Isis Rakael News

(Once again, though English is my primary language and indeed the only language I speak, I make no claims that I'm any good at it. Please forgive grammar issues, typoes, missing words, and atrocious punctuation. Thank you.)

On September 4, 2010, political freedoms were granted back to the citizens of the Isis Rakael, ending a 472-year dictatorship that began at the time of the Union of the Five Cities.

After decades of heated debates, public outcries and demonstrations that frequently ended in violent clashes between citizens and the Rakaelian Military, talks concluded peacefully today in the capital city of Rin as the IRSC (Isis Rakael Security Council) and President Glin Aeducan officially signed into law a governmental shift of power, granting democratic powers to the citizens of IR.

Due to the enormity of this monumental occasion and the time and logistics required to make this, President Aeducan has taken the first visible step in distributing national power by appointing governors in each of the five major cities of Isis Rakael. These governors, though appointed, will serve a 2 year term until proper democratic voting policies can be established. Within 2 years time, elections, dictated by the public, will take place. Candidates will no longer be appointed by the government. Citizens of Isis Rakael may seek to run for office, provided they do not have a criminal background and in possession of proper identification and papers proving their Rakaelian citizenry.

The nation, in 2 years time, will be split in 5 states, with each state free to run their own affairs, provided they stay in accordance will Rakaelian Federal Law. These states will be run by a governor, elected by the peole. Governors will report to the IRSC and the President of the Isis Rakael. In accordance to this change, the official name of Isis Rakael has been changed from "Tiberiam Empire" to the Democratic States.

Understanding that change must occur, President Aeducan has announced that in 4 years time, after ample time to implement the new governmental changes and to make necessary changes (at the will of the people), he will resign as President and Commander of Isis Rakael and the Rakaelian Military and the first democratic election of a new president will take place. The IRSC will not be disbanded, but will continue to serve as advisors to the President and the newly appointed position of Vice-President. At four years time, the number of seats on the IRSC will be increased to allow for a stronger voice of the people. These seats will also be open for public candidacy, though (as with the positions of President and Vice-President) restrictions on who will be able to run will be put in place.

In a show of good faith to the member nations of Tiberiam, President Aeducan has opened the borders of Isis Rakael for the first time in nearly two centuries. Any and all citizens of foreign nations must be in possession of proper identification and official Tiberiam passports. They must also abide by the current rules and regulations set forth by the IRSC and the Rakaelian Military. Drug trafficking is illegal and punishable by death. Approaching nucearly power plants or military installations is illegal and punishable by death. Travel anywhere else within the nation is permitted.

In another show of good faith, President Aeducan is prepared to discuss and open trade routes with any member nation of Tiberiam.

(Subject to the approval of the members of Tiberiam.)

Isis Rakael's Expansion To Plot 17

Looking west to unclaimed lands, the Isis Rakael Security Council met with the Governors of the Five Cities to discuss the potential to claim a new supply of untapped resources. Due to the size of the naton and the resources required to keep it operational, it was decided that the annexation of what is currently Plot 17 was not only profitable to the nation and to its people, but also necessary. In September of 2010, Isis Rakael moved military forces west into Plot 17 to secure these unclaimed lands in the name of Isis Rakael.

EEE applauds the increased freedom of Isis Rakael's people.

The IRSC issued a public address today, informing the public that the borders of Isis Rakael would be temporarily closed to foreign nations, excluding NX401 and Serilaq. When prompted for information, officials would only say that it was for security reasons.

Causing further concern amongst the population was the activation of just over 7 million members of the Rakaelian military reserves. Orders were issued to several dozen armored brigades to begin mobilizing along the eastern border of Isis Rakael, while orders for the Army are expected to come by the end of the week. An increased number of IRAF fighter jets have been spotted flying over the city of Durmar.

The entire 6th Naval Fleet (currently under the command of Admiral Erik Overgaard) has also been recalled to Durmar, though officials stated it was for routine inspection and maintainence.

Edo Edi Essum stands ready to assist Isis Rakael, if any help is desired.

The IRSC has deactivated the 7 million Rakaelian reserve members that were called earlier in the week, citing that it was merely a drill to observe how quickly they could mobilize and be prepared to ship out should the need to rise. An anonymous source reported that the IRSC was pleased and may conduct a similar test for the rest of the reserve force, but gave no time table for when this was slated to occur.

When asked about the recall of the IRN 6th Fleet to Durmar, it was confirmed that the fleet was in for routine inspection and maintainence and there was no cause for concern. IRAF aircract previously seen flying over the city are providing security for the fleet.

Prompted by increasing tensions between Isis Rakael and Rasvidi, IRSC chairwoman Admiral Jana Sokolic has ordered the IRN 6th Fleet to move into defensive positions along the eastern coast of the nation and has called for the IRN 4th Fleet, currently performing military exercises in the northeast, to cease operations and remain on standby. General Milan Reitz, the IRSC commander of the IR Air Force, has ordered fighter wings from Alon to head east to the port city of Durmar. No orders have yet been issued to the Army or reserve units for any military branch.

Causing concern to citizens in the city of Kiral, is the increased security around military installations that claim nearly 10% of the city. Kiral has long been suspected by the people to be the home of the IRNEC (Isis Rakael Nuclear Engineer Corp), though no government official has confirmed this report.

In response to the military readiness of Isis Rakael, Rasvidi has ordered all borders closed until further notice, and has scrambled several squadrons of bombers and fighter craft. Tank battalions have been deployed to the NX401 border in preparation, with detachments in Novosibirsk for the possibility of an invasion from Serilaq. The entire military has been activated and mobilized, and a large naval procession has been dispatched to the oil rig. Several million reserve personnel have also been activated for support roles and as first line defense/attack to weaken enemy forces for more experienced troops.

The RPN 29th Fleet has been assigned to the oil rig and placed on standby. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, tanks and thousands of aircraft have been activated and placed on high alert across the region. Important leaders and politicians have been escorted to undisclosed locations for their safety, where they continue to monitor the situation and command the nation. Long-Range Ballistics Missiles armed with a variety of warheads, including a select few with nuclear capabilities, have been armed and are currently aimed at a variety of targets across Tiberiam. The vast majority of these missiles contain conventional warheads, and a significant portion boast either chemical or biological warheads. Those that are stationed on mobile platforms have been moved out of the cities, while the areas around missile silos located near residential zones have been evacuated. The emergency broadcast has been activated for the entire nation, and is currently playing instructions to civilians on what to do in the event of a nuclear exchange and how civilians may sabotage or destroy occupying forces.

Air raid drills have commenced in the larger cities while council leaders in smaller townships brief residents on the situation in local city halls.

Rasvidi has taken the stance that it will not strike first, at least not until it has the formal support of Gracealona. Rasvidi contends that these measures are purely for defense purposes.

To: Chairman Venedikt N. Pralnikov
From: President Andy Carlton

Dear Friend,
I would like to express to you the conditions of supplying support to you in this conflict. As outlined in the treatie between our two nations, we are obligated to provide defensive support should another nation attack you (Isis Rakael in the case). However, we are not obligated to provide support for an offensive operation. In this conflict Gracealonian forces will support your forces only in the case of an attack against you by Isis Rakael and even then will only carry out attacks neccasary to halt the offesive forces. We will under no condition assist in offensive operations or attack any Isis forces or targets not directly involved in attacking Rasvidian or Gracealonian forces.
Sincerly,
President Andy Carlton
President of the United States of Gracealona

"Early this evening, President Glin Aeducan made a rare public address, acknowledging the mobilization of military personnel for a potential conflict with the nation of Rasvidi and the closing of national borders. While still unclear as to the true reasoning behind the increased military readiness, the President made it clear that it was in defense of public interests that were being threatened by the government of Rasvidi. While the President stated that no military action would be taken for at least 72 hours, he did confirm a casus belli was in the works to be confirmed by the members of the IRSC. He has asked the citizens of the naiton to begin volunteering for any and all war-related organizations, such as mass-production and care packaging for troops..."


"...The IRN confirmed the 4th and 6th IR Naval Fleets have been ordered to reinforce the eastern borders of Isis Rakael and asked the civilian populations on the east coast, including the cities of Cosic and Durmar, to begin to evacuate and move further inland to minimize potential civilian casualties."


"Orders have finally been issued to the Rakaelian Army and the IRSC has confirmed the activation of the bulk of the Rakaelian Reserves, numbering over 12 million units. A portion of the active personnel are traveling south through NX401 to reinforce their borders against a possible invasion by Rasvidi while the Reserve has been stationed along the eastern coast. While the number of units currently on the move is unclear, anonymous reports from the field have confirmed at least 270,000 armored units and nearly 4 million troops travelling south. These units are currently under the direct command of IRSC chairman General Jiri Iroh."


"....making only the second appearance since his induction into the IRSC, General Tore Nilsson, the commander of the Isis Rakael Nuclear Engineer Corp, has issued a recorded statement to the nation of Rasvidi and her ally, urging them to consider carefully the consequences of an international conflict with Isis Rakael.

Quote :

"To President Pralnikov and the members of the Rasvidian government, we stand at the brink of war; a conflict that will claim the lives of countless millions of men and women. I urge you to consider your options carefully. You have the chance to leave this situation peacefully. Take it. The military of Isis Rakael is ready, willing, and able to defend itself, its allies, and its interests against any and all who threaten it. I issue this statement personally to assure you that any invasion of NX401 territory and/or any attack on Isis Rakael soil or her military, will be met with nuclear response.

To the government of Gracealona, no action will be taken against your nation until the moment you intervene in any way. Should you aid Rasvidi in any way, your nation will be declared an enemy of the state and will suffer the same consequence. Please consider your actions carefully. This is a situation that can be avoided.

This post was rendered null and void.

(OOC: This/These post(s) is basically just for the purpose of RPing things and keeping people happy and not necessarily to inform the world. Most news pieces are directed as statements to the rest of the world. Mine are not.)

President Iroh and the members of the Isis Rakael Security Council met this morning to discuss the establishment of a vast missile defense system that will eventually encircle the whole of Rakaelian territory. Though Isis Rakael has no national neighbors, the IRSC feels it is only a matter of time before Hiborean nations begin exploring the uncharted south and start to colonize. A missile defense system of this magnitude has not been attempted before, but President Iroh has committed the necessary funds to complete the project. A joint endeavor involving both the Lindback Corporation and weapons development giant Subbach Innes, the construction of the MDS project will commence immediately. The yet unnamed mountain range on the western coast of Isis Rakael will be the site of the initial ground-breaking and will serve to reinforce the city of Rendir that currently acts as a military stronghold against a naval assault. The project, expected to take nearly a decade to complete, has been well-received by the general population of Isis Rakael.

---

The IRSA (Isis Rakael Space Administration) announced to Congress and the IRSC today that they have finished construction of the first of four satellites that, if launched successfully into orbit, will aid the IRSC and Rakaelian military in keeping an eye on the surrounding territory of Caspadius. The launch is expected to occur within the next few weeks after preliminary tests have been completed. This will be the first satellite launched fby the IRSA for a defensive purpose. Upon the successful launch of the first satellite, further launches are expected to occur over the next year (or longer) as construction and tests are completed.

The IRSA announced today the successful launch of the nation's first military satellite. The satellite, researched and developed by the IRSA with funding from the IRSC and equipped with the latest in Rakaelian communication and spying technology, will serve as an "eye-in-the-sky," watching the Rakaelian borders and mainland for signs of threats. This is the first of four satellites, with the 3 remaining set to be launched upon their construction and completion of preliminary testing.

The MDS project is underway, with great strides being made upon the western coast of the nation near the stronghold of Rendir. Though the cost of this massive endeavor, which will eventually encircle the entire nation, is astronomical, President Iroh has ensured the public that they will not feel any economic strain due to the project, though it remains to be seen at this time which sectors of Isis Rakael the funding will come from. The IRSC has officially stated that it will bear the brunt of the cost, but rumors and whispers have been circulating that the rest may come from the Law and Order budget, which is nearly equal to that of the IRSC's.

(There was recent talk about the game EndWar on the regional message board. That got me thinking. Are the "Rods from God" used by the American JSF in the game/books possible? Upon research and discussion, yes, it is, though certain international treaties prohibit their existence. But while they do not exist in that capacity, it IS possible and has been approved by Oscal.)

"ETA?" she asked.

"6 minutes," came the reply.

She didn't look to see who answered. Her attention was given instead to a visual scan of the room in which she stood. It was, as were most Rakaelian military installations, spotless. Still, though, it could be better. General Nathalie Eriksson began absent-mindedly trying to rub out a tiny scratch on the work station in front of her. Calm down," she thought to herself. She clasped her hands behind her back and began to pace the room. Everyone else was sitting still, attending to their duties in silence, save for a communications officer in the corner. His voice, she noted, was cool and calm, as if nothing out of the ordinary was about to occur. But there was. The President himself was about to come for a visit. Eriksson envied the man briefly, wishing for his calm.

She was the commander of the Isis Rakael Nuclear Engineer Corp (IRNEC), the most powerful branch of the Rakaelian military, though the least often called to duty. It was also the branch with the most controversy. After the North Sea Conflict in which the previous commander had, under direct order from ex-President Glin Aueducan, had fired a nuclear warhead that destroyed the Rasvidi city of Kazan, environmental groups began inciting the public to demand the abolishment of nuclear weapons and the dismantling of the IRNEC. The damage done to Kazan was devastating, but the environmental damage done was far more severe. Radiation would linger in the area for decades. Plant life would not grow. Life could not exist. Activists staged protests, some of them ending in violence. Joining the environmentalists were those who hated war and cried out for more diplomacy, berating the Rakaelian government for not doing more to prevent the conflict from occuring in the first place. The IRSC, before the establishment of the current government, did what it could to quell the uprisings, and though successful in stopping the protests, they couldn't silence the talk.

The establishment of the new Rakaelian government helped smooth things over, especially with the election of President Jiri Iroh, the former commander of the Rakaelian Army and member of the IRSC. Iroh had always been well-loved by the people because he was one of the best minds in Isis Rakael when it came to formulating war strategies, but he knew when to stop and he often sought for a peaceful resolution, though admittedly using the Rakaelian military as the Ace up his sleeve. His election distracted from the outcry against the IRNEC for a time, but as life returned to normal, so, too, did the talk of nuclear weapons. National polls regarding Kazan showed that over half of the Rakaelian population agreed that the destruction of the city was necessary, given the circumstances (the destruction of Durmar and Cosic), but a large portion of those disapproved of the method. It wasn't the deaths, per se, that bothered them, but the effects of the radiation. Protests began to sprout up again, but they were few and disorganized. President Iroh made a televised statement that the protests were heard and Congress would meet to discuss the issue, but few were appeased.

One of the first acts made by President Iroh after his election was to temporarily halt production of nuclear weapons and slash the IRNEC budget by nearly a fourth. It was the first cut in military spending in nearly a century and General Milan Reitz, the chairman of the IRSC, had spoken with President Iroh about it personally. Though General Eriksson did know what was said, she had heard rumors that the meeting was quite heated and ended with the President throwing Reitz out of his office. It was hoped by the IRSC that having Iroh as president would be beneficial, but it became clear from the beginning that Iroh would cater to the public far more than they cared to see.

The door to the control room in which General Eriksson stood suddenly swung open and Major General Anna Pahlberg entered in, followed by a small squad of black-armored soldiers and finally by President Iroh himself. Pahlberg was the Vice-Commander of the IRNEC and the youngest member of the IRSC. She was only 42, but brilliant and well suited for her role. She was short in stature and small of build, but held an air of superiority about her that made the most intimidating of people take a step back. Her skin was smooth and flawless, but slightly pale, contrasting sharply with her dark hair that was pulled back into a tight bun. Her dark-blue uniform was perfect and spotless, and adorned with an array of medals and ribbons that threatened to weigh her down.

"Mr. President," said Maj. Gen. Pahlberg. "General Eriksson."

Jiri Iroh offered a broad, friendly smile and strode to the general, offering his hand and emitting an air of confidence that belied his true dislike of social interactions. It was a necessary evil, though. Eriksson shook his hand.

"Mr. President, it is a true honor to have you here with us."

"My pleasure," said Iroh, but his smile faded into a slight frown. "I think we both know why I'm here, though, General. Times are tough. The voice of the people grows ever louder and I can't ignore them. I understand the importance of nuclear weapons, I truly do. We must maintain our arsenal for the sake of deterrence and safety, but... there is also a LOT of money being invested into the IRNEC that could be used elsewhere. Healthcare, education, welfare...." He trailed off, but she knew where he was going. "The point is, everyone is so concerned about the environment and global warming and saving the trees... that puts me under immense pressure to deal with the IRNEC. Its very existence threatens the environment. Every test you make destroys a little bit of the environment. This test MUST work."

None of it needed to be said. It was all well-known to both himself and to the top brass of the IRNEC. Perhaps he was trying to further stress the importance of the success of what he was about to see.

General Eriksson nodded and cleared her throat. The President's comment were rhetorical and needed no response, so she jumped right to the reason he was here.

"Mr. President, the Subbach RFG-01x, the first orbital kinetic weapon in existence." She motioned toward a huge display hanging on the wall to her left. Displayed on the screen was a view of the earth from orbit. It was instantly clear that he was looking through the high-powered lenses of the satellite they had just launched into space under the guise of a communications satellite. That's what they had told the public anyway. The display suddenly split in two, the left being the orbital view, the right now showing from long range a vast, flat plain.

"Target?" asked the President.

"Armored convoy."

Rolling into view on the right, a long line of armored vehicles, including several Rakaelian main battle tanks and several armored-personnel carriers (APCs), trudged southward. They were all unmanned, being controlled by operators in the command room.

"Where is this occuring?" the President prodded.

"About 120 miles inland on the western island. It's unhabitated. Not technically Rakaelian territory," Eriksson admitted. The President said nothing.

"Whenever you're ready, General."

Eriksson began issuing a string of orders to the people in the room and the camera view on the left side of the screen began to shift as the satellite began turning in response to the orders it received digitally. Now in view was the island to the west of Isis Rakael. From space, it looked beautiful, lush and green like Isis Rakael had once been (and still remained in some areas). There was talk of annexing it, but no move had ever been made to do so. In time, perhaps. For now, it served a far more sinister purpose.

The satellite stopped turning, now aimed directly at the island. On the left side of the display, the armored convoy continued on its way, oblivious to what awaited it.

"Satellite aligned. Target acquired."

Eriksson paused for a brief moment, glancing at the President, whose view was fixed on the display. She crossed her fingers. Ironically, the fate of the IRNEC relied on a test that was not founded on nuclear weaponry.

"Fire." she ordered.

The satellite shuddered and fired its payload, a 20-foot long tungsten rod, 1-foot in diameter. It was modified, equipped with a rocket and fins, its internal engine pouring every ounce of power into propelling the rod as quickly as possible. It streaked away, reaching nearly 35,000 feet per second before retro rockets fired to slow it down to prevent the rod from being incinerated upon re-entering the atmosphere. As the rod re-entered, the fire from the rockets and the white-hot glow of the heat-shielded nose cone caused Iroh to shield his eyes.

Eriksson watched the monitors around her. Time elapsed was nearing 50 seconds, but that was still well within her approval range. The rod struck wide of the convoy, but slammed into the ground with such earth-shattering force that the ground itself heaved up and outward, fire and smoke billowing up from the hundreds of fissures that were rent into the earth. The power of the impact obliterated the armored convoy, incinerating it and tearing it apart as if they were no more than paper models held together by glue. Within seconds, the entire convoy was destroyed and the shockwave of destruction continued to push outward, annihilating everything in its path.

The left-hand view of the satellite shifted slightly as thrusters fired to stabilize its orbit from the sudden loss of the weight of the rod. It righted itself and slipped back into its (seemingly) slow, peaceful orbit. The right-hand view showed death and destruction. All about the plain lay bits and pieces of charred armor remnants. Nothing remained intact. If there had been any people in the vicinity, there would have been nothing left.

"All of the destructive power of a small earth-penetrating nuclear bomb." Eriksson said, unable to keep the smile from her face. "Without the radiational fallout." She stressed the word heavily.

President Iroh was silent from a moment, taken back to the North Sea Conflict where he had witnessed the destruction of Kazan. After a while, he sighed and nodded.

"It won't be long until the international community realizes what we've done and comes to investigate. Questions will be asked. We possess an extraordinarily powerful weapon here. We do not interfere in Hiborea, but they have made no such claim about interference here. Hopefully they will understand the need. This is defensive. A deterrence. But good work, General. Good work. You have my blessing to continue with tests. We need to continue to develop this technology, but it looks promising. You have, for the moment, saved your budget."

He added the last bit with a bit of a smile, but with the silent stipulation that it would come under review again and the IRNEC would need to prove itself once more.

Wait for it... wait for it.... oh! EEE's complaining?! What a shocker!!! LOL!

(Note: This RP is NOT concluded. The cost, development, and maintenance of such a weapon is astronomical and will take long years before it is truly up and running. This was only a test. There might be other tests, but I currently only have one satellite capable of making this strike. I say this so people won't baaawwww and cry foul.)