Empire of AndrewBoard

The Orson Empire wrote:

On Libra, Deputy Karri Pallas has urged Borborema residents not to believe anything said by Universal:

"I urge you all not to trust any information originating from Universal Studios's Community Relations Department. These vulture capitalists from the Timmian Confederation do not have your best interests at heart. The corporate suits in charge of Universal are only concerned with making a profit and nothing more, and will eagerly peddle lies to gain your trust. Regarding their proposed projects to improve life in the community, who is going to ensure they keep their end of the bargain once their treasured park is finished? Who will prevent the gentrification of Borborema and the devastating economic effect this will have on local residents, many of whom are poor immigrants?"

Universal not directly responding to Kerri, but has posted on Facebook the following for those interested, Universal and its partners always follow through on their actions. Anytime we ask a government entity for a request, that request is normally recorded within the local, provincial, and federal laws of the nation. We have attached a series of records from the 1990s- now detailing our interactions and requests to government officials that were not made on a security basis. What this shows is that we believe in transparency, our efforts are 100% genuine. Businesses thrive when their neighbors thrive.

Additionally, the type of request that we need to the city Council can be found in the public record. We would not make requests that we would not want to make public. You can ask the city council clerks to confirm this. Furthermore, these promises are legally binding if passed by the city Council in local agreement. These are legally binding governing documents, not just some form of promised commitment that doesn't have teeth. This has teeth and money to fulfill those promises, with consequences for the master developer if not adhered to. Again, we are not in the business of displacement. We are in the business of working with our neighbors to create Solutions that benefit everyone and to provide an enriching experience for our guests. 5500 units of affordable housing, 300 million to preserve existing homes and businesses, environmental cleanup, tens of thousands of jobs, over 1 billion in public benefits, and more. This project is not about us. It is about the wonderful stories that we will tell, the economic and social progress that will be made by this project, the advancement in medical sciences, eliminating medical and grocery store deserts."

Furthermore, this project was not done without the public knowledge. Local politicians, including those from the area have had over a year and a half to participate in a public comment forum that has been conducted with the local laws of the city. Local politicians were notified via email and mail to inform them of the intentions of the master developer to pursue this project. Nothing was done over anyone's head. It is not a flyby night project. Our commitment to social change and with our neighbors is real.

In terms of who is going to keep the end of the bargain? The proposed taxes, the proposed economic district, and the proposed projects are legally binding. Again, legally binding. These projects are going to happen with the development of the park and resorts. They will happen side-by-side. While the park is being constructed, we already know that the university is planning on building their new medical school and hospital. They have actually already started construction and universal has already committed the necessary monies that were promised to the medical part of the project. If you go around the community, you will notice that six places have closed down for renovations. Those are the locations of the six clinics. Construction has already started on the medical school. We are also attaching proof of the universals commitment to this project..

-shows recent donation of 180 million to the University Teaching Hospital-

We would also be signing a local development agreement with the city and the nearby municipality. It is a legal document that would contain some of the proposed language and other proposal language would be brought forth and other further legislation, that would not be concerned with the development agreement. The development agreement would be an agreement between the city and Universal and its partners about the parameters for the approval and what is expected out of the approval. 99% of the language has already been proposed via the existing legislative context. , it is a living document that is proof that we will be legally held for our investments to invest into the park in the community with penalties, often financially severe for breaking them. It is enforceable to the full extent of the law, and what is written in the agreement."

The forces opposing the new Universal site have gained a high-profile spokesman: Victorien dos Santos, the current Minister of Public Works and Housing who represented Pacuhy in Parliament from 2014 until 2022 (when Karri Pallas was elected to fill his seat). Minister dos Santos, a socialist who is himself of African descent, continues to live in the Montebelo bairro of Borborema, commuting into work in Central Santa Catalina each morning.

Dos Santos has been regularly posting about the site on Libra, and visiting sit-in actions on the weekends. While addressing a large gathering of locals, many holding up signs saying 'keep Borborema cool' and 'Yankee landlords go home', dos Santos had the following to say:

"Remember, compatriotas, that however slick these lobbyists and corporate PR firms sound, they are paid for by American dollars. They do not represent your interests!

Do not let the Universal corporation deceive you with schemes like 'special economic zones' and 'public-private partnerships'. These token gestures are meant merely to polish Universal's image. All their incentives do is cover up the very problems created by this theme park cartel they have successfully peddled around the world; problems they are now trying to drop at your doorstep. Are you going to be paying $130 for a day pass, when you can barely afford to make rent by the end of the month? Are you going to be making use of the parking, transit, or food and drink facilities within its gates? Of course not, because this park is not designed for you.

Now don't get me wrong, you have a purpose — scrubbing their sidewalks, cleaning their counters, driving their buses. And at the end of the day, you collect your paycheck and return to your apartments. For as long as you can afford to live there, that is. You exist merely to dress up in costume for the tourists funnelling into what was once your community. Universal will try and bribe you to look the other way, but no amount of money can make up for the loss of the streets you grew up on, the cession of your homes and businesses and community institutions to a board of directors who do not see you as anything more than a means to a profit. What is the value of 'progress', if it does not speak for you?"

Timmy City wrote:

Universal not directly responding to Kerri, but has posted on Facebook the following for those interested, Universal and its partners always follow through on their actions. Anytime we ask a government entity for a request, that request is normally recorded within the local, provincial, and federal laws of the nation. We have attached a series of records from the 1990s- now detailing our interactions and requests to government officials that were not made on a security basis. What this shows is that we believe in transparency, our efforts are 100% genuine. Businesses thrive when their neighbors thrive...

Deputy Karri Pallas is enacting a back-up plan in the event that protests and petitions are not enough to stop the park's construction, especially after learning that Universal had established solid legal agreements with the city. In that case, more...aggressive means were necessary to dissuade Universal from proceeding.

Karri had always preferred nonviolent methods of protest and resistance, unlike her father Jerick. However, she was willing to do anything to protect the citizens of her district from the depredations of these corporate vulture, even if she had to use extralegal tactics. Karri was exactly like her father, far more than even she realized.

Karri still possessed her father's contacts from the seedy underbelly of Wagain and Orsonian society- mercenaries, hitmen, drug dealers, fences, computer hackers, etc., alongside various ex-Federalists. She began clandestinely putting together a team to infiltrate Universal Studios, conduct corporate sabotage, and gather blackmail on various Universal executives, major shareholders, and managers. Threats of violence would be made if they refused to abandon the project. Karri would conduct all business using intermediaries and an alias known as "Crusader", ensuring the operation could not be traced back fo her.

The flurry of media activity around the Universal park, which has only been heightened by the involvement of Deputy Pallas and Minister dos Santos, has elevated what is typically a routine bureaucratic process of zoning permissions and tax code changes into a national conversation. Among Wagains who have been following the story, the Sancho-Lira Research Institute found that 63% opposed the park moving forward in its current form, with 37% supporting it. The most commonly cited reasons for opposition were over-tourism, increased motor traffic, pollution, and the desire to retain the land for more community-oriented development.

Sensing an opportunity to poach the potential economic benefits brought by the park, Governor of Brazil Anita Rogenmoser has proposed the location of Jundiaí, a northern suburb of São Paulo, as a site for the Universal Studios complex. The proposal includes public money for the improvement of the São Paulo-Jundiaí rail corridor and the construction of a dedicated station for the complex. The suburban location will allow Universal more breathing room to operate their park, with a lower overall impact on the surrounding communities due to the sparse population density. The political and regulatory environment is also more conciliatory in business-focused São Paulo.

The Orson Empire wrote:

People's Volunteer Army leaders have suggested to Baryshnikov that the rebels should now focus on conserving their gains and fortifying all occupied towns rather than engaging in any new offensives.

The PVA is being reduced in strength as units are transferred back to Orson due to the ongoing Global Anarchist Liberation Army (GALA) invasion of central Australia, and to comply with a secret agreement made between the Cybusian and Orsonian governments to reduce troops numbers in Siberia in exchange for fuel supplies. As such, if Baryshnikov decides to attack, his force may be smaller in size compared to previous engagements.

General Baryshnikov has halted his forces on the outskirts of Krasnoyarsk, proceeding cautiously through the dense urban environment on the near bank of the river. Journalists embedded within rebel forces report the area appears to be a ghost city, with nearly all residents having fled in anticipation of their homes becoming a battlefield. Already, there have been reports of artillery exchanges across the river, as the Tsarist leadership evacuates its last remaining rear guard units from the bridgehead.

Baryshnikov has elected to sit still for the moment, and not over-extend his already thin supply lines, particularly while industrial capacity and logistics networks are still being repaired/upgraded in the captured cities in the east. He has also read the geopolitical runes, understanding that the Kahroi Uprising in Australia will divert the attention of friendly powers like West Africa and Orson, whose resources may be needed elsewhere. Nonetheless, Baryshnikov recognizes that he has a narrow window to maintain his forward momentum before defenses harden on the opposite bank of the Yenisey. He is enjoying a wave of good publicity following a string of tactical victories, including his successful negotiation in the Ignotov Aluminum Works standoff. But enough time sitting still and morale will inevitably waver, particularly as the weather in Krasnoyarsk reaches below zero.

Cybus1

Meanwhile in the Winter Palace, secret negotiations are ongoing between representatives of Grand Duke Fyodor and Cybusian Ambassador Dimitri Kornilov, already one of the most influential figures in Lucijan politics. Fyodor, an Orthodox arch-conservative who has always been a strong supporter of Cybusian influence, has proposed that the Cybusians take over control of Nagurskoye Air Base in the frozen Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land. The base, which is named for Polish-Russian pilot Jan Nagórski, is among the northernmost inhabited areas on Earth, with two runways capable of capable of servicing tansport, ground surveillance, and heavy bomber aircraft. The base is protected by coastal defence missile systems, an Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and a tactical group from the 80th Arctic mechanized brigade.

Should the Cybusians accept, it will grant them a 'back door' into Santa Lucija through the thinly-surveilled Arctic Region, allowing them to increase the frequency and range of support activities of the Tsarist armed forces while better protecting Cybusian interests in the region.

Novo Wagondia wrote:

The flurry of media activity around the Universal park, which has only been heightened by the involvement of Deputy Pallas and Minister dos Santos, has elevated what is typically a routine bureaucratic process of zoning permissions and tax code changes into a national conversation. Among Wagains who have been following the story, the Sancho-Lira Research Institute found that 63% opposed the park moving forward in its current form, with 37% supporting it. The most commonly cited reasons for opposition were over-tourism, increased motor traffic, pollution, and the desire to retain the land for more community-oriented development...

Deputy Karri Pallas has strongly criticized Rogenmoser on Libra:

"Governor Rogenmoser cares more about securing a profit than fighting for her constituents- the pockets of Universal Studios truly run deep. It is unfair to simply dump this problem onto another city, where its residents will undoubtedly endure the same issues and controversies as those in Borborema. At this point, it is clear that a park in any form, in any location will not benefit Wagain citizens, and only serves to enrich the corporate suits in New York City. It is just as Minister dos Santos said: workers will be reduced to performing menial labor for Universal, until they can no longer afford to live in their communities by rising rents and property prices and are inevitably evicted."

Novo Wagondia wrote:

Based on an interesting graphic I saw earlier today, what percent of your nation's population trust the media?

A relatively high proportion of people in Wagondia demonstrate trust in the media, compared to other western countries. According to the most recent polling by the Sancho-Lira Research Institute, some 65% of Wagains have 'some' or 'a lot' of trust in the media they consume every day, a figure well above what is shown in countries like the United States and United Kingdom.

However, there was considerable variation between types of media consumed. Print media was trusted least of all, reflecting the growth of Wagain newspapers as private, often explicitly partisan enterprises in the nineteenth century, with a large but politically divided readership. Radio is by far the most trusted source of information, reflecting the near-monopoly that state-owned broadcaster MPP has over the sector. Given the trans-continental ubiquity of MPP, which is nonpartisan by statute, political talk radio never diversified to the same extent in Wagondia as in other countries, with most other major channels adopting a religious or cultural (i.e. music) focus. Foreign broadcasts are also commonly listened to.

It is also likely that Wagondia's community-minded culture increases trust in institutions across the board. Broadcasters like MPP and its local affiliates (including hundreds of regional and university radio stations) are owned by the community and run on a non-profit basis, with minimal advertising and zero cost to the end consumer. This is reflected in the prominence of radio within the Wagain public sphere; the so-called 'radiocultura'.

Source: https://i.imgur.com/FHqc0n7.png

Cybusians generally trust the media, in part because the government has done little in modern times to cause distrust ala Watergate, and because there are relatively few opposing narratives presented. While there are clashes between the liberal and conservative take on something, there’s virtually no outright anti-government or anti-media messages, with most media being entertainment, politically neutral, or pro-government (even indirectly). No poll has ever been conducted on the subject, but an informal estimate is that approximately 80% of the population is trusting of the media.

Novo Wagondia wrote:

A major Universal Studios resort (the first in Latin America) will undoubtedly become a major tourist draw for the capital region, bringing tens of thousands of jobs to East Santa Catalina. The proposed site for the main park is in Forcadas bairro of Borborema parish, a heavily industrial area which is considered one of the most deprived in Santa Catalina. This represents 61% of the total 980-acre footprint of the Universal development, with the remainder spread over several noncontiguous locations in the hills of Canhestros and Bomfim (potentially to be linked by cable car). Since the opening of the Eduardo Line, a major new metro corridor modeled after London's Elizabeth Line, it is possible to reach Central Santa Catalina from the main site in just 30 minutes.

The project, which is reliant on subsidies and zoning changes which have yet to be approved by Santa Catalina's Câmara Municipal, has immediately run up against determined opposition from local residents and community organisations. The Rubim Valley, which runs along the eastern border of the city of Santa Catalina, has been a test case for debates around gentrification and urban development for years now, as transit extensions have elevated property values and companies like Rubico and Elektrik have raised the prospect of a new high tech investment corridor. This is a region with a strong working-class character and the highest concentration of recent immigrants anywhere in the city, with nearly 60% of the population being foreign born (mainly Orsonian African). Politically the area is a bastion for democratic socialism, currently represented in Parliament by noted leftist Karri Pallas.

Local and national politicians alike have lambasted Universal for going over the heads of local residents and trying to create a 'consumerist colony' in East Santa Catalina. They contend that the park, which will eat up a considerable amount of land in Borborema and adjoining parishes, will benefit out-of-town tourists at the cost of locals, and that the lion's share of profits will go to foreign corporate partners like Universal, Terrace, and NBC. They worry that residents will be evicted to make room for sparkling resorts, or priced out of the neighborhood by landlords looking to bring in high-dollar tourist stays. Already residents associations have begun organising sit-ins of the construction site, with the hopes of delaying further construction and bringing attention to their cause.

The Cybusian community is, for the most part, opposed to this. JSR believes the new park will draw people from its own complex, while the Mercerist community fears it will draw people from church. While the local Kyriarkh has remained silent -having learned not to opine so publicly in political matters- , Hendrik de Veiga, the local JSR administrator, has begun ramping up JSR programming: he has, in a “coincidence” hosted exhibits at the Kaiser Complex’s exhibition hall on Wagain nationalism, American filibusters such as William Walker, and how German cash and equipment helped Wagondia become a preeminent power even when colonial powers were at their height.
JSR radio programs have begun to promote the local Dark Adventure studio and the Big Three studios, comparing their works favorably to Universal products.
Finally, de Veiga and several other Cybusian community leaders have discreetly met to coordinate a response. The ordinarily business loving Cybs are somewhat distrustful of the Timmians, perhaps because they remain neutral against communism.

Santa Lucija wrote:

Tsarist Forces Dig in along Yenisey River

Since a major shakeup of Tsarist leadership replaced 4 of 6 top-level commanders of the Tsarist Army, the Winter Palace has been looking for a way to nurse its wounds and regroup, before a counter-offensive can be organized. Recent troop movements observed by satellite suggest the military has abandoned its policy of staging a defense of every town in Siberia, given the high casualty and defection rates which have plagued National Guard units in the area. Instead, Tsarist forces have engaged in an unprecedented 600-mile retreat, settling on the western bank of the River Yenisey. Cities between Irkutsk (the new rebel capital) and the Yenisey, including the aluminum center of Bratsk, have been all but abandoned, as civilians continue to flee westward.

Tsarist defenses have now coalesced around the so-called 'Kazimir Line', after Grand Marshal of the Imperial Army and close Winter Palace ally Kazimir Ostrovsky. The wide Yenisey River provides a natural barrier to advancing rebel columns, but Tsarist regulars have been hard at work digging trenches, mounting AA cannons, and setting up machine gun nests, anti-tank obstacles, and observation posts all along the western bank. Chokepoints, including all six bridges across the Yenisey in the major city of Krasnoyarsk, have been extensively mined and closed off to all non-military traffic. Tsarist High Command has identified three 'sectors' guarding the major passageways to the west, each to be defended by fresh regular army units.

Karsnoyarsk: Capital of the vast Krasnoyarsk Krai and home to multiple crossings of the Yenisey River. The second-largest city in Siberia and eight-largest in Lucija, Krasnoyarsk is a major timber and metalworking center and a key junction on the Trans-Siberian railway. Home to the easternmost metro system in Lucija, recently completed. Defended by forces under the direct command of Kazimir Ostrovsky.

Abakan: Capital of the Khakassia Province and location of an important middle crossing of the Yenisey River. Surrounded by a rich iron mining territory. Defended by forces under Siberian District Commander Andrei Cherkassky, a specialist in mobile tactics.

Kyzyl: Capital of the ethnically and religiously distinct Tuva Province, and site of the southernmost major crossing of the Yenisey River. Center for the processing of wool, meat, and animal furs. Defended by forces under the command of Andrei Bodin, leader of the large and ideologically determined Voluntary Patriotic Legion. It is likely this assignment is meant to be a test of Bodin's leadership and the capacity of his men for frontline combat.

The new strategy of fall back and regroup has proved politically contentious in Saint Petersburg, emboldening enemies of the Winter Palace to become increasingly vocal in their policy disagreements. Murmurs abound of the Grand Duke's cowardice, giving up miles of Lucijan land to godless mutineers. Should the Kazimir Line fall, it is likely to have a devastating and potentially permanent crippling effect on the Tsarist war effort, leaving the flat West Siberian Plain and important urban centers like Novosibirsk vulnerable to a rapid rebel advance.

Bodin is a former Imperial Army officer and is no stranger to combat, although he’s not used to defensive operations. Nonetheless, he has taken steps to fortify Kyzyl and rally the population to the side of the Tsar. Discreetly, a small coterie of JSR employees have been flown out to conduct a hearts and minds campaign in and around the city and surrounding countryside, tailoring their approach to each unique religious group while attempting to reinforce or reignite loyalty to the Tsarist regime.

Santa Lucija wrote:

Cybus1

Meanwhile in the Winter Palace, secret negotiations are ongoing between representatives of Grand Duke Fyodor and Cybusian Ambassador Dimitri Kornilov, already one of the most influential figures in Lucijan politics. Fyodor, an Orthodox arch-conservative who has always been a strong supporter of Cybusian influence, has proposed that the Cybusians take over control of Nagurskoye Air Base in the frozen Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land. The base, which is named for Polish-Russian pilot Jan Nagórski, is among the northernmost inhabited areas on Earth, with two runways capable of capable of servicing tansport, ground surveillance, and heavy bomber aircraft. The base is protected by coastal defence missile systems, an Anti-Aircraft Battalion, and a tactical group from the 80th Arctic mechanized brigade.

Should the Cybusians accept, it will grant them a 'back door' into Santa Lucija through the thinly-surveilled Arctic Region, allowing them to increase the frequency and range of support activities of the Tsarist armed forces while better protecting Cybusian interests in the region.

We have expressed great interest in this, as it will aid our Gamayun surveillance drone operations, which are continuing to provide intelligence on rebel activity, and could theoretically be useful for other activities as well, such as dispersing propaganda leaflets.

The Orson Empire wrote:

Deputy Karri Pallas is enacting a back-up plan in the event that protests and petitions are not enough to stop the park's construction, especially after learning that Universal had established solid legal agreements with the city. In that case, more...aggressive means were necessary to dissuade Universal from proceeding.

Karri had always preferred nonviolent methods of protest and resistance, unlike her father Jerick. However, she was willing to do anything to protect the citizens of her district from the depredations of these corporate vulture, even if she had to use extralegal tactics. Karri was exactly like her father, far more than even she realized.

Karri still possessed her father's contacts from the seedy underbelly of Wagain and Orsonian society- mercenaries, hitmen, drug dealers, fences, computer hackers, etc., alongside various ex-Federalists. She began clandestinely putting together a team to infiltrate Universal Studios, conduct corporate sabotage, and gather blackmail on various Universal executives, major shareholders, and managers. Threats of violence would be made if they refused to abandon the project. Karri would conduct all business using intermediaries and an alias known as "Crusader", ensuring the operation could not be traced back fo her.

The Harper Foundation working as an intermediary has informed Kerri of the following:

1. Stephen Harper has worked with Universal in the past and out of the companies he worked with, their commitment to avoiding displacement is genuine. Their words are legitimate, you can trust them.

2. Universal would not be the cause of gentrification. He knows of at least 12 companies that are working on real estate ventures in the area and are actively circling the site like vultures waiting to buy the land if Universal fails. Based on their conversations, those companies do not intend to give billions to support the community.

3. To avoid any displacement, the Harper Foundation will increase the amount of monies to $5 billion and it will be given to people in the form of a grant to maintain homes and biz. Based on current valuations, people in the area and incoming persons will not be displaced and the area will not undergo massive gentrification.

4. Having a master developer is beneficial because it ensures that there is a singular vision for a project. That means if Universal stays the chances of another developer coming in and changing everything about the neighborhood lessens.

5. Universal's park in Novo is different. It will be the first park to pay not a minimum wage, but a living wage. The wage will be higher because of this and lift tens of thousands of people from economic stagnation as well as altering the landscape of the SC job market. A large corporation with ten thousand persons making a living wage makes a huge economic difference and will force other employers to raise wages to attract or retain persons. It's a positive trend in the right direction.

The Orson Empire
Imperial forces have begun constructing a series of temporary firebases near GALA controlled territory: these firebases can provide pinpoint accurate artillery, missile, or energy weapon fire at overlapping points within minutes of contact with GALA forces by patrols or front line forces. Cybusian shuttles are being used to move Orsonian forces to forward bases, while Crow dropships and Volcra gunships are providing fast reaction squads to locate and terminate guerrillas. Blackwatch squads are conducting roving operations: raiding enemy targets and vanishing, operating behind enemy lines, and acting as shock troops.

We are requesting a 50% cut in forces sent to Siberia: we have already begun fuel deliveries to major Orsonian cities.

The Orson Empire wrote:

The Office of Military Intelligence responded to the hijacking within seconds, taking all television and radio stations in Orson offline until the signal originating from Sekou's location or other GALA bases could be jammed. The Aturorists had previously implemented a method of jamming certain broadcasts during Turner's reign, to prevent stations from violating Aturorist censorship laws; the post-revolutionary Orsonian government still retained this ability for emergency purposes. Fortunately, Sekou's speech was disrupted before the public saw images of the horrific levels of damage across the Outback.

Federal High Command is enforcing a media blackout regarding the bombing, with all news stations in Orson prohibited from reporting on it.

Following the bombings, 10,000 Pattern A Cylons, having been quickly manufactured with particle manipulators, were teleported into Marrakai and other Kahroi towns where GALA units were known to be stationed, engaging all enemy forces there. These droids were equipped with neutron guns and neutron cannons.

GALA Forces would unleash a real super-weapon for the first time, Invisible Drone helicopters based off the Dragonfly Sea-refueling helicopter design with no spacetime nor EM signatures would be deployed through portals with their Spacetime distortions hidden by GALA Forces' stolen stealth technology. These helicopters would act as flying factories with their integrated particle manipulators and recon for the mass production of stolen Locust Missiles which would be unleashed on the Pattern A Cylons en masse.

GALA Militants have also begun to employ this stolen stealth technology to hide themselves from enemy sensor equipment although unable to hide their Psionic signatures having been unable to steal that particular stealth technology forcing them to make rapid hit-and-run strikes with portals to limit their exposure to enemy fire.

Cybus1 wrote:

The Orson Empire
Imperial forces have begun constructing a series of temporary firebases near GALA controlled territory: these firebases can provide pinpoint accurate artillery, missile, or energy weapon fire at overlapping points within minutes of contact with GALA forces by patrols or front line forces. Cybusian shuttles are being used to move Orsonian forces to forward bases, while Crow dropships and Volcra gunships are providing fast reaction squads to locate and terminate guerrillas. Blackwatch squads are conducting roving operations: raiding enemy targets and vanishing, operating behind enemy lines, and acting as shock troops.

We are requesting a 50% cut in forces sent to Siberia: we have already begun fuel deliveries to major Orsonian cities.

GALA Forces would also concentrate a heavy Stealth Helicopter Drone assault on the Imperial Firebases and Imperial shuttles and gunships.

Sekou would once again broadcast a message, from single-use transmitters dropped in random places around the Outback.

"Looks like I even get to destroy Cybusian commandos too! A good small-scale test for the Liberation of the Earth from Cybusian Influence."

Cybus1 wrote:

The Orson Empire
Imperial forces have begun constructing a series of temporary firebases near GALA controlled territory: these firebases can provide pinpoint accurate artillery, missile, or energy weapon fire at overlapping points within minutes of contact with GALA forces by patrols or front line forces. Cybusian shuttles are being used to move Orsonian forces to forward bases, while Crow dropships and Volcra gunships are providing fast reaction squads to locate and terminate guerrillas. Blackwatch squads are conducting roving operations: raiding enemy targets and vanishing, operating behind enemy lines, and acting as shock troops.

We are requesting a 50% cut in forces sent to Siberia: we have already begun fuel deliveries to major Orsonian cities.

Only a 5,000 strong Orsonian force, composed of Federal Army troops from the 2nd Shock Division and Control operatives, has been deployed alongside the Cybusians. The Cybusians are expected to absorb most of the casualties, alongside the thousands of Cylons droids already deployed in Kahroi territory.

PVA leaders have met once more with General Baryshnikov, informing him that 50% of all PVA personnel have been ordered to withdraw to Orson. Numerous units are, however, prepared to stage a mutiny against their commanders in Orson and remain totally loyal to Baryshnikov.

(Santa Lucija)

Insufficient Capacity...

Expanding...

Expansion Complete...

Testing Models...

Testing Complete...

Insufficient Capacity...

SIGMA would continue to run through this loop, self-expanding it's own hardware to give itself greater capacity to calculate the incredibly complex models necessary to ensure 99.999% Certainty for an annihilation strike against GALA. The Director would monitor the whole process personally just to give himself more peace of mind that SIGMA won't... Malfunction in a particularly dangerous manner.

Oceara wrote:

GALA Forces would unleash a real super-weapon for the first time, Invisible Drone helicopters based off the Dragonfly Sea-refueling helicopter design with no spacetime nor EM signatures would be deployed through portals with their Spacetime distortions hidden by GALA Forces' stolen stealth technology. These helicopters would act as flying factories with their integrated particle manipulators and recon for the mass production of stolen Locust Missiles which would be unleashed on the Pattern A Cylons en masse...

Hundreds of additional Cylons were teleported in to replace losses, while Orsonian forces continued to work alongside their Cybusian allies in fighting GALA forces at the newly constructed firebases.

Control would attempt to hack the drone helicopters with orbital satellites, broadcasting a signal containing the information provided by Malian intelligence to disable their particle manipulators over a wide area, hoping some drones would intercept the signal.

In its first official announcement, the Committee to Protect the Republic (COMPOR) has announced it has identified Sekou Camara as the leader of GALA forces in Australia. Sekou has been designated Public Enemy Number 1, and a 1,000,000 Kirahe bounty is being offered for his capture, either dead or alive.

Hakara Tiki, Yapa Chief Naihi Nāga's deputy, is clandestinely meeting with other members of the Yapa militia at his home in Marrakai. A conspiracy is forming against GALA, with Tiki planning to forcefully remove Nāga from power, kill Sekou Camara, and claim the bounty for himself. Tiki believed that Sekou only cared about his own power and deranged ideology at the expense of Kahroi lives; already, thousands of Kahroi had perished in the neutron bombings, with parts of Marrakai sustaining severe damage.

Oceara wrote:

GALA Forces would unleash a real super-weapon for the first time, Invisible Drone helicopters based off the Dragonfly Sea-refueling helicopter design with no spacetime nor EM signatures would be deployed through portals with their Spacetime distortions hidden by GALA Forces' stolen stealth technology. These helicopters would act as flying factories with their integrated particle manipulators and recon for the mass production of stolen Locust Missiles which would be unleashed on the Pattern A Cylons en masse.

GALA Militants have also begun to employ this stolen stealth technology to hide themselves from enemy sensor equipment although unable to hide their Psionic signatures having been unable to steal that particular stealth technology forcing them to make rapid hit-and-run strikes with portals to limit their exposure to enemy fire.

GALA Forces would also concentrate a heavy Stealth Helicopter Drone assault on the Imperial Firebases and Imperial shuttles and gunships.

Sekou would once again broadcast a message, from single-use transmitters dropped in random places around the Outback.

"Looks like I even get to destroy Cybusian commandos too! A good small-scale test for the Liberation of the Earth from Cybusian Influence."

After several surprising losses (two shuttles and a gunship were shot down due to mass Locust bombardment), we have responded by deploying mass-fabricated AI-controlled Corvus fighters in combat air patrols; because the stealth helicopters do not emit conventional EM signatures, we have set them up to look for where air is displaced but there is no IFF signature or other detectable object, the space taken up by the helicopters giving them away. We have not responded to Sekou, but have instead focused on systemically sweeping Karohi-controlled areas for GALA forces.

The Câmara de Comércio do Distrito Federal ('Federal District Chamber of Commerce'), a powerful organisation representing some of the capital's top employers, has released a statement backing Universal's redevelopment efforts in East Santa Catalina, saying the company has gone 'above and beyond' to ensure that they are a force for good in the community through issuing a living wage to all employers and actively investing in further education, transit, and housing options in the area.

The Câmara Municipal, or City Council, will soon consider Universal's request for the establishment of a special economic zone and tax-free status for the cable car project. Politically the issue has become very contentious, with the influential Orsonian and Cybusian communities both coming out against it. Santa Catalina Mayor Jordan Bonneville, a member of the Labour Party, has broken her previous silence and urged 'reconsideration' of the plans, suggesting instead that the park's large footprint be dedicated entirely to public parkland and the proposed technological university.

Santa Lucija wrote:

General Baryshnikov has halted his forces on the outskirts of Krasnoyarsk, proceeding cautiously through the dense urban environment on the near bank of the river. Journalists embedded within rebel forces report the area appears to be a ghost city, with nearly all residents having fled in anticipation of their homes becoming a battlefield. Already, there have been reports of artillery exchanges across the river, as the Tsarist leadership evacuates its last remaining rear guard units from the bridgehead.

Baryshnikov has elected to sit still for the moment, and not over-extend his already thin supply lines, particularly while industrial capacity and logistics networks are still being repaired/upgraded in the captured cities in the east. He has also read the geopolitical runes, understanding that the Kahroi Uprising in Australia will divert the attention of friendly powers like West Africa and Orson, whose resources may be needed elsewhere. Nonetheless, Baryshnikov recognizes that he has a narrow window to maintain his forward momentum before defenses harden on the opposite bank of the Yenisey. He is enjoying a wave of good publicity following a string of tactical victories, including his successful negotiation in the Ignotov Aluminum Works standoff. But enough time sitting still and morale will inevitably waver, particularly as the weather in Krasnoyarsk reaches below zero.

So-Called "Sergeant R" from the 3rd Airborne Veterans among Confederate Volunteers and infamous as the leader of the 3rd Squad of 20th Platoon in the 1st Company of the 3rd Airborne Division also known as "General Keita's Black Ops Squad" with his specialty in leading commando operations behind enemy lines has made a proposal to Baryshnikov with a proposal for the infiltration of tsarist logistics by an agent suited to infiltration work (rather than his own commando work experience which is a whole different skill set entirely) to sabotage enemy explosives with replacing pins in their detonation mechanisms with new ones that would vibrate and produce sparks when exposed to a specific radio frequency. In his proposal he theorizes that because of the significant shock troop and commando experience of many WW3 Veterans like himself in volunteer unites of the FLG and the presence of Cybusian Recon assets will predispose the enemy to divert the majority of their security efforts towards countering a commando threat and that they will be predisposed to rely heavily on sensor readings and will be less likely to detect traditional spies infiltrated among their logistics and their sensors are unlikely to pick up on something as subtle as logistics personnel changing out components in equipment. He proposes that this be done until Baryshnikov is prepared for his next major offensive and then right before the offensive is launched the radio signal be sent to cause Tsarist bombs to explode in depots all along the enemy front line allowing for the effective nullification of the Tsarists' fortification improvements made during the time that Baryshnikov is paused to consolidate and resupply.

He also proposes that if this spy operation is infeasible that he could offer his expertise to manufacture the so-called "Hydrobaric" weapons Confederate forces developed together with Wagondia and to use these explosives to target just shy of the Tsarist lines along the other side of the river to cause the Water in that side of the river to break down into Hydrogen and Oxygen and then detonate to create a greatly amplified series of explosions compared to the small size of the weapons themselves by turning the water into more explosives. In theory this would destroy the Tsarist positions guarding the river lines against crossings and would greatly disrupt the cohesion of Tsarist units in intermediate positions further back and also cause a temporary reduction in the amount of water in the areas of river allowing an easier crossing.. Although with the downside that the disruption in water flow on a large scale will result in flooding not too long after which would necessitate an immediate breakthrough and the forward surge of supplies very close with the front lines which would increase the amount of supplies at risk from enemy operations during that temporary period before flooding subsides and more normalized flows of supplies becomes possible.

Cybus1 wrote:

Items from the Santa Catalina Edition of The Arcadian Herald:

Looking for premium healthcare? Do have a habit of getting into sticky situations? Trauma Team has you covered! The Rapture-based medical group is expanding its operations in South America; new hospitals have been announced in Santa Catalina, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Caracas. Trauma Team Santa Catalina’s new facility will be equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic equipment, robotic and cybernetic surgery, cybernetic and neuromod implantation facilities, and will be capable of performing treatments that would be virtually impossible elsewhere. Trauma Team’s signature green and white dropships will soon be a staple of the city, rushing to medevac clients. However, the organization is not without it’s critics [continued on page 2T, Trauma]

We urge our readers to practice good gun safety! There have been scattered reports of gunshots at night in the outskirts of the city. We would like to remind our readers that any hunting not only requires proper permitting and tagging, but also should be done during the day! Hunting at night, in such a populated area, is simply inviting tragedy.

Ambassador Reznik will be hosting an event at the Miro Museum of Folk Art, juxtaposing Czech folk art against Wagain art, and identifying similarities, with an emphasis on highlighting the unique works produced by Bohemian immigrants to the capital region, which combine elements of both cultures. The event, “From Bohemia to Brazil: Folk Art As Cultural Fusion” will be held on October 20th from 6 to 9, and will include traditional Czech and Wagain refreshments.

Items from the Santa Catalina Edition of The Arcadian Herald:

The Coburgo Theater will be partnering with JSR and hosting a special screening of Nosferatu accompanied by symphony and next Friday evening. Ambassador Reznik will be displaying his copy of the Occido Lumen, a rare tome of vampiric lore, and Gloria Maggiacomo of the famed Asakura’s auction house is expected to give a small talk on the book, while Professor Abraham Setrakian (professor of Eastern European folklore and literature at the University of Konigsburg) will give a lecture on the history of vampirism as well as the book. Professor Setrakian is considered one of the foremost experts on both vampiric myth and the Occido Lumen in the world. Admission is $75 per person.

Ambassador of the Free Economic Zone of Rapture, Olivia Robles, will be hosting a series of lectures on Objectivism, complete with Rapturite refreshments, at the Embassy of The Free Economic Zone of Rapture over the next three Saturdays. Admission is $10 per lecture, or $25 to be granted access to all three; tickets may be purchased on the embassy’s website. Each lecture will begin at 7:00 PM promptly. Please allow additional time for security processing and scans.

The Kaiser Complex’s construction is nearly complete, says a source from Jednota Skrze Radost. While the Kaiser Center for the Performing Arts and the accompanying exhibition hall and banyak have been open since shortly before 2024, the rest of the complex has been under construction, and has faced various delays. But, as of next week, the Complex will be fully open; additions include the Kafe Arkadia, which sells authentic Cybusian foods and beverages, the Zane Library which will hold thousands of volumes from across the Empire, a bookstore and gift shop, a gymnasium, and a large garden.

According to an unofficial source, Imperial tech giant RobCo may be looking into opening a new retail location in Santa Catalina, selling Protectron and Mr. Handy robots, computer terminals, devices from the PIP-range, holotypewriters, and more!

Cybus1

Cybusian Approval Rating Increases:

A recent poll conducted by Kimaam Media Corporation has found that 50% of Orsonians now approve of the Cybusian Empire. This is an unprecedented statistic, the highest approval rating seen in over half a century. The rating is even higher within the Commune of Australia, with 80% of all Australians approving of the Cybusians.

The Orsonian people are grateful for the fuel shipments being provided to Australian cities and for military assistance in the war against GALA. The Commerce Commission has outright admitted that without Cybusian assistance, the economy of Australia would have collapsed and the Federal government may have had to abandon Ravenwood. Additionally, Fort Victorium contains the largest industrial district in Orson; if production completely ceased here, it alone could cause a national economic recession.

Media sources across Orson have suspended any negative coverage of the Cybusian government, culture, or people. COMPOR is reportedly fining anyone who speaks negatively of the Cybusians, fearing this may cause the Empire to withdraw. The Imperial Marines currently fighting against GALA have been hailed as heroes of the people, and are expected to be awarded by the Communist Party once the war ends.

A Communist Daily article had this to say about the Cybusians:

"Without Cybusian assistance, the war against GALA would have been an utterly grueling affair. The Kahroi tribes may well have succeeded in conquering the entire Australian continent. We have had disagreements and countless grievances with the Cybusians in the past, but it is now clear that anarchism, and not capitalism poses the greatest danger towards the post-revolutionary government. The Cybusians have stepped forward to offer a helping hand without reservation, and without any ulterior motives. For that, they have earned our gratitude."

Novo Wagondia wrote:

The Câmara de Comércio do Distrito Federal ('Federal District Chamber of Commerce'), a powerful organisation representing some of the capital's top employers, has released a statement backing Universal's redevelopment efforts in East Santa Catalina, saying the company has gone 'above and beyond' to ensure that they are a force for good in the community through issuing a living wage to all employers and actively investing in further education, transit, and housing options in the area.

The Câmara Municipal, or City Council, will soon consider Universal's request for the establishment of a special economic zone and tax-free status for the cable car project. Politically the issue has become very contentious, with the influential Orsonian and Cybusian communities both coming out against it. Santa Catalina Mayor Jordan Bonneville, a member of the Labour Party, has broken her previous silence and urged 'reconsideration' of the plans, suggesting instead that the park's large footprint be dedicated entirely to public parkland and the proposed technological university.

Asiana, one of the partners in the project was recently interviewed at the SC Tiger Club. Here are some excerpts.

Won Yoo-seok, CEO and VP, speaking through an interpreter:

"there is a general consensus among our group that we are dedicated to the preservation of this neighborhood. It reminds me of Seoul. There have been many revitalization projects within Seoul. They are home to some of our most favorite neighborhoods and most recent arrivals, including from Russia. We have been able to thread a consensus in the capital by respecting the nature of the neighborhood, the working-class roots while also engaging in revitalization."

" I understand where Mrs.Pallas is coming from. We come from a more collectivist culture. We see things through the unit not the individual. I think she needs to keep in mind that there are multiple partners in this project, why not give us a chance? Why not see if things can actually work this time? We have extensive experience with working with communities in similar situations. My own family was the refugee from China and North Korea. I understand the sense of having a neighborhood and not destroying the vibrance or community of the neighborhood. We are the lead designer on this project. In all the time we have worked on redevelopment in Korea, we have never engaged in any form of displacement. We will never work on a project where people are displaced from their community. I would never work on a project that did that because it happened to my family in the 60's. Again, they can trust us. Look at our record in Korea, in Pyongyang and Seoul.0 displacements with breathing new life into the community with new education, parks, new jobs."

" the special economic zone is important. It is a way to ensure that there is a legal guarantee to the city and the people in this neighborhood that this is going to happen. Did you know that there is wording in the special economic zone that forces the master developer to pay a fine of 2.5 billion if not completed in ten years? That's a pretty good incentive to keep moving and keep their word to the community. But, even if they vote down the special economic zone, and do not exempt the cable car system from taxes, the project is going to happen. It is already happening. Construction contracts have already been issued to different companies around the area. We are only using unionized labor except in cases where we cannot find enough persons. We are also paying the highest wages in the area for our work and have required our vendors to work with the community to establish local partnerships with the neighborhood to teach people in the neighborhood and recruit them into these companies."

"without the special economic zone, the project will still happen, and there will still be significant community benefits. The special economic zone is a want, not a need. I think certain parts of the community benefits will change mainly the part about taxation. The partners will still put forth necessary, money to front and pay for any necessary changes as well, and he needed public views and impact fees. A gondola will still be built, but it will most likely remain only open to guests of our resorts.

I can already tell you, that we are proud to move forward with these aspects of the University, including engineering and medical campuses. I think about 20 construction projects have started so far, including environmental remediation of the areas, and the first buildings are already under construction."

" we are also working with the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California to bring an aquarium very similar to theirs to this project site. It will require a separate admission and is already under construction. But this is something we are very proud of. It will be among the top aquariums in the world be dedicated to rehabilitation and release."