2044-2045

[Panopticon (OP)]

[ooc]late update, and shorter than I intended. I had run into some computer issues, now resolved (basically I shouldn't play this as well as do video editing in the background)[/ooc]

The year begins with war, well February begins with it anyway, using a pair of Mobile Infantry battalions on loan from New Canada to augment her forces, the NZDL moves troops into California to smash the grip of the warlords and seize it for her own. The hastily formed "Yahoo Coalition" put up a stiff fight, inflicting heavy damage to several of the attacking battalions, and a hidden ICBM silo opened fire on the NZDL home cities, killing over 6 million in the process, however it became clear that they had shot their bolt, and within 3 months resistance had collapsed, the leaders were put to death for crimes against humanity and the people of the area welcomed NZDL troops with open arms, judging them much less likely to enslave or randomly murder them, and for the most part they were proven correct.

The missiles raised the background radiation of the world very slightly, and the bombardment caused unrest in the citizens of the world, who feared a return to the all out war of the Invasion, however cooler heads prevailed and within months the radiation had declined once again.

As for the remaining factions, trade alliances were sworn in, and the world welcomed two new empires to the Trans-Newtonian era: Shadowveil, which occupies much of the territory previously controlled by Russia, and for a short while took over Inuks embassy at Chicxlub until the latter faction remembered they technically owned it, and the New Dutch Republic, composed of a loosely associated group of cities, islands, and merchants from around the world. They immediately join in the various discussions, the NDR forming their own alliance, and Shadowveil being generally strange at everybody.

Several ships were launched by multiple factions in an effort to begin exploitation of the ruins on Mars, though as yet no troop transports or Engineer Battalions are available. In the last part of November, Japan laid down a behemoth freighter weighing over 30000 tons, though its construction will take nearly 2 years.

[Vynadan]

At the begining of 2044 the media had much to talk about: The ISST was published and subsequently signed by many of the meaningful nations of Earth. Japanese newspapers would often feature articles about it on their cover, with a photo of Prime Minister Tanabe Seiko writing the first name and nation onto the treaty. Although the treaty had seen input from various nations and minds, Japanese articles would line out the important role of the Japanese Alliance in creating the drafts and leading the discussions. A just as common sight on TV and the newspapers was the Trade League; Its announcement had been almost identical in time with the ISST and the initial stance of the New Dutch Republic had made it appear as a direct opposition to the efforts of the Japanese Alliance and all signing nations of the ISST. Interviews with lawyers and lower-ranking politicians were often passing a harsh judgement on the Trade League and ridiculing the supposedly economic treaty as a defensive pact and vassalage of their junior members towards the founders. Especially the fact that junior members were prohibited from trading with non-member states and the articles which read like a guild guideline were mentioned over and over to destroy the image of an economic intend.

As the New Dutch Republic changed its stance due to the slip of their ambassador and the beginning of the war between the New Zion Defense League and the Yahoo Coalition with its use of nuclear missiles this topic disappeared surprisingly quick and completly from the public eye. Opinions on the war were divided; Just as many media publishings favoured the offensive for the civilian's freedom from the Californian warlods as others claimed the warlords to be a farce and the New Zion Defense League an imperialistic conquerer.

Late in 2044 politicians actually agreed on equalising the Yen and Won in worth by the year 2050. This was met by further protests in North Korea and one particular large protest in the former capitol of Pyongyang almost turned into a riot: Several policemen and a soldier were injured, two civilians shot and many injured. Following this outbreak curfews were put into place and the military presence in the area doubled. Yet, (South) Korean politicans promised to put a special currency equalisation tax on North Korean citizens come 2050.

Lastly, at the start of december Japanese Alliance officials denied the rumours of a new ship being constructed in the orbital yards, claiming that additional slipways were the cause of increased ressource flows. "The survey ship Haruna will remain the only starship of the Japanese Alliance for the time being" was said by a government spokesperson.