Nuclear Blast reported in Jackson!

[Drogue]

Myself and President Dryad of Zetaris would like to hold a party in honour of Jack of Jackson. We have rented an unnamed country nearby (secret location, to be confirmed) for this most momentous of occasions. Happy Birthday Jack!

Athkala states that all it's nuclear weapons are under close guard, and are all accounted for. Akiria and Zetaris comfirm that they have no unaccounted for nuclear weapons too.

[Whaleboy]

A Marijuanian gunboat has intercepted two heavily armed gunboats two miles off our remote Northern shore. The two vessels opened fire after attempts at communications by ours.

Three Marijuanian personel were killed, but our boat reponded in kind, and using rockets, disabled the two vessels. Opium gas (remember the Moscow siege) was used to incapacitate and apprehend the crew.

Upon examination, the two vessels were found to have a bomb on board, matching the Wine design. We do not believe Wine to be involved, as all of their weapons have been accounted for.

The ships were found to have Athkalan markings. We do not suspect Athkala in this, it would make no sense for them to attack us at this time, and the boats were far out of range of their home ports, although our navy, airforce and satellites are on the look out for motherships.

As such, Marijuanian intelligence has found that the only logical conclusion is that someone is out to implicate Athkala and Wine, undoubtably to precipitate an international conflict following the recent war between Marijuania and Athkala and Method. Whoever this group is, we need to know more about them. Marijuanian intelligence has been placed on full alert.

The two ships are being towed back to one of our bases by a navy destroyer for closer examination. Our navy has been placed on full alert, our new super-battleship, the recently commissioned MSS Hood (see mililtary page) is now patrolling the main approach to Marijuania by sea. The navy has been recalled from open ocean exercises, and is patrolling the Marijuanian Island. All coastguard vessels are patrolling close to shore. No unauthorised vessels will get in. All incoming vessels are being searched extensively, and scanned for radioactive emmisions.

The airforce has been placed on full alert, with at least 20% of the entire force in the air at any time, patrolling Marijuanian territory and borders, as well as that of Stanleystan, whose own divisions have been placed at high alert.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by elijah
remember the Moscow siege

And the resulting deaths of civilians

[Whaleboy]

True... This time we woke them up (restrained of course), and DIDNT let them swallow their tongues!

In Moscow, it wasnt the actual chemical that killed them, rather the lack of appropriate medical care afterwards. It was no different to moving people who are in a deep sleep, one places them in the recovery position, and they will be fine when they wake. That didnt happen in Moscow. It happened today on the seas of Marijuania.

[Whaleboy]

"navy, airforce and satellites are on the look out for motherships"

None have been found in Marijuanian waters, nor international waters within range to launch the gunboats. Athkala was most certainly NOT involved here.

[Method]

Originally posted by Drogue
We have rented an unnamed country nearby (secret location, to be confirmed) for this most momentous of occasions.

just how does one rent a country exactly?


anyways, why not cancel your er...reservations, and come the glorious Federation of Method? a week-long holiday/party has been declared in celebration of the deposal of the corrupt dictatorship which previously ruled. everyone's invited, even elijah, who i can assure has nothing to fear of Method any longer. regarding that little conflict we had earlier, there was a good reason. "Drug made me do it"

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Giovanni Wine
The second bomb which was later on founded in Athkala was given back to us and dismantled immediatly, although it could be possible that the terrorists may have copied our nuclear technology in the meanwhile. In order to stop the terrorists we need to cut their Uranium supplies, because now they can threaten us with a nuclear holocaust, we don't even know how many bombs have they produced.

So, can we safely conclude that Athkala supports terrorism? If so, a region-wide campaign is needed to topple such a regime.

[Jack_www]

ooc:
Thanks everyone.

To Marijuania:
Right now we are conducting our investigation, so any information you have we would greatly accept it. ALso we have a huge mess to clean up to make sure no one else dies. We will need much help there. Last we need to keep our eyes watchfull and defenses ready.

To Wine:
We know that your government had nothing to do with this bomb, and that the terrorist that stole the bomb are the ones that are behind this most likely. We must work togather to end this group once and for all. We would like to talk to your former head of nuclear program to see if he knows anything, we can send agents to the prison he is now being held in.

[Whaleboy]

"even elijah, who i can assure has nothing to fear of Method any longer"

Consider me in!!! Marijuania will do all it can to extend its hand in friendship to the new Method government, and nation.

"To Marijuania:
Right now we are conducting our investigation, so any information you have we would greatly accept it. ALso we have a huge mess to clean up to make sure no one else dies. We will need much help there. Last we need to keep our eyes watchfull and defenses ready."

We will now share all of our intelligence regarding these attacks, related incidents and group with Jackson. Jackson intelligence people are invited to view the gunboats involved in yesterdays incident. The bombs have been dismantles, though as you already have a nuclear capacity, we are more than willing to give you the specs and plans we made up, and the photographs taken, as well as military reports.

We believe that though the bombs were no doubt copied when the Wine bomb was in Athkala, that nation itself had little or nothing to do with it, as our intelligence indicates. Obviously, we may change each others views when we share notes lol. We believe that this group wishes to start an international incident, between Marijuania, Jackson, Athkala and possibly Wine. I believe that those four nations should stand together, to prevent this.

Meantime, we are trying to find out who this group is, what they want, what conditions we will need to change if we are to stop this, and how to establish communications. Marijuania believes that if we can solve this peacefully, without further bloodshed, and accomplish less terrorism in the future, then we will be successful.

We are sending over nuclear scientists and engineers to clean up the mess made, accompanied by medical personel to help your wounded. If necessary, we have a specialist burns and radiation unit in New Amsterdam, can we ship back civilians for treatment if they need it? The Marijuanian air force can free up a squadron of Hastings-class long range fighters to patrol the distant approaches to Jackson, they will be there shortly. All unauthorised and unscanned incoming aircraft will be scanned and shadowed to ensure nothing gets in without clearance.

Our surveillance satellites are on full alert, and we are preparing to launch our newly-commissioned Marley-class shuttle, which is able to track and respond to threats on the ground, in air, and in space. Our land, seas, skies and space is secure.

[Whaleboy]

"So, can we safely conclude that Athkala supports terrorism?"

I wouldn't go that far. Lets be fair and not jump to conclusions. Marijuanian intelligence has determined Athkala to have little or nothing to do with these attacks.

"If so, a region-wide campaign is needed to topple such a regime."

The guilty party is most likely an organisation trying to spark a global conflict. We should not give them what they want in this respect.

We do not believe that such a military action, though well intended, is justified at this stage. We have not exhausted all of our options for dealing with these terrorists, war should be a last resort, if it is necessary, which we do not believe it is. We go to war only when attacked, or when a credible force is attacking one of our friends. The best way to deal with terrorism in any case is diplomacy, reason, logic, good security and intelligence, and other common sense stuff. Military action will have the effect of angering people even more, which will generate terrorism. We surely do not want this.

Lets try to solve this problem first using diplomatic, reasonable means, by changing the economic conditions that spawn terrorism. If that fails, then we should examine whether there is a solveable problem. If so, then the case for war may be met for other nations, but not ours. If we cannot do something using words and money, then unless people are attacking us or our friends, we can do nothing, according to the Mill Limit.

Marijuania offers all support to Noosland, including special forces to defend itself (we have had much experience lately), and all surveillance and intelligence information. We believe it is important for the world to share such information at this time, to solve this problem peacefully, without further bloodshed. The world has seen too much of that lately.

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
So, can we safely conclude that Athkala supports terrorism? If so, a region-wide campaign is needed to topple such a regime.

With what evidence? I am unaware, nor would believe without serious evidence, that Athkala helps terrorism.

[Giovanni Wine]

To: Jackson
From: Wine

You have the permission of talking with Mr. Gabiadini, he is currently working at the community camps of Nebbiolo, under strict RIAW surveillance, as a toilet cleaner.

Your agents may talk with him whenever they wish to.

Saluti

[Whaleboy]

Marjuanian dive teams have explored the area of sea where the two gunboats were captured yesterday.

Video footage, though damaged by the rounds fired by the two attacking boats, clearly showed two men throwing a black container overboard, before our rockets crippled the ships and gassed the crews.

Our divers retrived the case, in which was contained a number of documents. Among stolen intelligence reports from various nations, including Akiria, Athkala, Wine, Jackson, Marijuania, Stanleystan, Zetaris, Noosland and Centralis (all of which will be returned to their respective nations), we found a number of sea-charts, with the positions of 40 ships labelled.

They were dated three days ago, and appeared to be preparing in a formation to assault the Marijuanian island. Our surveillance satellites have found only a small number of fishing-type vessels, although these could easily be Q-ships, with hidden weapons. Our navy, including the MSS Hood, two smaller battleships, 4 destroyers, 6 frigates, 35 gunboats, two submarines and a carrier has been sent to intercept and scan them for radiation. We need this strength in case things get ugly. We are also covering the task force with the airforce.

It would appear that if our hunch is correct, then a transnational band of sea-able terrorists may be to blame. We dont know where, or even if, they are based, or whether they are based at sea as some form of neo-pirates. We dont know their motivation, but again, if our hunch is correct, we will surely know soon enough.

More information will be available as soon as we get it. We stress that they are in Marijuanian waters, and we can cope strategically on our own, though we may need assistance at a later date. Our ships are only going to intercept and scan the vessels, which is allowed as these are our waters, where the navy has juristiction. They will not attack, and will only fire in self defence. Hopefully, our superior forces will discourage them from attacking us.

If they are found to have excess radiation, then the vessels will be searched, and if any bombs are found, the ships and crews will be impounded.

[Whaleboy]

A surveillance drone sent over the suspicious fleet has come under heavy anti-aircraft fire from the "fishing vessels" that we can safely now call Q-ships. It has returned with minor damage to the carrier. It reported anti-aircraft artillery, though innaccurate so probably man-aimed, small arms fire, and mounted machine guns. It also viewed some ships with 9 inch guns, a job for the frigates if push comes to shove.

As such, our taskforce, with knowledge of this certain threat, will not intercept them, but surround them, and attempting to contact them. They will be contained until they run out of fuel and are forced to surrender. If they attack our ships, they will be met with force, if they attempt to escape, they will be shadowed by a marker, proportional to the strength of our fleet.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Drogue
With what evidence? I am unaware, nor would believe without serious evidence, that Athkala helps terrorism.

Nuclear devices that were taken away from Wine facilities by terrorists later turned up to be in the possession of Athkala authorities, which used it to threaten another country.

The link, IMO, is more than clear.