Solar System NES

[General Ludd]

The Asgard Council has announced a 3 point increase in spending towards the living standard and a city-wide celebration to reward the citizens of Asgard for their hard work and swift completion of ACME (Asgard College of Mechanical Engineering - and no, I didn't plan that acronym, but it's just too good to not use. )

At the height of the celebrations, a new industrial project was unveiled - a vertical shaft mine. The mine will reach further down into Honour than has ever been explored and the eventual depth is not yet known, as digging will continue untill it is no longer possible. The mine will have little direct benefit as it digs further down, since the costs of hauling such small amounts of ore up such great distances will not be cost effective, but the mine has other purposes. It will be used to explore for new and richer veins of ore deep under asgard which, people hope, will eventually lead to new deep-surface mining networks. It will also be used in connection with the mechanical engineering school as a place of research, where the huge free fall and extreme depth can offer testing conditions otherwise unavailable in Asgard. The mine will be opened early next year, but is not expected to reach signifigant depths for another few years.


In other news, a system wide symposium on the future of industrial design and application has been planned at ACME and invitations have been extended to the experts in relevant fields from every nation in the system. Accommodations will of course be provided to the visitors, but transportation costs will not be covered.

Small watch-post bunkers are also being built in the mountains near the Hanabor border to help monitor the activities of the Hanabor fighters.

(the 1.1 surplus points I have will first be spent towards the watch-posts, which I expect to be very inexpensive, and then the remainder spent on the mine)

[General Ludd]

EDIT again: I did some research on google to get some vague ideas on how deep this vertical shaft might go.


Right now the final goal will be to get half way to the upper mantel of the planet's core, which on earth would be roughly 50km. (the deepest mine on earth is 5km, for comparison)

[foolish_icarus]

Breaking News:

The UFS of Journey tried to be sneaky about it, but it was just too hard to cover up. A system probe that the Journey Space Agency recently launched is indeed not, as earlier claimed, a scientific probe for the study of Veritas IX, although it does contain a few atmospheric monitoring devices for plausible deniability. The JSA and Journey Federal Government, have not actively admitted, but no longer deny that the true purpose of the mission was to scout out a mysterious object in preparation for an attempted salvage mission.
Independent reporters in Journey initially discovered datawork indicating the nature of the cover up, and astronomers have confirmed that the mysterious object, previously unnoticed but discovered based upon triangulations of the JSA probe's trajectory, is a previously unknown supply convoy sent from earth, presumably before The Missiles. Apparently, the convoy's location was accidently discovered by Journey several years ago.
Analysis of the cargo convoy's trajectory leads scientists to suspect, although without absolute certainty, that its tardiness is due to an engine malfunction which occurred sometime in the acceleration stage.
Nor did it ever completely decelerate, so now it is rapidly approaching the system, and will quickly pass right through it, probably in about 4-8 years, depending on the as-yet uncalculated gravitational effects of the system's bodies. If the convoy is to be recovered, a large scale effort must be mounted to decelerate it and swing it back to the home of the would be salvagers. Depending on how intact the convoy is, it could be well worth the effort of retrieving it many times over, as it could contain the least damaged terraforming engines and other technology now available to the system's societies.
Already Journey, The Hymbaline Marches, and the HPC of Granicus have each claimed the convoy as rightfully theirs, indicating their intentions to salvage it and warning each other not to interfere.

[General Ludd]

In light of this news, discussion on possible strategies of recoverying the convoy will be made a key topic at the system-wide symposium being held at ACME.

[appleciders]

Recognizing the system-wide benefits of such a ship, the Republic of Uhtunht is calling for an international recovery effort. "This ship could benefit everyone, and it's silly to fight over it," one Council member stated. in particular, the Republic of Uhtunht requests a joint salvage operation with the Asgard Federation. If plans could be drawn up at the symposium at ACME, the recovery craft could be built on Uhtunht, where thin atmosphere and favorable low-gravity conditions would allow a much bigger and faster ship. Uhtunhtian representatives are being sent to the symposium to forward this idea.

[foolish_icarus]

Most of the NPCs are not fond of this idea. They point out that shuttling the equipment back and forth between the planets is not viable. They are willing to share, to a certain degree, with the other powers on their own planet, but maintain for spurious reasons X, Y, or Z that the convoy must be reserved for their own planet, and most of the raw materials for their own country.

[Micha]

The Ainar Confederation

Within six days vessels of the Hymbaline Marches have crossed Ainar territory eight times, claiming to have "accidentally" done so while fleeing from "Journey Raiders".
During two of these incidents Ainar kelp farmers have been injured, while more than thousand day rations of food have been ruined.

A Great Assembly has been called by Ayur to decide what was to be done about the situation. The summit lasted three days, finally comming to an agreement:
The Ainar navy will be largely expanded and equipped with more modern eqipment throughout the next years. Starting with the calling of 5000 volunteers to arms, Ainar naval forces will start patrolling the border areas.
Envoys have been sent to both conflict parties, explaining our point of view. The UFSJ is likely to respect our neutrality, but the HM (as a militaristic splinter group of the original colonists) is known to be aggressive and non-committing. Our envoys made it clear that ANY vessel again violating Ainar neutrality will be seized or destroyed under interplanetary law.

In secrecy, the negotiations with the UFSJ also involve a possible alliance in the case of a continued HM aggression. Another point is a possible joint venture to salvage the supply pod, but that`ll depend on the outcome of the other discussions.

Orders
Spend half of the budget on increase of navy, the other half is to be split between the continued exploration of the oceans and the beginning exploitation of the vast hydrogen carbonate ressources.
Our industry should profit from the increased production of plastics. Energy extraction from those fossil fuels is to be postponed until we know of cleaner methods to do so.

In other news
Fifty "mechanics" from all seven habitats have started their journey to the Asgard Federation. They will participate in the ACME summit and try to extract some knowledge applicable for us.
Ainar scientists have predicted a spring tide for the next year. Because of the rare event of both Royaume and Shanee (the two moons) being in one line at the same side of Dignity, the tidal range is expected to be more than a hundred meters for two days...
Fortunately the Ainar habitats are immune to these events, though installations at the coast are threatened... No Ainar are to expose themselves to the tidal waves on these days to avoid incidents. A warning has been issued to the other inhabitants of the planet.

[foolish_icarus]

update tomorrow

[Gamecube64]

The emperor has announced trade will be stopped with the Highland republic immediately, and trade with the other factions of our planet will be increased to compensate. In an attempt to stifle large corporate leagues, the emperor has decreed that the government will take control of one medium sized corporation in many industries, and set much more reasonable prices for the service or product to increase competition. The previous owners will be compensated out of the businesses' partial profit. Air patrols will be increased on the Highland Republic's border, and they will be warned they we may or may not shoot down anything we see trying to cross...

We will send a diplomat to Pueblo Union promising that the Republic's aggressive corporate practices are not tolerated by the Zelnick Empire either.

Propaganda will be run depicting rich, fat Highlander's killing starving Unionist babies.

[appleciders]

6 points to draw up plans and buy materials for orbital mirrors that could help melt the ice caps.

4 points to plant another colony elsewhere on Uhtunht, in an area the survey probes have designated as rich in metal ores.

3 points to continue expanding tunnel farms.

OOC: I hope that wasn't too late.

[foolish_icarus]

Update 2: AD 2499

Asgard Federation

ACME opens and the citizens celebrate, both on the scheduled holidays and in their own homes as living standards return to their former levels. But now they have an advanced research institute to show for their work, and one of the first major projects it is overseeing is a deep mine shaft, which will offer some mineral resources as well as research opportunities.
Asgard is hosting the Interplanetary Conference for Research, Engineering, Exploration, and Development (ICREED), which is being attended by engineers and diplomats either in person or digitally. Every faction except the Hanabor have sent representations, and there are in fact 3 teams of delegates from Pueblo Union, each of which refuses to recognize the legitimacy of the other two. For this conference the normal egghead discussions over polycarbon farms and ion engines have been superseded by wrangling over the imminent arrival and, unless something is done, the imminent departure of the automated cargo convoy. Several states have made overtures to their neighbors about cooperation in the retrieval, but no system-wide consensus has yet been reached, and while the diplomats talk, several states set their engineers to work, already preparing their own independent retrieval operations.

Zelnick Empire

The Emperor ordered trade cut off with the Highland Republic immediately. This has put pressure on the economies of the entire planet, though the Granicus HPC and a few Pueblo cartels are momentarily benefiting. The government has nationalized some corporations. Opinion is being riled up against the Highlanders.

Republic of Uhtuhnt

More work on the Ice Cap project. More settlement in a resource rich area a little beyond the current borders. With expansion of existing tunnel networks and founding of new colonies, the population is beginning to grow slowly but steadily, more resources are available and economic specialization is increasing.

Ainar Confederation

The spring tide has come, but caused little damage to the Ainar, who were well prepared for it. The only losses were a few damaged fishing boats and a few tidal farms whose dikes were insecure. The other two powers on Dignity were a little more disrupted, especially the land-based Hymbaline Marches, but nothing too bad.
The Expanded Ainar Navy is vigorously patrolling their waters, and not coincidentally violations of their territory are way down. This display of power has apparently led both other civs to take the Ainar’s warning seriously, even the irreverent Hymbaliners. But both sides will still cross the tactically important Ainar waters when they can get away with it. This behavior has led to a few seizures of intruding vessels, and even a brief firefight, but the dueling powers seem to regard this as a fair price for the tactical advantage they can get out of surprising their opponents. It has become much like a pair of unruly children who will hit one another only when their parent is not looking.
Surveyors continue their maritime exploration and hydrocarbon resources continue to be tapped and processed in greater amounts.

NPCs

Asgard border patrols have observed what appears to be a cessation in fighting between the Hanabor factions. Attempts to establish communication continue to meet with no response.

The Journey/Hymbaline border conflict continues to heat up, although it could not yet be called total war. A recent incident has pushed it further in that direction, however. Apparently, a Hymbaliner minor noble sneaked into the Journey capital and wounded a fairly high ranking official, who died from his injuries a day later. The noble then fled the city in a dashing escape, madly pursued. Reports indicated she did manage to evade capture, although it is unclear whether she has made it back to home territory. The Hymbaliners say it was an honestly announced and fairly fought duel. The Journey government is calling it an assassination, and demand the perpetrator be handed over for trial, and if convicted, be executed. HM is of course refusing. Following this, Journey took two Hymbaliner diplomats that had been unable to leave the Journey capital before hostilities grew too intense, and stranded them on a small raft on the border with HM. When HM sent a rescue mission, it was ambushed. Border firefights have since picked up, as well as air force dogfights.

In Pueblo there has been a coup in the government. About half the country is under the direct control of the new leaders, and opposition is being rapidly eliminated. Not much more than that is known.

Disturbing News

The first deep space radio telescope farm to be put into operation since the missiles fell has begun searching for signals. Located in the UFS of Journey, the telescopes were first trained on the star that once held Sol’s second and only other colony. After listening for weeks, the radio operators grimly confirmed that no signals are emanating from that colony. It appears our sister system has suffered the same attack as ours had…whether they were as lucky in the outcome, we cannot yet know. Assuming Sol launched her attack on or sister colony at about the same time she launched her attack on ours, the radio telescopes are listening to a world roughly 10 years after their missiles would have arrived.
The radio telescopes were then turned upon our old bane and benefactor, Sol. What we have to report here, not many would consider good news. Radio emissions still do emanate from Sol--or at least did as recently as 40 years ago. We have received a wide array of incidental (I.e. not directed at our location, but sometimes receivable due to the properties of broadcast) signals, all faint, most dying out after brief periods, some with pattern and repetition, others seemingly gibberish. None of it is within our power to decipher to make sense of. The telescopes will continue to listen for any changes.

Clarification on the rules:
You are not limited to spending only what you have in surplus funds. To clear this up, I have relabeled "available funds" to "surplus funds". You could theoretically spend in a single turn up to the total of "start spend points" plus "assets" and then also increase your debt. In more normal circumstances you can initiate spending that will bring your "surplus funds" into the negative, and the difference will be made up by either increasing your debt or decreasing your assets. This is not dangerous to your country as long as you occassionally run a surplus and devote some funds to balancing your long term budget. I've thus taken the liberty rounding your order to the nearest allocation that will produce an effect, because in some cases spending 3 or 6 or 10 points here or there won't really do anything (it technically does, but it's not worth it to deal with obscure fractions)

[Sheep]

Hey foolish sign me up for a average nation, just pick one where I can cause the most havoc.

Thanks

Sheep

[foolish_icarus]

Sure thing, you'll be the Granicus Holy Public Commonwealth.

[General Ludd]

So, how many more turns is it before the cargo ship comes and goes?

[foolish_icarus]

You can try to retrieve it in 2 turns, 3 turns from now will be your last chance.