REMIS VELISQUE

"Full Speed Ahead"
Vol. 1, No. 1 / February 28, 2001

HEADLINES:

• USA accuses Northern Europe of siding with "Communist Menace"
• Southern Europe petitions to join MADCAP Alliance
• New leadership in Associated States of America
• India formally annexes occupied Pakistan
• US Scientists ready to launch Earthquake-prediction satellite
• Orange Oligarchy extends hand of Peace to Brazilian leaders
• Two halves of America reconcile, sign non-aggression pact
• French/Brazilian terrorist ring uncovered in Alabama
• UIR accuses India of oppression of Muslim minority
• Russia signs peace treaty with United Islamic Republic

IN GAME TERMS:

• Turn 2 Orders will be due on before midnight on Sunday, December 5^th, 1999. Orders for this Build-and-Move turn should be sent to BOTH the General Moderator (njbax@win1.net)
• Thirteen of the Sixteen players sent in orders on time. If Black and Magenta go another turn without sending in orders, they will be expelled from the game.
• Rules Clarification of the Week, Part I: Suicide attacks by your units will usually not be allowed. As a last-ditch defense of your homeland, it will be allowed, but first strike attacks against nations that have never in all history bothered your people will not be allowed. Your soldiers, sailors, and pilots will always TRY to escape, not ram enemy units or blow themselves up with nukes.
• Rules Clarification of the Week, Part II: Satellites CAN be given new reconnaissance targets during Movement-only orders.
• Eerie Coincidence of the Week: In last week's newsletter, I wrote about street riots over trade tariffs in America. Over the last two days, there has been vicious fighting between Riot Police and demonstrators in Seattle over the conference of the World Trade Organization.
• No new players this turn, and no resignations. We still have players in 6 U.S. States (Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, North Carolina, California) and one foreign Country (Canada), although we lost our player in Korea. We're still an international game, but no longer an intercontinental game. We'll all miss you, Marcus. We do have 2 potential new players waiting in the wings, however, so if Black and Magenta go a third turn without sending in orders, they will be expelled from the game to make way for the new players.

NEWS IN DEPTH:

CRIMSON ACCUSED OF JOINING COMMUNIST SECRET ALLIANCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- NASA has just released a series of satellite photos that reveal that the Northern European Union, also known as the Crimson Commonwealth, while once the staunch ally of Americans, has now turned tail to join with the Communists of East Asia. Since their announcement last month that the Commonwealth would no longer view the United States (affectionately known as the Denim Democracy) as their allies, they have been spotted in the East China Sea, with a large portion of their Navy in joint training maneuvers with the Chinese (Jade) and Russian (Malachite) navies.

Composite Satellite image of Chinese and British fleets conducting joint maneuvers last month
(Russian fleet is too far north at this point to be seen in this picture)

In seeking an answer why the Crimson Commonwealth would turn from its traditional allies to the communist east, we turned to our political analyst, John Reedy. "It's all about Empire," says Reedy, "The Commonwealth is made up in large part of what was once the British Commonwealth, an empire that spanned the globe. The Crimson Commonwealth, controlled mostly by the German and English influences, is seeking to create a new world empire. We've known about the Chinese and Russian designs of conquest of other nations for years. The surprising thing is not that Crimson has joined with the other world powers that seek to create empires, but that the Crimson Communist alliance was discovered so soon."

"The next major change we'll see," continued Reedy, "is that Crimson, Malachite and Jade will all experience major internal upheavals, as nations that once were cutthroat enemies have now been discovered working side by side. It takes time for a population to adjust to such a change, and I feel that the release of this information so soon will make the job of pacifying the masses that much harder."

When a Remis Velisque reporter presented them with copies of the satellite photos, Crimson and Malachite diplomats had no comment. We also assume that Jade had no comment, but we can't be sure as they arrested the reporter and executed him in cold blood upon seeing the photos, claiming that he was a known spy.

A tragedy for sure. But which tragedy is greater: the murder of a simple reporter, or the transformation of a once peaceful ally that respected human rights into another cog in the communist machine, ready to run rampant over other nations?

ASSOCIATED STATES UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

ATLANTA, GEORGIA (CNN) - The Red republic has come under a new leadership and the man is very willing to accommodate all foreign business ventures. Willing to let bygones be bygones and tired of war. President Bill Hoffman has announced that he is willing "to listen to anyone with any ideas to better the world at any time". Although new to the game of politics he does come with a firm background in military and civilian affaires and seems to have the majority of his public opinion on his side. With some of his reform projects we might hope to see a bright future for the Americas.

PRESIDENT TRACY EXTENDS THE HAND OF DIPLOMACY

PARIS, FRANCE (MAW) -- President Tracy of the Southern European Union has been openly campaigning his wish for the Union to join MADCAP. "The advantages will be unending," he said in a press summit in Barcelona today. "With the inclusion of the Southern European Union, MADCAP would be an incomparable force in the world; a federation which would undoubtedly be the largest conglomerate power that history has ever known. Members of MADCAP, I implore you, please do us the honor and yourselves the privilege of including the reach and the wealth of the Southern European Union to your leagues." President Tracy also revealed that the SEU wishes to retract any statements it made that may have seemed provoking. President Tracy fervently reminded the public that "we would like to be a compassionate country; we just happen to be a militarily advanced one." He finished sarcastically, stating that "[Mankind] is capable of peace, despite what centuries of war have shown us."

BROWN PROMOTES SELF UNITY

NEW DELHI, INDIA (INS) - After years of fierce fighting and problems, India and Pakistan have been united at last in an union of good will and faith. The newly elected President, Harpreet Singh, came out in a speech this week, promising more democratic reform in the ideas that the two nations have striven for. The president continued by renouncing small fractions that have risen up in Pakistan as 'preventers of peace' and 'war mongers'. President Singh went on a seven day tour of Pakistan recently, promoting the order, peace, and power that the new era of the Brown Brahmins would give.

Indian tanks parade through Hyderabad, Occupied Pakistan

SPIES CAPTURED IN ALABAMA

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (CNN) - "A shock to the international community" said the President of the ASA. "All we search for is peace, not only for us but for the world." Four days ago five persons were captured in a sting operation that lasted only two weeks, public relations officials released yesterday. "We've spent a lot of time and money in our Counter-terrorism and counter-espionage section of the Red Defense Force and the department has done an amazing job, we are very proud of our men and women." responded the chief secretary of Internal Security. In investigating what seems to be a domestic rebel outfit, officers of the Internal Security of the ASA discovered foreign weapons being used by would be terrorists. Following a lead from an informant a crackdown on key individuals ended in five-hour standoff with the capture of four foreigners three from France and one from Brazil. A search of the premises where they were captured yielded handheld surface to air missiles, anti-tank rockets and included a mosaic of small arms. All weapons were products of government owned weapon factories in France. The Department of Internal Security (DIS) was reluctant to answer questions pertaining if the captured men were spies aiding a pro-unification group in the ASA. Many sources confirm this belief but no official word has been released on the intentions of these men

EARTHQUAKE PREDICTION SATELLITE READY TO LAUNCH

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA (AP) -- The first SkyPattern Satellite has finished construction and is being fitted at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The launch of this satellite is currently scheduled for February 26, 2001, at 0900 hours, according to Denim military sources. The satellite, affectionately named "Mr. Magoo" because of it's two very prominent lenses and bulbous transmission antenna, is designed to observe and record weather changes around fault lines and use these changes to predict coming earthquakes. Scientists believe that this could lead to a foolproof system for earthquake prediction within 2 years if this project is successful.

SULTAN DENOUNCES RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION OF PAKISTANI "PRISONERS"

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (UIR) - Sultan Kurtis Kharnei of the UIR delivered a vitriolic address to the World Trade Organization yesterday, in which he denounced the Indian Republic for "crimes against humanity." "For nearly two years, the India has maintained a program of systematic repression of the native Pakistani people. The labor camps, forced relocation, and confiscation of property regularly practiced on small Muslim towns is a pure example of religious persecution for political gain. The world must take notice of this tragedy, and act!"

Pakistan, originally an independent country with religious and cultural ties to the UIR, was captured by India during the wars of 1999, following nuclear attacks on it's three major cities. The Islamic population, while still a majority, currently has no representation in the Indian government. Sultan Kharnei is calling for trade sanctions against India until such time as humanitarian reforms are instituted, and the people of Pakistan are free to practice their chosen Religion without fear of persecution.

DENIM AND RED SIGN NON-AGGRESSION PACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) -- Since the cease-fire, tensions between the United States (Denim) and the Associated States (Red) have run high. Today, however, all that has changed. President Bill Hoffman of the ASA and President David Carney of the USA have put their signatures to a joint Non-Aggression Pact (NAP). For the first time ever, President Hoffman and President Carney were seen shaking hands after the NAP had been signed by both.

"We are a country interested in peace," said President Hoffman. "Peaceful relations with our next door neighbors will let us both prosper in these difficult times." President Carney said, "The United States has always been a nation dedicated to bringing about peace. We will always be interested in maintaining the peace. When we recognized the sovereignty of the Associated States, we committed to a course of action. [Signing the NAP] was the next logical step."

"We are both American nations." continued President Carney. "We have families that cross our borders. We have a shared heritage. We have more in common than any other country in the world. I think that with that in mind, peace between our two nations is inevitable." After the signing, President Carney urged fellow MADCAP nations to sign a NAP with the Red Republic as well.

AGENTS IN THE ASA?

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA (CNN) - "We are applaud by the intentions of these men and their country, how can another civilized nation conduct themselves like this?" stated the President today, in an interview about the French and Brazilian men captured a few days ago. "The French and Brazilian governments have been asked to answer these allegations of spying but no response had come out of their offices." A media spokesperson replied to today's reports on the question of actions our government has taken. "We have enforced our presence in the Caribbean Sea by adding a Carrier Group to try to stop the flow of drugs into our country since this investigation as well as inspecting ships arriving from Europe". The government released the information today about the spies after military documents were found inside the house where the men resided. It has not been released what these documents were but wide rumors speculate of an attempted assassination on US (Denim) officials when they arrive to sign a Non- Aggression Pact later in the month.

Police across the street from the Terrorists' suspected hideout

Trial dates have been set for the men accused of spying but yet again there has been no word from France or Germany. The word on the street is quite clear that any punishment less than death will be a gift to the Foreign Agents. One woman says "our nation tires so hard for peace, even trying to mend old deep wounds with our neighbors to the North, but it seems that there is always somebody trying to make war. Has not the world suffered enough? Thank God that our President has a square head on his shoulders and has not acted in a rash way."

ORANGE OLIGARCHY SEEKS PEACE

PANAMA, PANAMA CITY (OSS) - El Presidente Felix Cortez of the Orange Oligarchy made a public statement yesterday regarding the recent uprisings in Green. "I do not want there to be any hostilities between our two countries. If our two countries come to blows it will be devastating for all peoples of South America. I am saddened by the riots that took place in Brazil last month demanding war with my country. Our people want peace. It seems that their people are only interested in war."

According to Orange Oligarchy government officials the current regime ruling Green have not demonstrated any interest in finding possible solutions to this crisis. "The Green government has not replied to our messages. Normally lack of communication denotes invasion." stated one high ranking Orange Oligarchy Colonel. "I am shocked that the Green Guerrillas would conspire to defile our lands."

PEACE IN THE NORTH!

ATLANTA, GEORGIA (CNN) - Great news for all citizens, the treaty that a nation has desired for so long has arrived! The nations of Denim and Red have signed a Non- Aggression Pact and will institute it right away. There will be a gradual removal of soldiers from either side of the border but as both sides agree nothing will happen very quickly. "This is not something to be rushed" says General Reid of the 1st Division. "There is still some tension on either side but I agree that this move will aid in easing those tensions. There will be a gradual reduction forces nothing dramatic at first but a slow and steady rate. Hopefully by Thanksgiving we can see a reasonably free access border."

There is wide spread joy throughout the nation that has been plagued by a spy scandal by France and Brazil. "It seems to have changed everyone train of thought from a very bleak future of war to a promise of peace, something generations have longed for in so many years of war." says one man waiting for the bus in Texas.

More peaceful news today yet another NAP agreement was signed when La Republica Democratica de la Argentina signed on with the Associated States of America. "The world is becoming a better place." says an aspiring artist from Arizona. "With all the bad news with France and Brazil, it's nice to get some good news. Maybe if the Brazilian government would sort out their heads then maybe the entire North and South American continents could live in harmony and set the example for the world!" Troops from each border will start moving out of their positions but like the NAP with the US it will take time before free travel is allowed through any border region. "It'll take time for both sides to reassure themselves that they will not plummet each other's nation into an unwanted war" says an academic student in Houston. All hope that these two agreements the one in the north and the one in the south will hold and bring further agreements on disarming the entire regions.

UIR, RUSSIA SIGN NON-AGRESSION PACT

T'BILISI, GEORGIA (UIR) - The United Islamic Republic and the Revived Romanov Empire signed a formal Non-Aggression Pact here today. The "Caucasus Arms Reduction Treaty" (CART) provides for the mutual disarmament of the Malachite/Silver border, as well as a public agreement to cease all hostilities and refrain from any future military conflict. Sultan Kurtis Kharnei of the UIR proclaimed this treaty as "The first step on the long road to a world at peace. Through diplomacy and enlightened self-interest, we have looked beyond the hatreds of yesterday to see the prosperity of a peaceful tomorrow. I hope the world is watching."

Czar Mikhail I was concise but optimistic, saying "I hope to see peace in the future." The signing ceremony was underscored by the cheers of over 20,000 UIR troops, the first stage of the military withdrawal. According to UIR minister of information Colonel Samir Al'akbah, 10 divisions of troops and over 300 planes will be retired from the border.

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The Remis Velisque is published in Calais, France, by MegaDodo Productions, a division of Exedra Enterprises. Donations for the family of the correspondent slain in China will be accepted at Corporate Headquarters in Geneva, make checks payable to "Chairman's Retirement Fund". All Rights Reserved, ©Copyright 1999 by Martin A. Hohner.