest casualties in the civil war thus far and has also devastated BOIL morale with the Federal presidency.

This is coupled with ongoing tensions and border disputes between BOIL and God's Choir over territory in Mississippi an Louisiana, largely due to the heavily evangelical populations along the bayou. While not escalating to a shooting dispute just yet, it has gotten close on several occasions and has forced the BOIL governors to reconsider the ongoing "cooperative" relationship with the GC in general. With Virginia now isolated and alone, it has also placed extreme pressures on the dwindling support of the Federal units still deployed in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and notably, due to concerns of GC aggression, Admiral Koehler has put the whole Navy to sea along the Eastern Seaboard.

---

Washington D.C., The United States of America

A crisis BOILing over?

---

CNN NATIONAL | Issued 2032 - 12:00 | Washington D.C., The United States of America

---

D.C. - As the civil war rages on, BOIL is facing a second crisis as Texas, long touted as an industrial leader is now facing a severe water shortage threatening the homes and businesses of the State. Brought on by strategic attacks likely by either Cascadia or God's Choir (it is very unclear), Texas water reservoirs are relying on a diminishing aquifer that is forcing severe water rationing in the South of Texas. Additional attacks along the coast by Louisiana Separatists (God's Choir affiliated) have damaged or destroyed a number of emergency desalination plants that had been under construction as part of a Federal project.

Lower California is facing a similar crisis but is presently being aided by Cascadia which now controls some of the largest amounts of fresh water on the continent, and the world. Nevertheless, with this new crisis, it is believed that the Aga Khan as a BOIL advisor is the one meeting Mexican officials, competing against Newsom's negotiators in doing so. So far, it is apparent based on satellite imagery that BOIL has secured the support of local mayors and governors in Monterrey and other border towns, however larger negotiations seem to be ongoing with those close to the Aga Khan allegedly suggesting that a BOIL-Mexico alliance to prop up the Federal government may be in the works, though this is not confirmed and is also conflicting with reports of Newsom's team meeting with the Mexican territorial administration as well.

---

Off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia

It was a rainy, windy hell of a day and every so often, Holsey could feel the storm swat at his helicopter with bolt and gust. This would be the second day he was flying in a row. The first from the sunny Caribbean to meet the CCS Tamandare, one of the stealth frigates that now was the basis for the Navy's own new class and he took it up for a rendezvous with his dear comrade. Phone calls had sufficed before, but these were the types of occasions that demanded an in-person appearance. Five years ago, the two were conspiring on how to maintain the US Navy's place of pride in the world, and now the two had to figure out how to keep what was left of the Navy in one piece. Things were in free fall now and the best they could do was figure out how to just survive.

He'd signal for the pilot to fly at the arranged helipad and there he'd get the chance to embrace and comfort his friend before they got in the thick of it. Already he had a few questions he had wired the Admiral before hand.

• From the previous reports, do we still control the federal Navy and Marines in entirety and are there any threats from BOIL and God's Choir to poach them for their own devices.

• Can we rely on the Marines to hold Mexico and should the Confederation move to deploy more troops to the nation to discourage further attempts to expand the civil war?

• Has the threat of witholding support from the Federal Government made them buckle any yet? If not, does the Navy exert any hold on any states outside of the greater Norfolk area we can use as further pressure on the Federal Government. Note: the Confederation has engaged in talks with the Mormon bloc in the past and may prove a useful ally in this endeavor. They have pointed towards New York as well, to whom we are sending a negotiator now.

New York City

As much as people compared the two, Jair never felt NYC and Rio were kindred cities. Both were cultural capitals of their countries, sure but outside of their dominance in that field, they shared little else. Rio was a paradise in comparison to this concrete jungle stuck in the frozen wastes of the North. The hustle and bustle was admirable perhaps but that was São Paulo's thing. The quicker he could be out of this damn cold, the better. At least one small mercy was they kept their buildings as warm as the tropics in winter...

Right, he's rambling again. Sigh. Which fancy moneybags was he here to chat up again? Ah yes, another one of those hedge fund CEOs, Ken Griffin of Citadel and a few others from JP Morgan and the big banks. He had sent ahead a lovely memo about how he wanted to meet with them and talk business and settle some old accounts of their mutual partner, the Trump family and Ivanka's name might have been mentioned a few times as well.

They didn't need to be reminded of the instability but he made sure to mention the need for some proper representation in the Goverment, people who would be more receptive to the words of big business. In particular, the Heartland was willing to do what it could to save America and was not lacking in heart but certainly needed the brains and wealth of some more fortunate friends to see it through.

Following extended chaos in the Free City of Milan and the general lack of political will on the part of the Directorate to integrate it into the broader state, the Directorate has decided to proceed with the first scheduled elections in the history of the Free City. Ostensibly, Milan will get a similar deal to the other satellite states of the Directorate, enjoying substantial autonomy over social policies and lower-level economic ones, while having its security and such taken care of. However, in this particular instance, Tokyo has decided to maintain control of the Milan-based police force and Gendarmerie for the time being, since without monopoly of arms their control in the region itself is insignificant.

In somewhat of a shock (not if you asked anyone living in Milan, but moreso due to the lack of time and proper infrastructure to conduct polling), a new big-tent party has taken control of Milanese city-level government. The Christian Democrats, the result of a merger between remnants of the Democratic Party and the Lega Lombarda, have secured a substantial majority in the Senato di Milano. The main issue that they agree upon, in addition to the general restoration of society, is continued autonomy for Milan and the preservation of the Italian and Lombard way of life. While cooperation with the Directorate is seen as somewhat necessary due to facts on the ground, they strongly oppose any efforts to extract value from the region at the expense of the locals as well as attempts to impose their will in matters outside of security and general cooperation.

Notably, they have taken an amenable stance to the recently-resurgent Papal States. Although the Milanese are not the most religious people (in Italy, let alone in the rest of the world), the Italian intelligentsia has taken the opinion that Catholicism's re-institution as a political force can serve as a counter-weight to other extreme worldly ideologies, including Copeland's Covenant, Yarvinist thought, and the continued domination of American billionaires across Europe. It could potentially give the Europeans back their own voice on the world stage (while Pope Leo is American, the Papal States are the only territories in Europe not under carpetbagger control).

While silent on the issue of political unification with the Papal States, both to avoid antagonizing the occupying Directorate authorities and because they would seek to avoid living under an autocracy if possible, they by and large support a return to the Res publica Christiana, where the Pope takes some form of leadership amongst a group of Christian, European states. More practically, the Pope is the primary thing standing in the way of band of Somali pirates rapidly taking control of the Italian peninsula, which is obviously much worse than any of the other options on the table (even permanent American occupation). Already, several private citizens and enterprises of Milan have donated men and materials to the Catholic Church, and the re-vitalization of church-going in Milan is underway. It remains to be seen if the Pope would be amenable to such a Guelph Lombard League being re-established to support its power, or whether His Holiness will view this as a "crown from the gutter" and demand more direct political subjugation of the Peninsula.

After the successful operation to pacify Bremen, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven the partisan militia members of Citizen Rage will be reformed into a new paramilitary branch of Outremer named Military Rage, which will number 30,000 troops. Included in this are elements of the 1^st Panzer division#Organization), and Home Defense Company 8 and 9 who have decided to join in their ranks. These veteran volunteers will be vital in carrying out further peace keeping operations in Germany. Three combined arms regiments, Jaegar 1,2,3 of 9,500 men will be organized along side a Headquarters Regiment, which will handle communication, logistics, etc. of 2,500 men, which will be stationed at the. Oberst Ernst Falkenrath will be head of the military subordinate to Emergency Secretary Jan Timke. Each Jaegar regiment will have a tank company of 7 Leopard 2A7V in order to demonstrate the might of Military Rage. Various other pieces of German equipment will also be filtered out to each regiment.

While the Ethiopian military and equipment from Operation Gunther will be withdrawn from the area there will be a small arms equipment transfer primarily from the Ak-47s that the partisan’s were given to either the HK G36 or the Outremer M4 Rifle. Additionally, the regiments will be given a number of Stinger and Javelin missiles in case of any significant threat.   

For further air support in operations the Military Rage HQ will contact the Swiss Air Force in German for any needed assistance.

  Washington D.C., The United States of America

The Papal States and the Occupation of Europe

German occupation proceeds as tensions between Secretaries rise with border skirmishes.

CNN NATIONAL | Issued January 1st, 2032 - 12:00 | Washington D.C., The United States of America

"Some had thought that Germany would rise in ascendant glory, anointing a night king to reign for another ten thousand years through SovCorp. The truth though...is that they couldn't even hold together long enough to blitz France. It would seem that Eastern Europe's menace has lost." ~ Felix Baumgartner, political analyst for CNN

D.C. - For port workers in Havana it must have been strange seeing tribute payments from India arrive not for 2031, but 2028. Particularly given the political climate in the States when tribute payments had largely been halted, the fact at least one Secretary clearly was operating about a year behind everyone else was considered a space-time anomaly. Nevertheless, as payments arrived that would inevitably fill the coffers of some corrupt Liaison, a new frontier was being opened across Europe. The declaration issued by President Marco Rubio to relinquish Secretary Yarvin of his claimed seat sent shockwaves across the European holdings which had been in open protest for some time. Almost instantly, the secretaries with the most to gain including Secretary Bigelow and Secretary Peters would launch a series of strategic contacts with locals. This would mark the first of a series of outreaches by the Secretaries to gain diplomatic solutions for things that had been brewing for years now. In all the success of these diplomatic outreaches was minimal and simplistic, most of the mayors and locals contacted had minimal ability to enforce their will so to speak.

Nevertheless, several secretaries came out ahead with these early diplomacy attempts including,

• Bigelow
  • Control over areas in Schleswig-Holstein has increased out of local fear over the nearby Mogartha.
• Peters
  • Control over Bavaria at large increases, due in large part to the heavy alt-right presence in the region. Some fractures however exist in Passau.
• Fink
  • Stuttgart has declared for Fink, due to the growing Mogartha presence in Bavaria.
  • Mainz, Ancona, Aachen, Trier, and Pisa have similarly declared for Fink.

Diplomacy however would quickly turn chaotic as alleged pirates and gangsters began plotting an alliance across Southern Italy. Soon, an uprising supported ostensibly by pirates and criminals in Outremer, would take shape through the revitalization of the Secondigliano alliance numbering over 20,000 strong soldiers of the mafia. They would quickly take informal control of Naples before expanding that control to the whole of Campania. The Secondigliano Alliance would quickly transform into a broader "Mafia's Court" modeled on the Brethren Court alleged to operate in Outremer, growing in size and scale. While not exactly well loved by the local populace of Campania, this level of control was considered a major feat and the first real "takeover" by a secretary of an expanded position.

The chaos would only continue when the Vatican Church renewed in faith against the declaration of the anti-Christ would announce and then launch an operation to "pacify" the Copeland territories. With broad public support, they would largely find themselves uncontested in their march and have gained control over all objectives outlined. The rise of a catholic voice of reason would also see Catholic germans in the West (all Western Catholics) demonstrate publicly in favor of the Pope and revitalization of the Church as an actual entity against the anti-Christ. And in a surprising turn of events, the Catholic Church in Argentina backed by the popular support of the majority Catholic population would also declare themselves for the reinstitution of the Papal States, effectively eliminating Copeland's ability to control the South American enclave that had been granted to him and strengthen the Italian position of the Catholic Church in turn.

As the Catholic church was seeing a revival, Citizens Rage was seeing a form of collapse as they lost their support in Munich after heading once more north as part of a joint-operation with "immigrant Somalis". While Citizen Rage remains loyal to Outremer, the fact that somalis had been allowed to run rampant through Bremen/Bremerhaven was not lost on the local populace with an uneasy tension existing between the occupation and locals. However, objectives again found success overall and as the Somali operatives passed by the port that housed the USS Nimitz, they noticed something odd from the Carrier that had been courted by a number of secretaries. That oddity was the fact that Ellison's National Bard, Frank Montana was aboard and singing as it left port with the Second Flotilla. A later announcement delivered to the other secretaries would prove that Ellison had successfully negotiated with Admiral Schulz, gaining the loyalty of the majority of the German Navy which now under the protection of a "Mark of Transit" is sailing out of the North Sea and into the Atlantic with a final destination set for Japan after a brief respite in Morocco.

The final major addition to the fray would be the deployment of Secretary Holsey's forces to it's own German territories and had ordered supporting operations for anyone that would enable transit to their cities. Negotiators sent ahead of the main force would affirm the support of Leipzig and Syracuse and there would be little else to report. However, one thing of important note, is that the rise of the Catholic Church is seemingly agitating/gaining traction in Brazil which holds the largest catholic population in the world. Whether Admiral Holsey will give into local desires to support the Vatican however, has yet to be seen.

In a new age of piracy a new form of pirate ship must be introduced. Gone are the days of mighty galleons traversing the Caribbean or hordes of Junks patrolling Macau, the modern day pirate ship must be small, fast, and pack a punch.

The United States Navy developed the Riverine which shall be the basis of the craft. However, certain tech is both unavailable and unnecessary for our needs. Additionally special engines will be produced by Botswana’s Aliboats, and extra fuel tanks will be put in the hull for greater range.

Barbary Class – Pirate Ship

Cost - $500,000 / $650,000

Displacement – 16,200 Lbs.

Length – 10 Meters

Beam – 3 Meters

Draft – 2.5 Meters

Propulsion - 2 Aliboats Diesel Gun Runner Engines

Speed – 60 MPH

Range – 300 Miles

Crew – 6

Navigation – Standard GPS and Sat Maps, and back up paper maps and Sextant

Comms - Standard Long Range Radio

Standard Armament – 2 x M134 Miniguns, 1 x M2 Browning, 2 x M240

Flagship Armament – 2 x Stinger Missile Launcher, 1 x Javelin Missile Launcher, 2 x M240

Barbary Class ships will conduct operations in groups of three in order to provide cover and greater threats to shipping. Two will be the standard variant and one will be the Flagship variant. The production of these will be at MAN-2 Water World. Project costs will be $2.2 Billion dollars with rollout being 200 ships per year with the initial run being for 1000 ships.

“Holy fucking shit” was the words on the lips of those gathered for the 2^nd Parlay of the brethren council in Mogadishu. All those gathered where now nearly billionaires with each pirate, 10,000 in total were multi-millionaires or their families were if they had died at sea. There was now a new class in Outremer a class that would reshape the entirety of Outremer. Every Pirate Cove had tens of thousands of men waiting, even camping for weeks, to try to become a pirate. Outremer itself can utilize billions of dollars in order to pump up the country’s economy and military.

This was truly the golden age of pirates, the scope of which dwarfing that of those in the 1700s.

“We are opening up the rolls, it was ten thousand, now it will be one hundred thousands, Pirate Coves will be replaced with Pirate Towns with smaller coves within them. You seven shall be Pirate Lords with the super yachts of the Russians your flagships.”

Current Locals

·         Local 101 Bosaso, Somalia (Reorganizing to Maputo, South East Africa)

·         Local 102 Mogadishu, Somalia

·         Local 201 Male, Greater Seychelles

·         Local 202 Victoria, Greater Seychelles

·         Local 301 Lome, Dahomey

·         Local 302 Porto Novo, Dahomey

·         Local 401 Benghazi, Libya

New Locals will be established in concert with the rising numbers of pirates

·         Local 501 Nassau, Bahamas

·         Local 502 Georgetown, Bahamas

·         Local 503 Pirates Well, Bahamas

·         Local 601 Va’a-o-Fonoti, Samoa

These cities have now seen a massive spike in their revenue to the extent that the entire economy of these cities based off piracy gains. The Pirate Lords are set to invest of their profits from piracy in the local economies of each city to diversify the economy. The individual pirates, who each made approximately $2.2 million apiece, are retiring from life at sea, they will be financers of the new expeditions and will build mansions in new districts of the towns across Outremer.

The rolls are opening; 100,000 new pirates are to be recruited 10x of the previous pirate armada. However, there are millions of people across Outremer who wish to gain even a fraction of last year’s haul.   

Western Democratic Broadcasting Corporation - 2nd Level Parliamentary Changes and the Addition of Australia

Multiple changes of have occurred throughout the Western Democratic Confederation in the past couple of months, including significant changes at the 2nd level of our democracies, and the addition of Australia within the WDC. Both seem set to change the overall structure of the WDC, and will have major effects for you, the voter, so this article will serve to outline these changes.

2nd Level Parliamentary Changes

As was defined at the creation of the WDC, the 2nd-level democracies, what used to be the national-level governments, were subject to changes should the citizens of the WDC want them. Specifically, the option of these 2nd level parliaments being broken up was to be of high consideration. Now, after significant consultation and referendums, the outcome of these changes is known, there will be multiple fractures in current state-level parliaments, with multiple regions choosing to remove themselves from what used to be their national parliaments.

Specifically, this has seen 19 new second-level governments form across the WDC. These are the Basque Country, Brittany, Catalonia, Savoy-Provence, The Azores, Galicia, Valencia, Aragon, The Balearic Islands, Andalusia, Asturias, Leon, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Northumbria, the Isle of Mann, and London. These new 2nd-level parliaments represent a major change in the entire parliamentary ecosystem of the WDC. Notably, for the United Kingdom and Spain especially, they represent a major degredation of their parliamentary areas, to the point that the United Kingdom has changed back to England.

While the vast majority of these new parliaments were from pre-existing regions with separatist ideals, one in particular, London, is likely to garner high interest. While London did not initially wish to separate from England, the separation of Cornwall and Northumbria from England caused many in London to believe that their future would be more secure if they were able to vote in parliamentarians who focused on the city itself, rather than being a part of a much larger ecosystem. The separation of London has caused various other major cities within the WDC, such as Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon, to begin looking into whether separating from their own countries would allow them more freedom to decide on local issues and commit to long-term planning for their own constituents.

As a reminder, the 2nd-level parliaments serve a similar function to the states of the United Kingdom or France, undertaking key local and regional level projects and maintenance to allow the primary government to focus on larger goals and projects.

The Addition of Australia

The largest change to the WDC recently is that of Australia's addition. A country of over 27 million people, its addition is cause for the WDC's parliament to expand. While some debate was brought up around the merit of simply increasing the number of people a single seat represents, the Office of Democratic Undertakings has decided that sticking to the 350,000 people per seat model is best at this current moment. As such, 77 new seats will be added to the WDC's upper-level parliament, changing the total number of seats to 654 (from 577). These new seats will be filled at the next WDC General Election (to occur in 2034), with the current state-level government of Australia remaining in charge until then.

Perhaps the most notable part of this change has been the addition of Australia's political parties to the WDC's. Below, we have provided a list of what parties the Australian parties have joined into, as well a few new parties they themselves have started.

• The Australian Labor Party has joined United Democracy
• The Australian Liberal Party has joined Conservative Democracy
• The National Party and Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers Party have joined Empty West
• The Australian Greens and Legalise Cannabis have joined Green Unity
• Pauline Hanson's One Nation has created its own right-wing party, Pauline Hanson's One Democracy
• Australia's Voice has joined Muslim Votes Matter
• Centre Alliance has joined Reason
• Katter's Australian Party has created the Agricultural and Anti-Crocodile Party
• The United Australia Party has joined Reform the West
• The Animal Justice Party has joined Animal Rights Forever
• The Australian Christians and Family First have joined the Christian West Alliance
• The Australian Citizens Party has joined the Citizens Solidarity Alliance
• The Australian Democrats has created the Keeping the Bastards Honest Party
• The Fusion Party has joined the Future Singularity Party, though contingents of it have split and joined The Pirate Party and Compromise and Connection
• The Great Australian Party, HEART, Power 2 People, Gerard Rennick's People First, and the Australian Federation Party have joined the Party of Patriots
• The Libertarian Party has joined the Libertarian Party
• Socialist Alliance has joined Anti-Capitalist Democracy
• The Socialists have joined Socialist Advance!
• Sustainable Australia has joined Degrowth and Equality for All

With the news of the New American Civil War, the script is flipped. Secretarial Assets, pacified and stabilized even in the worst-performing cases are the bastions of stability compared to the North American Continent.

We do expect that multiple Secretaries have own allegiances to various factions, some of which are seceding. Of public knowledge:

• Hawaii have reported intention to join Secretary Ellison
• Secretary Copeland is still a major player in the God's Choir voting block
• Secretary Peters and Barron's Hyperborea are natural allies
• Secretary Khan is a major influence on BOIL and Rubio's faction.

Still, we are assembling Secretaries which have a reputation for responsible and sane actors in Istanbul, just as once before, to discuss matters of the New American Civil War:

• Secretary Fink of Western Democracies
• Secretary

Holsey

• of The Columbian Confederation

We want to discuss:

• The future of Secretariats
• Potential for response towards the Civil War
• The influence potential on other Secretaries to dissuade extensive involvement into the Civil War.

Additional Secretaries are considered for a second round of talks.

  Washington D.C., The United States of America

The New American Civil War

Tripartite Independence Declarations issued as small targeted engagements rupture Federal control of the United States of America.

CNN NATIONAL | Issued January 1st, 2032 - 12:00 | Washington D.C., The United States of America

D.C. - A New American Civil War (NACW) has officially been declared following the tripartite announcement of independence delivered by the self-proclaimed nations of Cascadia, California, and the Great Lakes. Delivered in the Pacific Northwest's interim capital of Victoria, the address attended by Doug Ford (representing the Great Lakes) and Governor Newsom (of California) in tandem with the Pacific Northwest's own Governors Bob Ferguson and Lilian Hale has been considered the most significant event in recent American history as it signals the formal end of the 50 State empire that had only a few years ago achieved global hegemony. In the publicized press event, Governor Newsom would begin by announcing the formation of the "New California Republic" with himself appointed as interim President until such time as US agents are removed from the country. He would then go on to declare Los Angeles as the new national capitol, while condemning what is believed to be assets from the 75th Rangers Regiment operating in Las Vegas. Following his announcement, Doug Ford representing the BBB would announce the Great Lakes Consortium, detailing the general path forward in regards to governance and formally confirming the Great Lakes assertion of independence from the US Federal government. The conference would then shift it's attention to Governor Bob Ferguson from Washington State, who would announce the Pacific Northwest's own declaration of independence under the new nation-state of "Cascadia". After this, the conference would conclude with a statement of recognition issued declaring recognition over the independence and sovereignty of the three new nations.

GALLERY: New California Republic Rangers on patrol in Los Angeles

Timed with the publicly televised press release was a series of military operations conducted by the three independence movements launched simultaneously against specific assets held by the Federal Government. The US Federal government for it's part struggled to launch a response in the face of the challenge, ostensibly due to mixed messaging currently present in D.C. which has seen Rubio's presidency called into question. The first of these operations would be launched by the Great Lakes Consortium beginning with a targeted assault on Fort Knox, a territory ostensibly under the control of the federally-aligned "God's Choir" political group. Assets of the 34th Infantry Division and 38th Division flying the flag of the Great Lakes Consortium would be the first to step foot in Federal territory as hostile forces, quickly overwhelming the local "V Corps" which was still trying to determine whether it would be taking orders from Federal forces (Rubio) or Don Jr. With a decision left unmade and no prior preparation in place, the Corps was left with no choice but to surrender under the coordinated assault by four battalions with each division sending two battalions. This places Fort Knox and by extension the bullion within under the control of the Great Lakes which is claiming it will to secure it's independent currency.

As this was ongoing, Californian Rangers in coordination with the local secessionist movement turned "national militia" would launch an assault against units of the 75th Rangers Regiment that had been flown in by the Federal government earlier on in an effort to secure Nellis Air Force base. Despite taking heavy casualties as part of the assault due to the lack of coordination of the Californian forces, they would nevertheless prevail against the 100 or so men sent by the Federal government. The largest of the operations however would be conducted by Cascadia, with the most coordinated of the three now self-proclaimed "independent" nations, they would send Cascadian sappers into the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, and other major Federal or other faction adjacent bio-regions and begin taking control of an expanded series of borders. This would see Cascadia secure the Yellowstone and Shoshone national parks alongside additional territory in Wyoming, most of Western Montana, and much of Alberta and the Northwest Territories mountainous regions in a coordinated and planned area denial operation.

These operations conducted by Cascadian Sappers would then expand with a targeted decapitation/statement strike against Danielle Smith's government in Alberta which has remained BOIL aligned through it's duration. Danielle Smith who has always been a controversial figure and seen as one of the main "ringleaders" that first brought Canada into the United States of America, was not and has not been well-liked by most Canadians since the initial occupation, it was therefore suspected that this was part of the "deal" made between the PNW and BBB in the initial negotiations. Nevertheless, assets of the Cascadian Special Operations Forces Command - specifically JTF2 would be flown in under the cover of dark arriving at the Edmonton capital building before executing a decapitation strike against the majority of the State of Athabasca's largely BOIL loyalist government. This included the assassination of the Governor of Athabasca in a move that has been condemned by BOIL Governors but due to the absence of an actual capable air force and with the Federal government in Virginia unwilling to dedicate fighters to an operation, there has been no retaliation.

GALLERY: Cascadian Sappers conducting area denial operations in the Rocky Mountains

The forced seizure of Athabasca has led to limited Cascadian control over the oil sands and broader state of Athabasca, however the Canadian forces present originally as part of the State national guard have declared for the Great Lakes, leaving pockets of control in areas such as Cold Lake, Athabasca and Edmonton's regimental building that are declared officially for the Great Lakes. This however might have been a planned maneuver with Cascadia and the Great Lakes having signed a "shared resource memorandum" on any natural resources in Alberta, which by extension also puts political pressure on the Dakotas who has thus far been "forced/volunteered" into opening it's borders to allow for trade and commerce to continue flowing between the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes regions. Montana meanwhile despite massive protests from it's interim leader Sheehy, has yet to find any actual support from the Federal government and instead has joined the equally aggrieved Heartlands movement which now includes the State of Kansas which was also concerned over the absence of Federal support and the general "tainted" political future of the Federal government.

Despite BOIL's continued advocacy for an armed response, the Federal Government under Rubio now seems paralyzed and facing a potential military defection over what has been the most horrendous possible outcome. Admiral Koehler who remains loyal to the constitution even going so far as to state "he would be refusing any further orders issued by Rubio" stating that the Eastern Fleet Command "no longer recognizes the presidency, and is encouraging an immediate return to stability through a nation-wide election." This has put a major question mark on the Eastern Seaboard which has ostensibly been Federal aligned, and has left BOIL without the ships or air-fleet to properly contest a future. BOIL therefore has been seen charting it's own path, sending representatives to Mexico which has remained neutral so far as a colonial holding of America. It is alleged, that President Newsom has done similar. Additionally in the wake of these major announcements, the State of Hawaii under interim leadership of Admiral Sucato has initiated his own secession process, declaring intent to join under Secretary Ellison's territory while the states of Dakota and middle-Canada have also declared intent to secede but have not yet declared any other details.

As of right now, though on paper the God's Choir faction, Mormons, and BOIL all remain federally aligned, it is clear that actions are speaking louder than the paper they had been written on and that the total collapse of the Federal government now seems likely. Whether the American nationstate can be put back together again remains an entirely separate question.

CNN Special Report: TV briefs for Cascadia, California, and the Great Lakes

The following packets are info-briefs detailing currently known information to be broadcasted on television news.

• Cascadia
  • Overview: Based on our in-house political analysts, current information on Cascadia is portraying a shift from a federation-style government in favor of a unitary state. There is however a key military component that cannot be overlooked. Surprisingly however, the Cascadian entity appears to have conducted a legitimate and fair election, largely in secret from the Federal government and as a result, has elected an actual head of state and legislature. Another interesting aspect has been a constitutional ban (based on what we have seen so far) on political parties, with each representative within the Senate being elected as an "independent".
  • Executive Leadership (Head of State): President Bob Ferguson
  • Legislative Leader: Prime Minister Lilian Hale
  • Capital City: Temporarily Victoria, with intention to build a new capital city in Point Roberts
  • GDP: Estimated between $2.5T-$3.0T
• Republic of California
  • Overview: As of right now, California has yet to hold elections with former Governor turned President Gavin Newsom acting as interim leader of the nationstate. It has yet to develop a formal government or other foundational structures.
  • Executive Leadership (Head of State): President Gavin Newsom
  • Capital City: Los Angeles
  • GDP: Estimated between $2.5-$3.6T
• Great Lakes Consortium
  • Overview: Closer functionally to a federation, the Great Lakes has retained the state-hood nature of it's parts, with semi-independent senates and house of representatives for each state (remaining functionally the same as its prior system). With amendments, the Great Lakes has also elected to inherit the US constitution and is intent on running elections before the end of the year to appoint a President and Vice President, alongside national senators/congresspeople.
  • Executive Leadership (Head of State): Doug Ford (interim)
  • Capital City: Oshkosh, Wisconsin (selected for security reasons)
  • GDP: Estimated between $5.0T-$6.1T

Other information includes,

• Important Additional information for viewers
  • 1. It is believed that Cascadia, California, and the Great Lakes have signed a "non-aggression and mutual defense" treaty strictly for State-based threats for the duration of the secession period.
  • 2. The three nations have signed an "economic memorandum" preserving economic trade and other policies when possible. However, this is disputed due to the ongoing "stripping" of the Californian economy by the Pacific Northwest.
  • 3. The Great Lakes and Cascadia have signed a "temporary financial memorandum on defense" in which the Great Lakes Consortium will provide annual payments for protection by the Cascadian Armed Forces (in addition to the existing treaties). It is believed this is due to the larger size of the Cascadian air force in particular.
  • 4. It is believed that Cascadian forces managed to "infiltrate D.C." resulting in most technological/IP/patent related information being taken from the Pentagon and broader Department of Defense. (M: This means tech transfer wise, all three successors would have access to the US asset set if it was used by the US feds)
  • 5. It is believed that the three nations have signed a "cooperation agreement" with shared use of the existing satellite infrastructure controlled through California. Supported by evidence of Great Lakes and Cascadian deployments to select air bases in Nevada and California.
  • 6. Federal Forces have massed in the Eastern Seaboard and in BOIL, but without God's Choir forces to support it is unclear whether an operation will actually take place or if negotiations will be forced through.
  • 7. President Rubio is requesting "Bob Ferguson, Lilian Hale, Gabe Newell, Gavin Newsom, and Doug Ford" appear in D.C. for "negotiations". These have thus far been seen as laughable.

ROUGH MAP of current situation

With the devolution of Secretary Yarvin's rule in Central Europe, it has come to the remaining active asset secretaries to restore order to Germany and Italy. Unfortunately, that also means the Columbian Confederation must take part in an international peacekeeping force for which it is an entire ocean away from and the Germany city we are tasked with is firmly inland. This provides a number of challenges to our operations. As such, Columbian forces will serve in a supportive role to those secretaries that either border the target nations or can much more easily project order (i.e. the Western Democracies, the Eurasian Custodianship or even Mogartha). In reciprocity of them allowing us free passage to Leipzig and Sicily, we can lend some of our sizeable military police reserves) that total in the hundreds of thousands in addition to specialist forces such the National Public Security Force and more famously, BOPE, Rio de Janeiro's elite police special operations unit.

To start, we will send police and military negotiators ahead of the main forces to assess the situation in Leipzig and Syracuse. The priority will be on peaceful negotiation with protestors and securing compromises that reduce tensions between government and citizens. Afterwards, we will send in 500 police and security forces to both cities via military flights as an advance garrison to help deal with any remaining issues and provide aid in rebuilding where damage has occured.

Should the situation be resolved in both cities by this point, we shall use them as staging grounds to assist in fellow asset secretary security operations where permitted as a supplemental reserve. We recognize that we would be a junior partner in such endeavors and will do our best to integrate our battalions into the command structure of our partners for such operations.

Peacekeeping Deployment