Imperialism

The ICC conference in Vladivostok begins, discussing space technology.

(Yeah, I vaguely remember the moon depot, and you don't need to stipulate that you don't give me anything, I did say I wasn't trying to trick you, right? All this essentially means at first is that you can use my launcher and etc., and I can put a a few astronauts, (compared to the number you have, that is) on your ships, for exploration and reseach and such. You can shoot them if they get rowdy. etc.)

Emperor de Silva cheers the agreement as a victory of peace and level-headedness over violence and suspision. He sends the a birthday gift to the president, and sends the whole U.S. a million dollars in a red cross disaster relief fund, should they ever need it.

The ISE moon city happily goes over to celebrate the new agreement, and when it gets a little crowded, the rest (junior members of the crew) have to stay in the ISE city.
Disappointed, these members petition the ISE bureaucrats for money to connect the two bases. The bureaucrats, (hoping they won't have to spend money, but unable to deny the astronauts anything without having de Silva breathing down their necks) state that they have the funds available, but such a proposal must be heard by the Americans. The astronauts, to the bureaucrat's dismay, promptly submit the proposal to the Americans.

In the meanwhile, the party starts at U.S. base, the ISE having brought Lunar whiskey, (which is Jack Daniels without the lable) propose a toast to friendship, and begin happily debating music choices with the Americans.

The Americans challenge the Brazillians to games such as Beer Pong, but using whiskey instead. The Brazillian proposal is passed with ease in the Senate, but stalls in the House, where it is debated wether or not it is worth the funds. A senator comes over and beats a house member for doubting the proposal. The senator, from Minnesota, is sent 400 canes in the mail from his home state. The US begin to testing how effective Pykrete is as a space building material. The US thanks Brazil for the Red Cross funds, and allows the Brazillians to salvage the old shuttles, no longer in use by the US.

The ISE televises the "beer" pong, using its Japanese communications system, on the ISE version of ESPN. Whiskey Pong almost becomes the national sport of Brazil. Then people come to their senses. Still, the various "Space Games" are very popular, and the competition is jovial.

The ISE is surprised by caning incident and is torn between laughing and and being saddened. (lol, nice use of irrelevant APUSH material.)

The ISE is fascinated by the Americans' idea, and comments that any progress made in the area of pykrete is naturally exclusive to the Americans, by the terms of the treaty binding the U.S. and ISE space programs.

The ISE begins testing solar paneling for space use, particularly new partially transluscent and heat resistant forms of panneling, as well as steam based "solar power" in space, thinking these may be helpful to the American Pycrete effort.

The ISE gratefully accepts the shuttles, putting them all temporarily into a warehouse/museum, until further decisions regarding them can be made.

The negotiations are going pretty well in Vladivostok, with the Russian and Chinese delegates ramming proposals down the throats of the others for the most part (the German one has managed to gain some ground). The conference is kept hidden from the people of each country.

Government reforms in Russia, followed closely by China, begin to put in place harsh punishments for lawbreaking. Opposition to the current political party, long censored, begins to be killed. Naturally, the people know nothing of this. India, Korea and Burma shortly begin similar policies. Eastern Europe is not terribly far behind, and Germany and France have yet to really start anything overly dictatorial. They are working on it, however.

American citizens report concerns over missing family members and friends in Europe to the Federal government. The American government then sends a request for information on the missing people to the respective governments of the people in question. This request is made as public as possible. Meanwhile, the prototype Behemoth is launched in secrecy. The results are kept classified, however whiskey sales are up in the bars surrounding the launch site.

The Soviets, having avoided affected American citizens at all, are confused. Belousov guesses what happened and urges the Eastern European governments to not provoke the United States. The governments, at varying rates of speed, turn up with the missing persons (or their bodies) and attribute the incidents to antigovernment radicals. They send compensation to those who have lost family, upwards of a million dollars in some cases. In each country, the head of state pledges to crack down hard on the responsible parties, using this as an excuse to enact laws promising draconian retribution for "antigovernment" activity. Germany and to a lesser extent France express concern over similar radical activity within their borders, and Richter and Hasarde enact according laws, tightening their grip on information (not overly so as to escape detection) and censoring certain "seditious" vocal minorities. Russia and the other Communist nations not in Europe also slam the door on opposition parties, somewhat more openly since none of them have really been democracies worth speaking of.

French Nationalists give reports and video footage to the ISE, so the world can notice the Iron Curtain coming down. At first, such videos are assumed to be overreactions, and propaganda, but it becomes more and more obvious that there are real problems here.

The CFR proceeds to outlaw the Nationalist party based on these seditious acts by its leadership, and begins to turn the country upside down looking for said leadership. Hasarde is painfully aware of public sentiment and takes great care to stay on the good side, not randomly imprisoning people or anything unless he actually does suspect them. Which isn't a terrible lot.

After its construction began around Fifteen years ago... The Andromeda Class Capitol ship was thought to never be finished. It was today. Armed with heavy Laser defense and offensive batteries it can shoot targets at an upward of 50 km away with Pinpoint accuracy. Covered with around Fifteen of those Laser batteries, it also has a Flak Sheild. A Flak shield is an area of Exploding space caused by Plasma batteries which line its hull. This prevents most missiles from hitting the ship, by causing them to Explode around the outside of it. It also holds Twenty Five Missile bays for various missiles of Irish Design including the Newly Created Plasma Missile. The Plasma Missile, when it reaches its target it explodes sending forth a shower of Superheated Plasma into the area around it. It also holds classical missiles such as, Nuclear Warheads they made out in the Kuper belt. Finnally There is its large Plasma Incineration Weapon, The weapon which is the Irish trade mark weapon of Mass Destruction. Capable of Incinerating Whole cities in an Instant, this Weapon was used once on earth. The Andromeda Class Capitol ship is fully functional and is Currently heading the Irish War fleet.

The Vladivostok Conference concludes, and the Joint Space Initiative is launched by the Communists. The incredible industrial might of the ICC's member nations is levied against this task, as scientists headquartered in Tomsk, Magnitogorsk and Jinxi begin work on designing components for the Initiative. Belousov, Zhe, Richter and others champion the cause as a demonstration of the power of progressive economics. This time there is no danger of economic collapse, either.

Considering it wasn't any leadership, but rather amateur videographers in the nationalist party with cell phones that sent out the footage, the arrest of any nationalist party leaders is viewed with suspicion, but it isn't hard for the communist regime to hunt down the people actually responsible for the footage.

A Small irish fleet passes Between the Earth and the moon on a scouting mission. At its head is the newly crowned, St. Duke. The Andromeda Class Capitol ship. The Irish take very detailed Notes on the goings on in the world.

Some of the Brazilians not at the ISE-America party notice the Irish, and signal hello, while simultaneously taking notes on the ships, and alerting the ISE, which in turn alerts the U.S. and the Communists, in a "Just thought you guys should know" kind of way.

The Irish respond with a message saying. "Oh hello there..." A smaller Frigate breaks off from the group and moves to the moon to orbit it. It launches a small Drone onto an unclaimed Feature of it and It begins to build an Irish outpost. A Second message is Broadcast to the world. "We have Returned..."

The US thanks the ISE for the alert and sends an unmanned drone on a mission to profile the Irish ships. It should go without saying that the drone is utilizing a new stealth technology that makes it invisible to everything except the human eye, and even this is unlikely due the materials used in the construction of the drone. A supply rocket is sent to the American moon base. A diplomatic message is sent to the Irish Capitol ship, requesting permission to come aboard and discussing Irish intent.

[should mention that it will take a roll of 18 or higher to detect the drone]

(Did the U.S. notify the ISE of the drone, or should they role for satelite detection?)

Also, back on earth, the ISE clears the states of Luxembourg, Norway, Malta, Romania Burlgaria, and Cambodia to join the ISE, if they so desire. Australia, a longtime ally of the ISE, is cleared to join by default, but none of these states need join. Meanwhile, the ISE makes efforts to consolidate its member states' stability and strength. The ISE deserts are all starting to shrink due to gradual terraforming, and agriculture increases as a result.

[the ISE was not notified as the drone is under the command of the USAF, therefore a military op and not known to the Brazillians.]

The US encourages Australia to remain independent if the ISE, as Australia is also a great ally of the US, and the Americans would not like it if the ISE swallowed yet another of the US's allies, especially one on such a unique place on the strategic map.

(Okay, no problem, I'll roll on behalf of the ISE satelites, just to see if anything is picked up.)

The ISE reminds the U.S. that it is not the ISE's policy to pressure any state to join it, and it is solely the country's choice alone. Also, the ISE, if not neccessarily allied with the U.S., notes that at the very least, none of its states are antagonistic or hostile to the U.S.

The member 'President WIN' has done the following action : Roll dice

'd20' : 8

Come to think of it, the ISE notes that China, Russia, Germany, and the U.S. are all qualified to join similarly to Australia, since the ISE is mostly hoping for large industrialized countries to join, and such can almost assume they would be accepted by default. The one reason Australia might join, is that they have a large quantity of desert which would benefit from ISE terraforming. It is assumed that due to many countries' previous lack of interest, they will continue to be uninterested in joining the ISE, but the offer is there. Smaller countries need ISE approval.

detection roll!

The member 'Doomwing' has done the following action : Roll dice

'd20' : 18