Paraechoes Diplomatic Relationships

Template:Diplomatics Quantum

## Description

The vertical factions (left) are the factions in question. The horizontal factions (logos only) are the faction they have the relationship to.

For example:

* The Empire is at peace with the Allied Nations.
* The Chinese are at war with the Syndicate (In fact, almost everyone).

Relationships do not *have* to be uniform, albeit at this time most are. It is be perfectly reasonable for things like the following:

* The Talon are neutral to the Chinese, while the Chinese are hostile to the Talon.
* The Protectorate are hostile to everyone else, but everyone else has an unknown relationship with the Protectorate.

Those examples are a little exaggerated, but you get the point. If you change a relationship here, make sure to also change it on the corresponding page, and vice-versa.

## Relationship Types

###  Alliance

The two factions regard each other as allies, exchange values and culture, are friendly to each other and consider merging their armies, or at least always fight together. This state is symbolized by the colour blue and a hand-shake. Currently, the best examples are between the Allies and their allied factions (Blue China, India, the Unionists, the Pahits, the Arabian Coalition,the Reservists, South Korea, the IPDI, and the ARVN), and the Soviet Union and their's (Red China, the MIR, the Arabian Socialist Government, North Korea, the Cybernetic Federation, and the Vietcong). There may one day be a chance for alliances between major factions, however...

###  Peace

The two factions work strongly together, exchange values and culture, are friendly to each other and do not attack each other. They often fight together or at least for the same goals. This state is symbolized by the colour green and a dove. A good example are the Allies and the Empire.

###  Friendly

The two factions work together, have trade relations and diplomatic agreements, and do not attack each other. They rarely if all fight together, though may collaborate in other areas or exchange knowledge with one another. This state is symbolized by the colour chartreuse and a stupid bird, and is the counterpart to Hostile. A good example are the Combine, League and Confederates, who all support and trade with each other yet do not directly intervene in each other's wars. It is represented by the thumbs up.

###  Neutral

The two factions do not work together, nor against each other, and do not attack each other either. They keep out of the other's business. This state is symbolized by the colour yellow and a libra. The best example are the Talon, who observe the other factions but do not attack them (at least not often and not in an obvious way).

###  Hostile

The two factions mistrust each other and are in a state of crisis towards each other. Spy games are a daily matter and either faction has the finger on the button to start a war. This state is symbolized by the colour orange and barbed wire or machine guns pointed at each other. The best example are the Protectorate, who are in state of hostility towards all other factions.

###  War

Full-scale war between the factions. Men and material are used to eradicate the enemy by all means and forces are getting mobilized for attacks. The risk of one or the other side to launch a WMD are high as well. This state is symbolized by the colour red and clashing swords. The best example are the Atomic Chinese, being at war with seven other factions at the same time.

###  Antithesis

The rarest of alignments, Antithesis means that the factions have gone beyond simple war and are so utterly consumed by mutual hatred that they seek nothing less than the complete annihilation of the other side down to the last remaining civilian. In ye olden days, Rome's relationship with Carthage devolved into this. These days, only the Cult and Order and Red and Blue China hate each other to such an extent. It is represented by the radiation warning symbol. It opposes Alliance.

###  Mixed

The two factions are too connected or active with each other to be neutral, but have contradictory or scattered relationships: sometimes they cooperate with each other and other times they antagonize each other. They may fight temporarily alongside or against each other, but usually never long enough to solidify into Friendliness or Hostility. This state is symbolized by the colour purple and a flipflopped question mark. The best example are the Syndicate, who are willing to work for or fight against almost every faction so long as the money is good.

###  Unknown

The relationship between the factions is unknown or non existent, likely because one faction has little to no intelligence about the other. This state is symbolized by the colour grey and a question mark. The Electrical Protectorate, who are unknown to everyone else, are the best example.

### N/A - Not available

The relationship a faction would have to itself, which is not possible, but has to be defined in a table system nontheless. Uses white and the letters **N/A** as designation.

# An Insider's Look

## Vanilla Opinions

### Allied Nations

*Major Lydia Winters graciously responded to a request for an interview, and offers an unofficial perspective of the Allied Nations' stance on various world powers.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "The Atlantean people have much to offer the world, to assist us in our endeavors to improve the living conditions of humanity. Their means of construction could give all people affordable and safe homes, their kelp as a staple food could remove world hunger forever, their unusual sources of energy can even render fossil fuels obsolete! And yet, we regret that their morality is still incredibly out of touch with the majority of the world. Does the ruling class of Atlantis accept that the world has changed? Can we even convince them so? Or will they simply sweep us aside in the name of their gods like what they did to South Vietnam? Regardless, I have faith that the Ascendant has even the smallest bit of altruism in her heart; maybe we only need to stroke it further."

**Unification Concordiat:** "The Y Files have reported something strange going on in the Arctic, soldiers in unfamiliar black and white uniforms stalking around in the cold, lonely fringes of Iceland and Greenland. But my question about these soldiers is the same with every unusual activity in the world: what do they want? Are they interested in bettering the world, or bringing it to ruin? If so, what wonders do they have in their disposal to do either? You'll have to excuse us if I file this in the same place I do the robots and aliens."

**Norse Fylkirate:** "The Scandinavian nations are all loyal and incredible members of the Allies. They are some of our best Reservists and peacekeepers, to say nothing of those who choose to work in Geneva as civil employees. I've heard about everything under the sun, and yet nothing insults my intelligence more than claims that they are launching raids against with some secret Viking-inspired task force. We have strange reports of unidentified ships launching attacks randomly, but we've never found one of them. Personally, I'd say it's the work of the Corsairs."

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** "The IPDI, I believe, is both a boon and a bane. It's a boon in its staunch support of our operations on Vietnam and China, but also a bane in its loose-cannon nature, disregard for collateral damage, and free usage of banned weaponry. We consider them an important part of our strategy in southern Asia, and their self-sufficiency in munitions development is appreciated, but I think we should rein them in more. Also, it's my personal opinion, but, I don't think being landlocked in an area full of enemies in all sides is a plausible reason to flout international laws. Given China's doom, I've come to the conclusion that there's only one way to win the game of mutually-assured destruction: not to play it."

**Pangaean Generation:**

**Reactionary Guard:** "It's not surprising that plenty of people still live in a past of tsars and other dead kingdoms. I have no issue with the concept of monarchy itself; some of our helpful members in fact have hereditary monarchs as heads of state. What I do have issue with is their insistence that it is the only legitimate form of government and that we should reinstate old thrones and even old empires. Have they not even learned from Bastille, after a king decided that the dignity of his subjects are an afterthought to his own personal gain? While I am of the opinion that beliefs like that should stay on the past, I see no reason why we should not allow them to operate.

**Enlightened Conclave:** "Tibet is a nation of survivors. It would seem that the Dalai Lama has not only lead much of his people to survive the Chinese firestorm, but thrive. While Tibet regretfully remains a theocracy, I'm always glad to see that someone has survived China's wrath. What does concern me, however, is rumors that their forces have become something remarkably unconventional, capable of appearing far away from Tibet's borders without anyone seeing them in transit."

**Kumun Hegemony:** "It's as if I'm having to consult the Y Files a lot today. Yes, we do have reports of other nonhuman actors on the world stage, this time, coming from beneath the Earth. We cannot really make many guesses regarding their motives or origins as of yet. There's a large number of theories floating around, but there's nothing concrete. I do have to wonder why they're here; if they really are coming from beneath the Earth, that would imply that they've been around for a long time. That begs the question, why start to act now? Still, currently we have much greater concerns such as the chaos in the world today."

**Korean People's Army:** "North Korea, they're too quiet for my comfort. Yes, there is a border conflict with South Korea, and the reports of their sending commandos north into China have been confirmed, but we don't know anymore about their goals than we do about what happens in the Rome MegaSprawl."

**EoK Penal Divisions:** "Yes, the Empire of Korea is using penal units, but I must say that considering their situation, things could be far worse. While South Korea could increase their draft, take civilian criminals and put them on the front, or even launch a raid past the DMZ, they have only fought with their penal units to either defend the DMZ, or aid Allied operations the region. Perhaps this could be the best way to reform these military criminals? I suppose we must wait to see what happens next."

**Darkwater Industries:** "War continues to be a profitable business in spite of our efforts at peacekeeping. But I'm not surprised anymore; as long as the human desire to kill each other exists, some men and women will continue to make money off of it. However, Darkwater is a highly professional and ethical force that has been useful in peacekeeping, anti-piracy, and other operations around the world. I must admit to some curiosity as to where they developed their high-end technology, however. "

**Dread Corsairs:** "Piracy is a problem for the entire world, and corsairs equipped with heavy armaments have heralded a return to its Golden Age. While we're used to small boats, we're dealing with destroyers now. Far from small pirate skiffs, we're seeing pirate fleets. While no one was willing to join back then, more poor and desperate sailors raid and pillage for the pirates. But make no mistake, the Allied Nations has no tolerance for piracy and is working around the clock to return it to extinction - by striking at the reasons causing pirates to be pirates in the first place."

**Balkan SFR's:** "I... can't even get myself to be angry at those who regularly commit atrocities in the Balkans. Instead, all I feel is sympathy for not only the innocents caught in the crossfire, but for the responsible as well, influenced by absolutely some of the most vile propaganda I have ever seen. There are ways to enact change in the Balkans, and I believe singing barely-coherent screeds glorifying mass cleansings isn't one of them. If the situation there ends up in a certain point, it will entail our stronger intervention."

**Katipunan:** "I'm really sorry for the people of the Philippines, as trading colonial hands have engendered a great deal of bitterness among the people. However, one has to understand that concessions had to be made to bring an end to the war in the Pacific. Had a different sequence of events happened instead, it would no longer be occupied as it is today. Still, perhaps we can appeal the ruling Imperial government to tighten their grip less on the Filipino people, but still this does not mean they must open up their hearts and minds to Soviets, coming from unnerving reports we hear over there."

**Forgotten Flotilla:** "I'm aware that the rumors coming from Space Patrol may have more than an element of truth behind them, but I honestly don't know how people expect us to deal with them. Muldrake's people have consistently demonstrated their inability to be trusted with space travel, so the Y Files has no concrete evidence to suggest that these 'space ghosts' are anything more than chance accidents. The rumors of Combine symbols can't be confirmed, because the United Technate has systematically denied any claims of being involved in space past their satellite experiments. Does the Space Patrol really expect us to simply tell the public about their pilots having - unsubstantiated, may I remind you - encounters with 'space ghosts'? Do they understand just how negatively that would impact faith in the Patrol's competence, faith that is sorely needed if we are to ever progress with man's advancement into the solar system?"

**Iron Fangs:** "The initial phase of decolonization certainly could have been handled better. But when those African states have started to be somewhat stable, these dictators have decided that they'd rather be part of the problem rather than of the solution. What they represent is a coalition of tinpot despots that prospered when decolonization started, promoting continuing instability in sub-Saharan Africa for their own gain. By the way, our international courts have war crimes charges set up and prepared once we bring their figureheads to justice."

### Confederate Revolutionaries

*The following are excerpts from the interrogation of Confederate minuteman William Hild, deceived by an Imperial psychic into believing he was speaking to a fellow minuteman.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "Prissy, pompous [CENSORED], to be sure. A fictional land didn't affect us back in the day, and now that Atlantis is real, I still don't see how we'd be affected. By the way, would you believe that me and my missus had to convince the kids that just because elves are a thing now, that doesn't mean Santa Claus is as well? The only thing I wish to still remain real is how they don't care much to assist the europerialists or Ivans in the war. Or how they won't [CENSORED] us up like they [CENSORED] up South Vietnam!"

**Unification Concordiat:**

**Norse Fylkirate:** "I know some guys operating out of Minnesota, say they have folks willing to help us from inside Europe, guaranteed to help us draw away from the blue [CENSORED]. They say they have everything from a big-[CENSORED] navy to a bunch of stuff that can give us more time. Now, I haven't gotten any names yet, but what I do know is that apparently they speak Norse or something; my Norwegian buddy says he could kinda understand what one was saying when he saw them. 'Course, Isak was drunk as [CENSORED], so who knows what he saw."

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:**

**Pangaean Generation:** "Sunray Higgins gave put a good word with you for the Pangaeans, huh? "

**Reactionary Guard:** "The answer to 1607? [CENSORED] 1776! This ought to be repeated to those snobbish [CENSORED] in Idaho, that President Ackerman's birthplace is not some [CENSORED] monarchy to boss Americans around! No way in hell am I gonna forget how they killed my buddies back in Tokyo - nor how they made hell for the europeralists there. The last time a king tried to [CENSORED] us over, we've made his world down! Down, as in down to the ground! [CENSORED], we're in a loss for words for what are we supposed to do with their playground."

**BUAC:** "

**Korean People's Army:** "Here's what I know about North Korea, it's a bunch of [CENSORED] commies. Only problem is, they're the only commies on the Chinese border that're making moves. They're planning something, I hear they have the biggest [CENSORED] army on Earth. Hell, how do we know they aren't planning on invading the Midwest? Or the Rocky [CENSORED] Mountains?! You've seen them scale mountains like stairs, right?"

**EoK Penal Division:** "I feel sorry for South Korea. I mean, everyone thinks they can just be kicked around and nothing'll come of it. But from what I hear, the South Koreans are growing some [CENSORED] teeth. They're frightening the [CENSORED] *Viet Cong* so bad, they're willing to surrender just to get away. So what are the Allies doing to help? Telling them to get rid of their penal troops, the only thing that makes them [CENSORED] good at all!"

### Soviet Union

*The following is a transcript of the Soviet press interviewing General Viktor Zubarov concerning the state's position on its numerous enemies.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "If the Combine strains heavily from the sheer weight of contradictions it carries above its shoulders, Atlantis has already been entombed under its own contradictions. Where can you see cities full of magnificent weaponry and energy systems, but without even the simplest of combustion engines? Where religion still intrudes their way of life while their ideas on gender are sexuality are hugely progressive? The force of these contradictions will eventually consign their society to the dustbin of history when they too experience the revolution. May it be soon, as I tire of listening to their envoys shriek at me over our priorities even though we already recognize that pollution is an issue of proleterian security."

**Unification Concordiat:** "We do not have enough evidence to confirm or deny the existence of 'chessboard uniformed men and women operating in the forgotten corners of the world'. Rest assured, the Red Army is doing everything it can to prevent possible infiltration of its borders. Also, we'd need to have a word with one of those chess men about entering us; surely they'd know that chess is still outlawed here until Davidova legalizes it."

**Norse Fylkirate:** "What goes for the 'chessmen', also goes for rumors of 'vikings'. I cannot say any Soviet policy on such things with any certainty, other than that we will not tolerate raids on either ourselves or on our allies regardless of wherever the source of these raids originates from, even if they were the Mongols or the Romans. Tell me, is the flow of time in this world really that warped that people are seeing ancient civilizations again?"

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** "What of them? With enemies surrounding them, they have few directions to turn to; they are ever a people under siege. If you want an example, comrade, if possible, they'd even shoot a Chinese refugee as if he was a forward scout! Yes, they cannot survive for long, and their attempts at stifling the freedom of the people of Indochina shall soon cease. In the mean time, they make for a good bulwark against the aggression of China."

**Pangaean Generation:**

**Reactionary Guard:** "Some find the Guard to be a joke; ridiculous people in ridiculous airships spouting ridiculous ideals. However, it is our position that they are a much more serious problem than many would think. Where else can you see a power that exemplifies classism and elitism? That celebrates regression instead of progression? And they go so far as to claim that Rasputin is leading them! So I shall state this again, the Soviet Union is a socialist republic and will remain one until the time comes that a true communist society without class or state may arise. If any of these reactionaries even go so far as to try and influence the people, we will do everything in our power to prevent their words from corrupting their hearts and minds."

**Enlightened Conclave:**

**Kumun Hegemony:** "Yes, we have heard the stories of mole men. But we are of the opinion that there is not enough information to state that they exist or not. I would worry more about unruly youths showing their privates to the cameras myself."

**Korean People's Army:** "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is a model socialist state. With an efficient industrial sector, an invincible army and a satisfied populace, I can say with certainty that Kim Il-Sung has succeeded in areas where Mao failed. We worried that they had been extinguished in China's death throes, but they have once again emerged and showed our fears to be unfounded. They deserve all the praise and help that they can get, and may this one day be the one and only Korea soon!"

**Dread Corsairs:** "What capitalists do in land, pirates do in water; robbing the common man of their hard-earned money to sate their greed. But unlike capitalists, pirates do this out of squalor and poverty. Thus, the Union works tirelessly to clear this menace to the fair trade of the fruits of labor from the seas and already our Red Navy has won many victories against them. We work to rehabilitate and offer a better life to the foot soldiers of this bandit gang, while we show their ringleaders the justice they deserve. Let it be known that we and the Comintern shall never tolerate those who prey on the weak!"

**Forgotten Flotilla:** "The Soviet Union has no reason to lie about its victories and failures in bringing the will of the people to the stars. Perhaps other groups do, but I am not liking the implications behind this question of 'lost cosmonauts'. Every cosmonaut serving the Motherland is accounted for, as are all materials and all rockets sent up. There have been no attacks from space of any sort against communist brethren, rockets, or drones. The Allies know the consequences should they perform a first strike attempt, the Chinese are too fragile to survive the power of our defense systems, and there are no other powers on Earth able to begin to approach the Union's orbital dominance. Enough of this line of questioning."

### Empire of the Rising Sun

*A Syndicate black bag team successfully breached Shinzo Nagami's personal residence and retrieved a number of interesting items, including a personal journal with the following.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "People from the depths of the sea who have not figured out simple things such as gunpowder have the audacity to call us uncivilized. It is ironic for us to be on the receiving end of perceptions of barbarism, as ever since their rise I continue to find the Atlanteans stranger and stranger. They might hold technological superiority in some fields, but that is the extent of their sciences. Yes, they resemble us in many ways, but I highly doubt they can pull of the same miracle we did. In the grand scheme of things, Atlantis shall rise only to one day be beneath the Rising Sun."

**Unification Concordiat:** "Marauders from another land are starting to become a theme that the gods must surely enjoy repeating, I think. The shinobi don't know yet what they truly want from us, but rest assured they have challenged us in combat. For a barbarian army, the psychics say these marauders are dead set in conquering us, having unleashed what I can say to be bizarre tools of war in the few reported encounters with them. Still, for me, they may be foreigners, but men nonetheless... men who will raise their arms in surrender akin to the fate of those who stand in the way our mandate."

**Norse Fylkirate:** "Now, is this not a pleasant surprise? The West's greatest group of warriors, coming to our lands. Barbarians they are, but they are barbarians who share much of our values. I believe we can learn much from one another; I can always respect a culture that still holds melee combat in high regard. And of course, when the time comes, I believe that they shall offer us worthy opponents just as they have in our skirmishes."

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** "They call it a defense pact, but I see it as Thailand's sad attempt at aping our success. No, that pact will never truly defend them, not when they needed rescue when we, in our nadir, turned upon India to open another front. And who are they to flaunt their 'advancements' when they simply reassembled most of those that already existed? I remember when we rightly boasted of our innovations in computing before that Syndicate forced themselves against us. The IPDI's 'innovations' might protect themselves for now, but not in the day in which we or the Atomic Chinese invade them again."

**Pangaean Generation:**

**Reactionary Guard:** "This 'Guard', I believe, has the correct position on how a nation must be led. Whether they be governed by kings, dictators, or what else he thinks is fit to command his subjects, a government ruled by civilians alone cannot stand the test of time and civilizational decay. For this purpose, his people have flocked to us in need of assistance. For once, these might be the only barbarians after our own heart - willing, eager to please their proper masters. Yes, Rasputin, soon there *will* be a ruler for every nation, creed and people - your ruler as well, in fact."

**Enlightened Conclave:** As a follower of Shinto and the teachings of great men such as the Buddha and Confucius, I find the Conclave's devotion to the ideals of Therevada Buddhism admirable despite all they have suffered.

**Kumun Hegemony:** "The world is finding ways to entertain the Empire, so it seems. First aliens, now 'mole people'? While we have never faced them yet, facing those conniving rats will just be like katanas slicing through fruits - the rats being the fruits, us being the katanas, of course."

**EoK Penal Divisions:** "The house of Joseon owes its existence to the rulers of Yamato and I believe that the people of South Korea should do well to remember that. Reaffirming the vows of fealty between our two houses was only the proper thing to do when we took the throne. Perhaps the time will come when Korea can be fully assimilated and considered properly Japanese. But for now, they must make sure that their divisions of thieves and whores are up to par with our own superior-trained sons."

**Darkwater Industries:**

**Dread Corsairs:** "To the West, piracy brings memories of bearded men in the Caribbean with eye-patches, peg-legs, and cutlasses. To us, piracy brings memory of the periods of strife before Tokugawa united the country and drove off bandits on the sea from the mainland. Like what my predecessors must have thought of pirates, I see these men as scum whose proper state is being scraped off the prow of a Shogun. Yes, their menace to our maritime business is undeniable, but I welcome the practice they offer the Imperial Navy. Their fleets offer real experience for our sailors, and they always seem to have more to be swatted down like flies."

**Balkan SFR's:** "I honestly wonder how this region where the worst of barbarians demonizing and decimate each other in never-ending strife is still considered as the heart of Western civilization. Regardless, the lands this rebellion operates in are primarily dominated by the Syndicate, and I believe that with a softer touch, our own salarymen can not only drive out our competitors, but ingratiate ourselves to the land. 'Ragusa' in the Balkans seem to be a good place to execute our plans, although we might protect ourselves from those rivals who the shinobi say are hellbent on regaining control."

**Katipunan:** "The fate of the Filipino is always to be dominated by someone; first by the Spanish, then the Americans, and now us. Such is the way of things, and they should have known it well enough for the past three centuries. Yet, why do they still fight off those who would shepherd them into the future? Their failures in even driving away their colonizers without significant support are living proof that they are incapable of governing themselves, but they still refuse our gifts we can offer? We, the divine wind, will never be withheld by such rabble only fighting with primitive knives and guns. When the last of that 'rebellion' has been eradicated, the Filipino will finally learn to bend his knee to his rightful masters!"

**Forgotten Flotilla:** "The salarymen at the orbital dockyards are acting up again. At this point, their claims of demons clad in space suits attacking workers and stealing materials are more tiring than anything else. These 'Forgotten', if they are indeed true at all and not just excuses made up to hide slacking off and shirking of duty to the Empire, are merely another form of barbarian. Perhaps they were sent by the Soviets. Perhaps they were sent by the corporations. The answer is irrelevant. If and when they appear, we shall not let them threaten the Empire's right to the stars."

**Iron Fangs:** "I doubt anyone was genuinely surprised when the 'decolonization' process went terribly wrong for Africa. Did anybody truly think that they can be trusted with their own independence from foreign masters? But in the great scheme of things, the Iron Fangs are little more than additional fuel to the fires of tumult. They are hardly a factor in our plans."

**International Aid Association:** "As it is tempting to simply ambush their volunteers and take their supplies, it leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouths, especially Emperor Kamina's. Perhaps sending them to the frontline while healing our troops to discourage our enemies from attacking?"

### Order of the Talon

*Lady Maria once met with one of the enigmatic Triumvirate who lead the Order and asked them of other powers. These are the answers she recalls, more words than any Triumvirate has ever spoken before or since.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "Are the people of Atlantis an idolatrous, polytheistic people? Yes. Does this concern us? No. The Atlanteans have found their way to God by perceiving him in many aspects just as the people of Asia have. We do not deal in accusations of heathenry or heresy, for they stand firm in their beliefs and do not cause further discord in its name. As a matter of fact, their ultimate goals are in concordance with ours, but they still are too short-sighted to see anything beyond JADE as the supreme enemy of all that is good. We will have to supply them heavy guidance in order to veer them back on the right path."

**Unification Concordiat:** "The dominion of Heaven is infinite, so it is of little surprise that there are infinite variations of creation floating about in the void. But alas, it is by subsequence that there are also infinite variations of hell. It makes sense that as the Concordiat was forged from hellfire, it devoted iteslf to the fetishization of strength, where corporate power was forged with that of the government. But in our variation of creation, world powers have held each other in contempt for hating freedom as they see it. We believe such insults are completely unwarranted. The Concordiat truly loathes freedom for the individual, seeing our world as a polar opposite to their own views. Beware them, for as the great enemy tempts sheep with false freedom, the absolutists seek to free mankind from freedom itself."

**Norse Fylkirate:** "Much like the Atlanteans, we do not truly concern ourselves with the paganism of the Norse Fylkirate. They have found their path to God just as we have found ours. It is regrettable that they have not welcomed Jesus the same way we do, but ultimately it presents little threat. Though they come from the same scarred world as the Concordiat, they have not taken to the same idea that strength and power all that matters. They still believe that man should live both freely and justly, rather than bend knee to one of absolute power. They raid like the Vikings of the prior millennium, yes, but they raid not for the glory of it, but because they must. Their dedication to justice and willingness to fight for righteous causes may make an ally out of them, perhaps an unwitting one, but they can be useful."

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** "One cannot examine the IPDI without remembering that it is, first and foremost, a Thai-driven organization, a kingdom surrounded by colonial powers seeking to add it to their demesne. This culturally-ingrained fortress mentality goes far to explain their mindset today, as does their history of trading one enemy for another. Yes, they are a people with no shortage of enemies who have formed into a distrusting snake ready to bite anyone they see as threatening their independence. However, the path they have set themselves on is not sustainable. Sooner or later, something will break."

**Pangaean Generation:** "The old have complained about the young, and the young have complained about the old; such has been the way of life since the dawn of the human species. And so too, has it always been the case that man must strike a careful balance between his own needs and the needs of the earth upon which he lives on. The Generation has risen because the Young feel ignored and shut out by the old, and fear to see the world that they are destined to inherit fall apart from abuse and over-exploitation. They are however, largely directionless beyond their desire for freedom from want or the tyranny of their elders, and use some of the most miraculous advances in the sciences of the body for the purpose of twisting the flesh and resurrecting that which has long been dead. But, their war with the Syndicate has proven to be quite beneficial to our cause, and so they are almost certainly useful to our own agendas."

**Reactionary Guard:** "So long as it advances stability, does not further the suffering of humanity, and makes the infiltration of the enemy more difficult, we could not care less as to whether man is governed by republics or monarchies. Neither system can claim to be freer or in possession of a moral high ground, there have been cruel dictators just as there have been benevolent monarchies. Rasputin and his ilk mean well and have the actions to back up their intentions, but if those entails securing the wonders of the enemy, we will take steps to stray them from that path. I must warn you however, Sternberg is a cruel and evil man, and should he take control of the Guard he will surely try to drown the world in its own blood and unleash the kind of cruelty to make Stalin and Yoshiro seem like angels. He must be stopped before he can take control of the Guard and its flying cities."

**Enlightened Conclave:** "The Buddha is without a doubt, a man of great wisdom and compassion. His ideals resonate strongly with man's better parts just as they melded with the beliefs of hundreds of millions. A man who has nothing can still have faith, which can light even the darkest of hours. I believe that it is this that has allowed the people of Tibet to survive in its darkest era, and not only survive, but thrive and become something quite unlike anything that the world has seen. Yet, I worry, I worry that they may not see the path to Nirvana the same way that they once have. I worry, you see, for what they may have become in order to survive."

**Kumun Hegemony:** "The existence of the creatures that lurk far below is a secret we have long kept from the world, so that the worlds of men and moles do not come to conflict. A secret that they are unwitting allies in keeping. However, their queen is a creature of rage and hatred. With the death of her brood and the impending extinction of her bloodline upon her passing due to the actions of humans she now seeks the eradication of all of humanity as recompense, something that she has found countless ears willing to listen to with their growing concern over mankind's growing destructive power. What the Kumun desire now is not a war, they desire an extermination in a new great flood; not of water but of fur and teeth and bullets until humanity is swept away in the ceaseless vermintide. From what we can gather, they are amassing an army of tremendous size for this task; not an army of thousands or millions but one measured in billions. If we do not stop Garadata's quest for revenge, it is likely we will all drown in the tide to come."

**Oligarchy of Totania:** **WIP**

**Tendriculous Legion:** "There are doors in which it is God's will that they should forever be kept shut. Yet, the Combine is deadset on welcoming the whatever denizens who lie beyond our own plane, regardless of their true nature. But I will let you on who we have to be in combat with due to their folly: it is thought that to dread the absence of visible light is irrational. Those who say so truly have not faced *something* that can cause the absence of both light, lucidity and life in its victims. That is all that needs to be said for the moment, other than you should be weary if the shadow you have is still your shadow."

**Black Sun Sect:** "Many among the idle and inbred rich grow tired of what is allowed to us under the sight of god. Wholesome joys become dull and even ordinary depravity loses all luster. So they seek out dark comforts offered by darker masters. And in the quest for this knowledge, they have become monsters just like those they serve. They have fallen below the status of men and allowed the grim darkness beyond what many would believe to be possible to consume them utterly. Our struggle with them is a long one, and it shall continue until we deliver this world from their demons and forever end the threat of their hunger. To fail would bring about something far more hideous than mere death upon the world. ."

**Terrain Alignment:**

**Zeelich Communes:** "Though they are polytheists or spiritualists, the Zeelich and their Communes are a noble if naive people. They firmly believe in the inherent goodness of the soul and in the mantra that evil is born out of ignorance more often than malice. Their way of life is idyllic, care free and loving; they are an older people than we, but they carry themselves with the innocence and earnesty of children. Theirs are like a people who have never known a fall, and they try their best to treat all with kindness and understanding. That naivete I fear, may lead them to not truly understand their archnemesis, or the boundless depths of hatred that our oldest foes have possessed. We can at times, call each other allies, but I believe it is clear that they are to be monitored, lest they bring harm in their innocence."

**Dread Corsairs:** "There is a saying; hundreds of thousands of years ago, man figured out how to tie wood together and make a raft to ferry his possessions across water. A few days later, another man with a raft robbed him. Piracy is, in its purest form, essentially thievery involving ships. It is as old as sea-travel and while it may wax and wane, it will never be truly vanquished. The Corsairs merely represent one of these waxings of banditry on the waterways as organizations seek to challenge Westphalian ideals of national sovereignty. There is little much to be said about them, other than they are compliant enough to supplement our navies and that they undoubtedly add to the misery of the world."

**Balkan SFR's:** "The Balkans represent a rainbow of ethnicities. Slavs, Hellenes, Latins, and a vast number of peoples have all settled in the peninsula that was once a heartland for many great civilizations. Yet, the veneer of civility established by regimes has been broken by the Syndicate, and old hatreds have ignited brighter than ever. They have erred in trying to contain the violence, having given that hatred a common enemy and unleashed a monster barely restrained by those who wish to present their revolution as civilized. A monster that is frighteningly receptive to the great Enemy, who thrives in Yugoslavia, feeding off the boundless hatred there. And I believe that as we act in the Balkans, we must work to not only fight those responsible for corruption, but also mend broken lands."

**International Aid Association:** "An association I can say that takes the prayer of St. Francis into their very being. Where there is hatred, they show love. Where there is injury, they show pardon. Where there is suffering, they show solace. We see no reason to interfere with their actions, unless if they are unwitting enough to assist the machinations of the enemy."

### Atomic Kingdom of China

*The author of this journal 'acquired' by an Allied spy is not known, but the insight into the thought processes of the Atomic Kingdom is considered invaluable.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** Starry eyed fanatics are no strangers to the history of China. The Taiping and the Boxers both brought ruin to China in their zeal in the past, and the Nationalists and Communists both have done so more recently. Still, it is rather odd to be judged as fundamentally unworthy of existence from a religious level and whomever they are; they seem to be well aware of the ins and outs of our JADE. Through their ceaseless efforts to destroy us, they have made us an enemy to the bitter end, and I feel that we shall have to destroy them and their pristine castles of decadence before we may be allowed to leave this forsaken world. Though they are the older civilization than we, they clearly have not gained wisdom in those ages of existence.

**Zeelich Communes:** So one set of bandits from the Stars is trying to help the world rather than put it under their heel? Amusing, but China knows well the pain of being made a battleground for foreign conflicts. Their intentions seem honest, and it seems their long war with their enemy has not at all dimmed their idealism. Perhaps I envy them for that, the ability to have seen all the ugliness in an ocean of stars and yet still hold a love of beauty and kindness. Still, they seem to often object to be convinced that our path is wrong headed and would wish us to simply take refuge on their ships and sail to distant worlds and deny us our right of vengeance. They are indeed kind, but the world is a cruel place, and we will take from them their wonders and show why we are a bitter people.

### Mediterranean Syndicate

*The following is a recording of a meeting between Anton Boyanovsky, the Principate of the Atlantis Sprawl, and an unidentified second party with whom Brian appears to have had something of a mentor relationship with.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "...them. I'm gonna bluntly lay it out for you: they despise us, along with anything that has our stamps in them. Anybody dumb enough to show up in their cities in uniform are gonna wind up with a throat full of molten gold. Yeah, believe me; I know a guy who had this happen. If your ships should ever pass near their turf, scrub them clean of Syndicate logos. Get some of your men to the Atlantis Sprawl as well, from what I hear, they're not too fond of it existing."

**Pangaean Generation:** "Damned green pinkos. Allied Europe's already buried in heaps of environmental regulations; these kiddies are gonna rain them all over Earth if they get what they want. Look at the West Coast, it's crawling with vines and dinos thanks to Marie and her bands of tree-kissers. Stock up on machetes and flamethrowers, we're gonna burn up all the brush around Las Vegas if we're gonna make it ours again. Have some napalm in your stockpile? Spray that all over their playgrounds in Peru, should you have the time. Just don't torch their dinosaurs, my planned Virgin Islands zoo needs them."

**Reactionary Guard:**"I can't help but chuckle when it comes to these guys. We wanna bring the world to 1984, they wanna drag us back to 1084. Their 'rulers', however, are loaded - and I mean sky palace loaded. Look past their 'divine right' nonsense and you'd see willing customers who'd purchase naval services and computers. Mind you, we're gonna shake up the fashion industry once we get our hands on whatever keeps Tabitha and her folks ageless! Just know whose rulers you should contact, though. Sternberg and his peons are easily *the* toughest nuts to crack when it comes to these LARPers."

**Tendriculous Legion:** "We're not dealing with UmbraCorp here. No, they're not just some oil experiment gone wrong or a lampshade. Common knowledge goes that shadowy monsters generally make poor business partners, much less those that can kill and possess humans. None of our contracted physicists can figure out how the hell any of their tech works, much less the boys from MIT. Make sure your buildings have their lights on 24/7, and if you see an errant shadow, fire your best guns at it, and throw any dead bodies to the incinerator. The blots sure don't discriminate between life and death."

### Electrical Protectorate

*Initializing. Program: Organic Interaction -> "Diplomacy". Commence Evaluation: Organic Super-Clusters ("Powers").*

### Army of the Republic of Vietnam

*Colonel Trương Thành Phúc, an outspoken commander of the ARVN, provided a candid interview for a militarist-oriented magazine, which created a fresh wave of controversy for the ARVN when his statements were uncovered and published by the international press. Although the ARVN officially reprimanded the Colonel for his more controversial statements, many claim that Trương's words represent much of the ARVN High Command’s political views, moreso than any of their official statements to the Allied press.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** **\*glares at the reporter\*** "I am **not** in the mood to talk about them at the moment. Let there be no further talk about this. Understood?"

### Vietcong

*Trần Nhật Châu, a well-educated and read tank destroyer commander, was asked by a Soviet official to provide some insight into the opinions of Vietnam on the world at large.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "I admit to not really thinking much about them before they decided to strike back at the Southerners for disregarding their warnings and attempting to bully their ships. I read about them and thought they were just more useless people stuck in the past, no matter how odd they are compared to the humans who have grown on the surface. Though I was relieved when they said they did not care who won in this war despite the closeness of some of their...fiefdoms I think to us; mostly because they think we are all equally inferior. Then came the news that after an incident with the Southern air force dive bombing an Atlantean ship they decided to declare war. Mmmh, everyone was quite frantic about the response to that news, and I've seen their attacks fall on the ARVN; it seems they've come in quite overwhelming force to punish Saigon for its arrogance. So long as they leave after inflicting their punishment I think this could be very helpful to us. I'll share some drinks with my comrades in honor of Ellastraza; our favourite reactionary."

**Unification Concordiat:**

**Norse Fylkirate:** "Didn't the vikings succumb to the imperial influence of the medieval papacy nine hundred years ago? I'll admit I've seen some odd things and some men in strange clothes with unfamiliar weapons speaking something that sounded like Icelandic rooting around the coast. But I'm quite sure they're just some splinter of the Corsairs with an odd love of history."

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** "Well they stopped the Khmer rouge from raiding our lands so there's that. Oh yes they are deep set in their military dictatorship, but they don't seem to care what happens here beyond token missile and air strikes and we all know how to hide from those by now. So long as they are mostly concerned with whatever it is that's coming out of the Chinese wastes they're a problem for later when we've won and need to secure our borders from reactionaries. It would be a great issue if they decided to intervene fully though...they seem far more destructive than even the Empire was in how they wage war."

**Pangaean Generation:** "Ah yes I've talked to some of the "green" cells here. I can't say I agree with their priorities; the people of Vietnam and the global revolution come before the trees. If our health and happiness is increased by taking some extra toll from the earth, so be it. But they are useful and their monsters terrify the people fighting against us. And to be honest, many of them frighten me as well. But what man isn't afraid of something that can eat him?"

**Reactionary Guard:** "Their name should be enough to tell you what I think of them no? They wish to restore the feudal tyrants and the old empires and their troops in our land are hostile to both sides as they shout nonsense about restoring the old Emperor. It's best to just put a bullet in their heads and make sure the anti-air defenses are strong."

**Enlightened Conclave:** "Tibet's hardly my problem."

**Kumun Hegemony:** "The tunnelers often report seeing strange things when they dig deep. I'm not sure if what they saw were monsters or if they were just misinterpreting what they saw; but the whole idea gives me the shakes. I try not to think about it."

### Allied Reservists

*Capt. Colin Powell was asked to speak with the press on behalf of his company.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "Nowadays, I wake up relieved that a tidal wave hasn't greeted me and my men yet. Not so much in South Vietnam; I hear kids there scared of even going near rivers. I hate to sound rude, but, demolishing the entire ARVN for some 'tarnished honor' over a ship? At this moment, I'm mortified that they'll eventually turn on us as 'punish'. Really, what we can do against a fearsome naval power like them? Who's saying that they won't punish everyone else they think offends them?"

**Pangaean Generation:** "I'd like to remind everyone the Allied Nations are taking great leaps when it comes to environmentally-sustainable practices. But we don't let legitimate businesses suffer just to kowtow to ecoterrorists' demands, as well. Truth be told, I'm greatly saddened at seeing our own kids thrash against all of us, not helped by the ludicrous manifestos which they're imbibing. Really, do they believe that we're not doing enough to preserve the environment? Or are they simply causeless rebels, seeking to hang us by vines just because we're older than them?"

**Reactionary Guard:** "Kingdoms should be judged by the characters of their rulers, and not by their statuses as monarchies. The Guard fails at that standard alone. Mauer, one of my colleagues there, tells me of how he and his family are nothing more than glorified serfs, toiling away in their lord's fortress for the rest of their lives. Apparently, even that was taken away from them because he badmouthed a Habsburg. Then, he saw his own son killed by some 'rival family' over some dispute. I'm willing to give them a second chance, should they stop setting up these kinds of governments at our cities."

**Enlightened Conclave:**

**Kumun Hegemony:** "I don't know what is more probable, me being America's secretary of state or these 'mole people' existing underground."

**EoK Penal Divisions:** "No, no, no, no... just no. To use prisoners as glorified civil slaves is one thing, to use them as soldiers is another. Frankly, if Emperor Kamina would be kind to accept requests from non-Japanese, I would only like him to stop this human rights violation at once. They need to repay their debt to society, but what they're making them do is to pay their very lives just for it."

**Darkwater Industries:**

**Dread Corsairs:** "They have invested much money in their navy, but instead of assisting civilian liners, they choose to do the opposite. While it is indeed tempting to just simply flush them out, it would not hurt to take a look at what turns them to piracy in the first place. Perhaps, we can reach out to them; convince them there is a better path to take in life than violently attacking ships for easy wealth. For now, we need to concern ourselves with preventing Corsairs from pillaging more innocent ships for the time of being."

**Balkan SFR's:** "There are times where I just sit down and ponder on what really went wrong in the Balkan region. It never was always the bigotry-stricken wasteland it is today, but what I think is the best possible explanation for the violence is due to factors that came together even when they shouldn't have. But if things there get bad, and I *mean* bad enough to warrant Reservist intervention, only then will the Balkans realize that there are more ways of resolving differences rather than venting out their hatred on their fellow people."

**Iron Fangs:** "I apologize if I am to sound unprofessional here for a moment, but here it goes: the Iron Fangs absolutely contribute *nothing* of value to this world. If anything, they'd Hence, world's also better off without them. Now, I say we talk about other things before they really tick me off again, okay?"

### National Revolutionary Army

*The following is a leaked transcript of a conversation between Indian Field Marshal Chanda Sharma and former Lieutenant Zhao Wen of the National Revolutionary Army, who has recently fled to and been granted asylum in India.*

### Global Liberation Army

*The following is from letters found in a suspected GLA operative's flat in Syria during a raid by local authorities. They are addressed to the flat's owner and appear to show the author's political opinions.*

### International Inc

*When a Satyr broke into the International Inc company offices, he found, among other things, this letter, which appears to be addressed from David Xanatos to Andrei Orlov.*

### The Cult of the Black Hand

*Excerpts from speech by Seth the Undying to new initiates are as follows.*

## Echoes Opinions

### The Technocratic Combine

*MIR Guerrillas recovered the following notes from a secret compartment in the basement of an Acapulco Panopticon. Who wrote the notes, and who they were meant for, remains unknown.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "*The Hateful* "The Atlanteans are full of love: for their own heritage, their own knowledge, and this world that they deem themselves the protectors of. What they have forgotten is how that can easily be twisted into hate. Their abhorrence towards all not like them can be decoded from he way they carry themselves in front of foreigners, those they view as intellectual troglodytes, and especially their opponents in battle. With the level of their conceit they possess, it is likely that the Hateful will forever be blind to the many blemishes that adorn their traditions and faith. Should worst comes to worst, they will be made to see them face-to-face, should they include us in their 'quest'."

**Unification Concordiat:** *The Absurd* "The Absurd would have you believe that the path of the future is in the path of strongmen and slavish and cultish loyalty to all powerful demagogues in the cast of Franco. They would tell you that the truth is that men tire of liberty and that we all in our heart of hearts; crave to be ruled and directed by a bombastic orator and all powerful militaristic statesman who shall embody the nation in his person. They would tell you that war is a good and pure state of being, and that we must all reject "effete" qualities such as mercy and empathy and turn to the "manly" ways of power and an iron discipline. This belief it would seem, would be born out of some past trauma that shattered nations, and if the Absurd are to be made to reject this path of folly and destruction they will likely need to be reminded of the virtues of compassion and liberty by force."

**Norse Fylkirate.:** *The Puerile* "In an individual, the love of a good brawl is seen as a sign of immaturity and recklessness; so too must this idea extend to cultures as well as individuals. In the past, war was seen as a noble endeavor and the health of nations but the path of Utopia cannot abide by such attitudes. The Childish may have achieved greater glories than their counterparts in our timeline who have become largely inconsequential members of the Allies; but as a people they are far less mature. Not for their adherence to Polytheism, for such questions are immaterial to progress; after all, did a Polytheist society not upend the balance of world power but a scant few years ago? But because their culture still has yet to move on from these youthful views of conflict and struggle. There is potential in the Childish, tremendous potential, and like most children the Childish have good truly set in their hearts. But there will come a time for them to grow up as all Children do."

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** *The Huddled*

**Pangaean Generation:** *The Harmonious:* "It should be with gladness that we count the Pangaeans as allies and natural kinsfolk in the fight for a better world and a brighter future. Let others cast them out as rabble-rousers, troublemakers or radicals: we shall openly campaign our affiliation and our sponsorship. After all, did they not spring from our loins? Did sciences not benefit from our encouragment? Perhaps they are embarrassed to admit it, for so often children are embarrassed by their parents, but we shall not be. The Generation will realize in time that what they desire and shout for is what we have been moving towards all along: Peace. Harmony. A new Nature."

**Reactionary Guard:** "*The Undead* - "The Undead is more than an apt description for these reactionaries: decrepit ideologues bent on molding the modern world to be exactly like theirs. As the Stagnant shows signs of reforming to befit the times, the decaying heap of monarchism poses an even greater threat to the future. Should they become victors, our collective knowledge will be fully robbed of vitality, the innovative suppressed in favor of the outmoded as their *passé* elites strangle free thinkers. Do not let these barren ideas corrupt people's minds further, comrade. We, the children of today, shall finally sent these departed back to where they came from - by words or by actions."

**Enlightened Conclave:** *The Surviving*

**Kumun Hegemony:** *The Exposed* "The exposed are consumed by what can only be described as a bloodthirsty rage at our two worlds having finally come into contact. Rather than an exchange of knowledge as one would hope would result from the meeting of the two children of mother Earth, so far all meetings have resulted in an exchange of fire and fury. From what it is possible to discern, the Exposed consider humanity to be the murderers of a lineage and have come to believe that in this meeting of the worlds; either the surface or the underworld must die for the other to live. It goes without saying that this bloodthirst driven delusion must be broken."

**BUAC:** *The Delusional*

**Shintai Society:** *The Fossilized*

**Polynesian Limited:**

**Majestic Inclusive:** *The Isolated*

**Task Force Omega:** *The Molded*

**Children of Avalon:**

**Oligarchy of Totania:** *The Survivor*

**Tendriculous Legion:** *The Degraded* "Theirs is a realm of nightmares and an endless, cold darkness. From what can be determined, our intrusions into their realm in the name of enlightenment have resulted in the darkness following us in the hopes of expanding itself. What they have learned of our world has largely come from the unfortunate victims of their possession efforts, and to this day our efforts to understand the Degraded have been frustrated by the hostility of their home. However, they are incapable of tolerating the light, and if smothering their home in the radiance of dawn is what is needed to pry the answers we desire from them; so be it."

**High Andean Lordships:**

**Selenite Dominions:** *The Bloodcrazed*

**Pacific Traders:**

**Public Security Bureau:** *The Cloistered*

**Chrono Entente:**

**Black Sun Sect:** *The Blind*

**Terran Alignment:**

**Zeelich Communes:** *The Beatific* "The Beatific are the archenemies of the Unwary and in many ways; their antithesis. Whereas the Unwary are as far as can be discerned cruel, callous, and arrogant to almost limitless degrees; the Beatific are kind, try their hardest to understand, and surprisingly humble for a venerable culture. They seek not the guidance of infallible leaders, but from the greater masses of their people, and seek not to conquer but to liberate and elevate so that those worlds that come to need them may stand for themselves in time. They are a people to be admired and praised, perhaps emulated to some degree, and the Beatific seem willing to give the aid they feel they can do so safely through their secretive channels. A friendship with them is only natural, even if their naivete can be striking at times."

MINOR FACTION RELATIONSHIPS:

**Korean People's Army:** *The Ardent*

**EoK Penal Divisions:** *The Chained:* "The South Koreans believe that their dedication is as strong as their brothers in the North. This dangerous belief denies the truth that they cling desperately only to their monarchy. They push their convicted criminals out onto the front lines, thinking that their crown can be defended by the iron chains of their imprisoned. By doing so, it only shows that those who lead detainees by the chains are very much in bondage themselves, bonded to the Deceivers and their proxy vassal in the form of the Kingdom of Joseon."

**Darkwater Industries:** *The Shaded*

**Dread Corsairs:** *The Petulant*

**Balkan SFR's:** *The Primal*

**Katipunan:** *The Self-Defeating*

**Forgotten Flotilla:** *The Changed*

**Iron Fangs:** *The Retrograde*

**Makapili:** *The Empty*

**Home Army Faction:** *The Harnessed*

**Technocratic Parties:** *The Appalled*

**Council Enforcers:** *The Blackened*

**Scrin Visitors:** *The Poison*

**ALBION Group:** *The Revenant*

**Nubarian Guard:** *The Mutilated*

**Ostplan Division:** *The Reformist*

**TSEL:** *The Unappreciated*

**International Aid Association:** *The Loving*

**Interpol:** *The Just*

**ICC:** *The Masons*

### Industrial Guild

*Contingent excerpts from a (covert) discussion between Yumi Lie and a Contingent diplomat.*

### Cybernetic Federation

*"These Excerpts were taken from recordings of a bugged room inside Cybersyn. It's suspected they are conversations from members of the mysterious known only as **GAF**"*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "Of course, we knew about it already. They could be a heavy boon, you know, if you think what the Inkarri are holding is big, man, you're in for a surprise. However, there's no way we'd be able to deal with them in their own turf, we could as well try to build spaceships out of wood. Perhaps try to crash their domes underwater before they'll ever ascend - or ascended?"

**Unification Concordiat:** "Got some pretty interesting news for you. Turns out, we're not the only refugees from... you-know-what 'round these parts. These guys don't seem to align with any group we've met, either here or... elsewhere. Nonetheless, maybe we could strike a deal."

**Norse Fylkirate:** "We're in a timeline far weirder than anything you could imagine, my friend. Take the Hyperboreans for example. Yes, they exist and they are mad. We have no idea what they are looking, but so far it seems they've mostly focused on pestering other large powers so, in what respects me. I say they are of no importance."

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** "Got a nice story to tell you. So, when we were setting up this Cybersyn gig, we tried to contact the foremost experts on cybernetics throughout the world. Most deals fell through, but the Thai people were the weirdest case. A paranoid bunch I've gotta say, and that's coming from someone who had to deal with Contingent diplomats. Wouldn't blame them, with Asia being a worse powder keg it is than usual."

**Pangaean Generation:**

**Reactionary Guard:** "Oh, forgot to tell you, and this is a nice one. The other day, one of the scouting groups on Santa Cruz reported the oddest thing. Turns out, a bunch of madmen out of some other timeline came claiming this was Araucania and Patagonia's territory. You know, that kingdom the French founded? Anyways, the patrol had no way to flush them out, so they kinda... let them on their own. Man, I don't know about you, but I feel pity for ourselves when those kooks get their hands on time machines."

**Enlightened Conclave:** "Just telling you. I applied for the next expedition to the Himalayas, so make sure my stuff is in order when I come back. Gotta say it, I didn't actually expect the Thule guys to actually come back with anything when they started looking for... whatever up there. But man, I think I'm a newborn Buddhist now! People there really know what's the real deal. The King of the Underworld has welcomed us with open arms, and so shall we, when the time comes."

**Kumun Hegemony:** "Have you ever gotten down to the lower levels of Synco? No, I don't mean the working stations, nor the mainframe, nor even the supporting beams. That cave, tunnel, or whatever we've got down there stretches down kilometers down, I think nobody has managed to trace is all the way down. And it's not only the heat that's an obstacle. We've met some...thing below there. Suddenly, I think I began believing in demons again."

**Tendriculous Legion:** "If you want a good reason as to why we stuck to alternate timelines rather than parallel universes, the tar monsters that the Combine has let slip into our world is probably the best one I can think of."

**Zeelich Communes:** "They say that they're where we all on the left want to be; the fully classless and stateless society of free association, direct democracy, and common planning of development. As far as we can tell, they're the arch-enemies of the Ecumene and have been fighting this war with them across a dozen galaxies, and many of the vigilantes who've seen them started taking to calling their lead species "angels", since they look like more ethereal, horned versions of us. Honestly, they could look like something that crawled out of the deepest trench in the sea and died for all I care as long as they are willing to lend a hand."

MINOR FACTION RELATIONSHIPS:

**Korean People's Army:** "North Korea is friend and I dare say even a model to follow. Unlike past iterations, their commandos are with no equal on this timeline, even if their routine is brutal. Then again, that place is brutal. I wouldn't envy their position, being stuck in mountains and all. Nonetheless, I suggest tightening relations, if we can get some trainers so the new kids can get to their standard. Man, we wouldn't need the Vigilante Force at all!"

**EoK Penal Divisions:** "South Korea is but a mot of dust thrown on an uncaring timeline. They might not be mere dust in other universes, but they are of no relevance to us here, except as an excuse to intervene in the Empire's sphere. Who knows, if we manage to strike a deal with their northern neighbors, we could get a nice deal ourselves out of their ordeal. Maybe we could start with their chain gangs for now?"

**Darkwater Industries:** "You know, we've considered some subtler ways to accomplish our methods. There's less scarcity of people willing to hire out for some good money in this timeline, you know. As we've grown our list of contacts, we've gotten word of other groups. Apparently these mercenaries seek you out if they hear of a good deal, so far we've found no way to contact them directly. They seem to know the business and what they are doing... frighteningly so. I told the Vicar about them, and I fear there's something that doesn't quite fit in all of this."

**Dread Corsairs:** "We've got a huge coast, even a kindergartener could tell you that. That means, of course, loads of territory to oversee, and normally that wouldn't be trouble. The shipping routes are obvious and we've got no apparent enemy. Unfortunately, piracy has been on the rise lately, and with all the wreckage that is Chile, we're prime and open to be raided, and damn they are a pestering bunch. Sooner or later, we'll have to take drastic measures, like we did before... and before that."

**Balkan SFR's:** "The Balkans have been a wellspring of trouble for nearly a century now. Every last point of divergence we tried to exploit either did little to stop it, or did even worse... Nonetheless, this is *actually* one of the best possible timelines for that region, as Yugoslavia is one of our closest trading partners who won't get us as much trouble as the Soviets. I suggest keeping close relations but intervene as little as possible in the mess that is the region, but if things get worse, we could come over for a bit of a restart..."

**Katipunan:** "The Philippines are the estranged cousin of Latin America, born out of the same colonial taskmasters and all. But I'm not here to bore you with an history lesson; that's been a prominent fixed point in all the timelines we've saw. What's important here now is not the Philippines themselves, but what they've got to offer. We can easily support their cause, gain a good trading partner who's just right at the other side of this great big sea buying our things and in turn a way to gain anything the Empire may have."

**Forgotten Flotilla:** "The Combine's... little mishap is a lesson on the dangers of venturing out of this little orb. Yes, we have a claim to the moon and contacts up there that'd make building an off-world colony all too easy. But we cannot forget all the dangers and risks we can confront if taking on such a venture. This isn't exactly Timeline 0.196907α; America is too chaotic for such a grand venture. We should keep ourselves grounded, after all, we're masters of time, not space."

**Iron Fangs:** "Africa is a mess, there's no doubt about that. While it's a constant, the fates of those who do build their own sandcastle kingdoms definitely vary. That's... pretty much all what I can tell you for the time being."

**International Aid Association:** "I have absolutely no bad thing to say about foreign aid. Even when our nations were torn, they were there. During the reconstruction effort, they were there. Even now, as the entire world has changed focus on other things, they are still here. They are a boon to our nation and the present timeline, a welcome sight that should never be denied entrance to our territory."

### Ukrazol Ecumene

*Nxikala Trivix is head of Xenological studies in the Ukrazol Jovian Fleet, and a right hand man for Vra’Kul’Mal, the senior councillor of the fleet and affectionately dubbed “krol Xyruh”, or “the Leader.” The following are reports acquired by the Order of the Talon.*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** This divergent off-shoot of humanity seems to have inordinate knowledge of what lies beyond their world and have developed a heavily divergent line of technological achievement. They bear studying if only to understand their secrets, and if our theories on the source of their knowledge are correct, seizure of this source is surely a top priority, as it will give us the edge we require against the world infestors. Their preference for dwelling in environmental domes may prove to be an exploitable weakness as no matter how well suited their bodies are for living underwater, their infrastructure would be devastated by mass flooding and exposure to oceanic pressure.

**Unification Concordiat:** These combatants as far as we have been able to discern, are not truly native to this reality. They would appear to be travellers from another timeline that they have managed to intersect with this one to launch their operations. They seem to be quite advanced, particularly in fields of particle science though they would appear to be inferior to the Allies or the Protectorate in quantum physics. Their seeming knowledge of our method of war makes them dangerous, but not insurmountably so, and given their hostilities to most native powers, we should be able to play them against the natives and weaken them both for conquest. Truly my Xyruh, you have been blessed with opportunity.

**Norse Fylkirate:** These Polytheistic humans also appear to have arrived from another reality, as far as we can tell; the same one as their black and white clad cousins. They have repeatedly demonstrated a great contempt for death in battle and have proven resilient against terror tactics, and they seem to consider it an obligation to thwart our plans and designs. This makes them quite the nuisance, though they have demonstrated interesting usages of electricity, heat manipulation, and a new form of disruptive energy. And of course, the technology to travel between timelines would be a great asset for us. Their conquest could greatly enrich our Ecumene.

**Indo-Pacific Defense Initiative:** They are technologically uninteresting, they may have created a number of lethal and destructive chemicals, but chemical warfare is hardly unique to them, and though their power generation systems may be interesting by native standards, we have no need for it. Their weapons, as far as Science Team has been able to determine, are generally exceedingly overbuilt and are fragile and slow to fire despite their formidable range and firepower. Though many of their systems are fast, they are abysmal at maneuvering. The primary threat they pose is that they are extremely quick to resort to massive force and their soldiers have shown the annoying trend of refusing to surrender when defeated, and their operations in China may threaten our own. Thus, we must destroy them. They have little land area tend to concentrate into fortress cities. Sacking them from orbit should neutralize them.

**Pangaean Generation:**

**Reactionary Guard:** A group of stodgy old monarchists clinging onto a world where their dynastic empires have been rendered extinct or irrelevant may not seem like a particularly grievous danger, but they have a surprising amount of resources at their disposal. Their complete air mobility allows them to deploy and redploy these resources to any battlefield of their choosing, and though they are pathetic at sea, they have a truly formidable air force that they have freely committed to skirmishes against our forces. Technologically, they seem to make use of a potent biological agent that allows for tremendous regenerative abilities and even physical enhancements that could prove quite useful, and they have manipulated kinetic fields in interesting ways. Also interesting is their usage of Cavourite. Some factions within this organization may prove amenable to our goals, supporting these over those factions that would be a danger to our operations is recommended so that their resources may be used for us rather than against us. Once the world is subjugated they may have all the kings and emperors they want.

**Enlightened Conclave:** Following the nuclear annihilation of the region known locally as China, the people of the state known as Tibet were initially presumed lost. However, they have recently begun to re-emerge with strange new abilities and technologies.

**Zeelich Communes:** "The archenemy has come upon us and action must be taken. We cannot allow the wretched savages to wrest this prize from our grasp; not when we are so close to achieving everything we could have ever wished for from this world and so much more. We will make them pay for our humiliations in the last war; they will *all* pay. But these soft hearted fools in their degeneracy fail to understand that we have made ourselves harder than the skins of Neutron stars while they remain a race of wallflowers. Our will and our spirit shall overcome them, and we shall at last have all that has been destined to be the Ecumene's and Ullalloo shall smile upon us greatly as at long last the winds of civilization can spread to all the corners of the universe. We shall not and cannot be denied! DEATH TO THE COMMUNES! GLORY FOR THE ECUMENE!"

### Mongolian Migration

**EoK Penal Divisions**

### MIR

*The following are excerpts from a MIR-aligned newspaper, "Verdad", transcribed when a Dalit purchased one for 1 peso."*

### The Network

*Sarah Rodman is a Network shortwave radio broadcaster nicknamed "Trailer Trash Tara" by the Unionists and "The Advocate" by the Network, believed to be part of the organization's inner circle. The following are choice passages from her article in the Interweb omnibus,* Advopedia*, transcribed by a lesser-known African hacker (identity unknown):*

**Atlantean Ascendancy:** "Däniken and Kolosimo weren't off the mark when they said that extraterrestrials played a hand in guiding our civilizations, sisters. And we've always thought of them as what we see in those sci-fi pulp comics - grey, tentacled, having body parts we normally don't have - but 'ancient astronauts'? More like 'ancient geonauts'. Take note, I've pieced together from sources you'd normally think to be very distinct from each other, so keep your minds and third eyes open. The ancient aliens; they didn't come from outer space, they actually bred and evolved from the four oceans of this very planet we live in today! And there's only one simple, rational reason why our bodies are made of 95% water, the human race as a whole are nothing but their creations so that we can be their domestic servants underwater and in land. And by the way, did I mention they look just like us in every way, the only difference being possessing instinctual aggression when someone badmouths their 'Ascendant'? Folks, we the people can benefit from the knowledge and wealth from Atlantis, but not by stealing from their picturesque underwater habitats, turning what once were peaceful depths into battlegrounds! They gave us a chance to prove our merit as a second species, therefore we must pay them back by doing no harm against them!"

**Unification Concordiat:**

**Norse Fylkirate:** "The *Fimbulwinter* has passed, sisters; a great and terrible age where snow came in from all directions, where men and women will killed and screwed over each other for the smallest of reasons! Take heed in the signs of the times, so we may not be caught unaware when the Yggdrasil starts a-shaking! First, Ackerman, Balder's present incarnation, assassinated by the Allies' Majestic 6 to hasten the end. Second, all the inconceivable happenings in society; can they not be the Fjalar's final warnings for us? And *who* can deny the most obvious signs that we are now in the battle of *Ragnarok*- Aesirs and giants of our world vying for the spoils here in this big, blue orb, Surtr's pyres setting the Earth ablaze, where Fenrir's specter is let loose, raining death and suffering among us! And are we going to be surprised that the *Einherjar* have been sent down from Valhalla to fight the *Jotun* who control us?! Heck no! Sisters, we should not take this with despair, for out of the bloodbath, we, the Lifs of this world, shall find our Liftrasers and repopulate this world in our image - free of lies and deception!"

**Kumun Hegemony:** "The hollow earth is hidden just below us, sisters; willingly camouflaging itself from the scientists who want to exploit it for their nefarious experiments! Yes, gals, this was exactly how the idea of the underworld first became known in human history. Of course, the Allied elite doesn't want us to know what are their escape routes when the helter-skelter happens, so they paid those charlatans to keep demeaning us and 'refuting' all what we say and think... back to the topic, of course, have you ever really noticed how earthquakes seem to be more common nowadays, and no, I'm not talking about those from the Native American shamans working for the Rebs? It's the Balrog, residing in the deepest and hottest vents of the hollow earth, disturbed by our rampant noise making made by our cannon and missiles, swayed by the flowery words of their overlord to exterminate the entirety of the surface in accordance to his diabolical will! Who knows if that Balrog isn't already enticing to commit further atrocities? We need to protect the rights of those innocents living underground from monsters down there, and one darn effective way is to spread awareness of what the heck is truly going in places we don't normally care about!"

### The Phoenix Front

*The following are responses from the figure known as P. O' Neill to questions asked about the Front's opinion of other factions in a Front-sympathetic magazine, published in the following issue.*

**Norse Fylkirate:** Perhaps once there were vikings raiding the shores of the world, but now there are only brave men who have yet to realize that the Allies are misusing their nations for petty political games. But do now be fooled, their day will come when the peace of the alpine nations will give way to rage and fury.

**EoK Penal Divisions:** "The empire sees fit to sentence their men to prison sentences barely qualifying them as civilized, then puts them in a military unit that thrives of dangling hope in front of men's faces like a toy. One day, this will turn on them. And we will be there when it happens with support for those sentenced to die."

**International Aid Association:** The only force in the world we have no true hatred or contempt for, instead we ask that the IAA simply do what it can for those innocents caught between the machinations of those that claim to rule over mankind. We pledge to never attack them, and to punish any of ours who would.

### The Arabian Coalition

*King Faizal himself has graciously decided to accede to an interview to gain an insight into Coalition foreign policy.*