Foreign Concerns Gazette/Year 449 - 450

*Main article: Grand Strategy 1*
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***Upheaval Sends Cosmos Reeling Back Toward War***

**Economic News:**

* "New Partners" *Bank of Valdos, Republic of Sermaye publicize Valdosian investment deal. BoV to invest in assets returning up to 2% of Sermayan GDP, compensating Sermayan state with a stake in Bank’s International Investment Fund equivalent to 20% of Bank investment in Sermaye.*
	+ "Get in on this" *Sermayan International Stock Exchange to offer limited public investment options in Bank of Valdos Fund next year.*
	+ "Mutually Assured?" *Bank of Valdos, Sermaye cite extensive trust-building measures and contingencies. Valdosian assets in Sermaye will fall under a holding company auditable by Sermayan state to reduce opportunities for hostile economic action. Valdosian investments will be secured against repossession through Sermayan government and consumer stakes in the Bank Investment Fund.*
	+ "Passing Through?" *Speculation in Sermaye that Valdosian holding company could make inroads into Celestial Space through agreements with Serene Duchy of Aeldrum.*
* "Inflation Strikes" *Kingdom of Druz, Academy of Saldan see soaring inflation rates; warning signs in Fialta Union. Inflation in Saldan, Druz blamed by officials on major one-time currency inflows from foreign investors.*
* "Soliciting Bids" *Deutschreich unveils 1000 economic unit annual budget for economic development, solicits international bids for industrial programs.*
* "Bringing Home the Bacon" *Valdosian, Dalthadi currency inflows to Fialta Imperium from abroad stabilize trade deficit and buoy domestic importers.*
* "Industry Champions" *Aeldrum organizes two new state-industrial conglomerates covering the pharmaceutical (Aeldrum Pharmaceutical Consortium) and machine/automaton sectors (Aeldrum Mechatronics Corporation).*
* "TeaCoin Wave Rises, Crashes, Drowns Investors in Union, Marches, Aeldrum, Imperium" *Aeldrum Stock Ticker HODL Sees Variance of 500% in 2 weeks. Economic Losses Estimated at 800 Economic Units. Mistrust in cosmic currency float drove international speculation on alternative currencies.*
* "Outsourcing" *Aeldrum Mechatronics Corporation sites component manufacturing for automata in Kingdom of Druz. Long term inflows estimated to offset 10-20% of Druz trade deficit.*
* "A Fatal Test?" *Simmering Conflict in Celestial Space threatens Aeldman-led Celestial Trade League. New Celestial Confederation sends mixed signals on commercial future as Middle Kingdom ally squares off with Nippon States and Yushan.*
* "Currency Appreciation" *Remittance of foreign funds, large-scale investment from institutional and private entities drive up demand for Alusian drachmas, supporting Alusian imports. Alusian Drachma still trailing other major currencies, but closing gap.*
* "The Best Returns on State Money?" *Shantine agricultural mechanization reported to deliver over 15% economic returns within a year. Economic analysts predict Shantine mechanization potential remains largely unrealized,* "we could see similar returns on investment for a scale three or four times larger."
* "Savings and Loan" *Bank of Valdos and Alusian Empire establish an Alusian consumer banking service. Interest rates of 2-3% for deposits attract tens of millions of borrowers.*
* "Pipeline to Industry?" *Fialta Imperium to spend thousands of economic units on military academies, enrolling first students and end of next year. Half of academy capacity will be devoted to training officers and special operations troops, half to military engineers expected to perform military and industrial roles.*
* "Not Just in Alusia Anymore" *Fialta Imperium receives, activates two Factory-Factory units. F2s slated to produce arms factories to reduce cost of Fialta military scale.*
* "Debt Games" *Aeldman debt increases over 40%, but interest rates fall to 5.5% as currency stabilizes and state lending programs but downward pressure. 20% of Aeldman debt raised is used to refinance high interest debt from capital crisis.*
	+ "Print and Lend" *Aeldman inflationary policy feeds into lending stream.*
	+ "Gold Clearing" *Aeldman state issues debts denominated in gold at a premium of 0.5%*
* "Celestial Depositor" *Alusia deposits large share of gold reserves with Nipponese subsidiary of Celestial Exchange.*
* "Hotspot Capitals" *Saldanese Executive Board Unveils Aeldman-designed Hostpot System on Saldan, bringing "distributed consumer computing" to the academy. Planets of Sevalne, Aeldrum, Saldan lead cosmos in hotspot development.*

**International Relations and Affairs:**

* "This Means War" *Following accusations of state-sponsored piracy, Middle Kingdom declares war on Prince of Yushan. Nippon States declare war in support of Yushan. NCC attempts mediation, Kingdom of Aksai asserts "armed containment," threatens to invade Triad Princes if they allow Nipponese materiel or forces to pass through in support of Yushan. Ashgarate of New Nippon, Protectorate of the Mirror claim neutrality. Brass Cities offer no comment, send ships to Nipponese and MK borders.*
* "A Reelection with some Fault-Lines" *Serene Doge Guillarme of Aeldrum achieves re-election to a full ten-year term. In Aeldman Parliament, Reform Party grows;* "Dalthadi Clique" *doubles to twenty members; Dalthadis and half of Colonial Party MPs enter protest-vote for Doge Sinvas Luvelath, despite Luvelath explicitly refusing to campaign. Protest and opposition vote would be sufficient to block constitutional reforms, ending thirty years of supermajority caucus for Serene Doge.*
* "Where No One Has Gone Before" *Alusian Empire launches "Enterprise of Alusia," a deep ether exploration super-vessel with on-board hydroponics, shipyards and a crew of 70,000. With accompanying escort, the great expedition will number fully 160,000 members.*
	+ "Getting Our Bearings" *Enterprise to search out distant cosmographies by forgotten or new routes.*
	+ "Ride-Along" *Representatives of the Alusian Kirvan, Idolmarite and Dalthadi Churches appended to Expedition.*
* "Not a State Religion, but Religion of the State?" *Fully a quarter of Parliamentary votes (aristocrats, MPs, governors, Doges) are now held by professing believers in Church of the Spires. CoS is now by a large margin the leading religion of the Aeldman political establishment, though over half of Parliamentary votes are held by non-religious persons.*
	+ "A Dangerous and Deluded Cult" *Aeldman Politician, Baron Jacques Vanel gives impassioned speech in Parliament against Church of Spires.* "Aeldrum has no gods, Aeldrum needs no gods. Our ancestors knew the price of trusting divine promises."
* "A Patriarch for the Kirvans of the Imperium" *Fialta Emperor Phillip Neptos elevates Bishop Tarlo as Patriarch of Marivan, with responsibility for the Kirvan faithful of the Fialta Imperium. Kirvan clergy and institutions within the Imperium recognizing the seat of the Fialta Kirvan Church at Marivan will receive tithing rights, state support.*
* "To Whom is a Kirvan Loyal?" *Patriarch Tarlo of Marivan inaugurates tenure by blaming* "Shantine Religious Imperialism" *for seeding mistrust and sectarian violence, issues religious sermon exhorting Kirvans in Fialta Imperium to swear an oath of fealty to the Fialta Emperor before all loyalty to the Empress of Bishant.*
	+ "Remember Who Ended Slavery" *Patriarch Wenceslas of Korinth castigates Tarlo as,* "the excommunicated puppet of a Fialta tyrant", *asserts that all Kirvans in Fialta Imperium owe their eternal gratitude to the* "Emancipator Empress" *Theoboda.*
	+ "Fealty Wars" *Kirvan pilgrims to Bishant swear oaths of loyalty to Shantine Church, some willingly, others under apparent duress from radical mobs. Issue of fealty splits Kirvan congregations in Fialta Imperium: walk-outs common.*
* "Redemption?" *Alusian Empire rescinds terrorist designation for Knights of Adarnum. Alusia and KoA outline five-year plan for trust building and legitimation. Knights of Adarnum commit to limited, supervised operations in Alusia under auspices and responsibility of Shantine embassy.*
	+ "Service to Kirva and Alusia" *Patriarch Antim of Ahlam discusses forming a Knights of Adarnum Chapter within Alusia.*
* "I am the Patriarch" *Empress Theoboda Kataph of Bishant declares herself Patriarch of Bishant minutes after burial of Patriarch Jan, ending two thousand years of separation between the Shantine Monarchy and clerical leadership positions in the Kirvan Church.*
	+ "Absurd" *Patriarch of Aeldrum issues sharp rebuke of Empress’s seizure of Patriarchal title.* "Kirvanism is not Bishant, and this act by the Empress shows a cynical distortion of the faith"
	+ "Heretical" *Ten thousand Kirvan clergy sign a petition for Empress Kataph to renounce Patriarchal title, undertake a penance for* "Revelationist lapse"
	+ "Saintly" *Hundreds of millions of Kirvans demonstrate across Shantine Empire and cosmos in support of Empress Theoboda. Banners, portraits proclaim Empress as embodiment of Kirva’s mercy and* "Living Saint."
	+ "Legal?" *Patriarchs of Shantine Church have not yet convened to vote on Empress’s declaration, though fate of defiant Highveldt three years ago looms large. Patriarchs of Sevalne, Ahlam have not yet issued comments.*
* "Long Live the Empress-Patriarch" *Knights of Adarnum, led by Grandmaster Arren Kane, declare support for Empress Theoboda as Patriarch of Bishant. Order of the Knights of Adarnum officially declares its allegiance as a Shantine institution.*

**Military, Criminal and Disaster News:**

* "Merchant Raids" *Hundreds of raids ravage commerce of the Middle Kingdom: unusually organized and well-equipped fleets strike with ruthless efficiency, plundering at will. Middle Kingdom alleges that high level of organization indicates Yushanese state sponsorship.*
* "Disarmament" *Empress Theoboda of Bishant gives order for disarmament of civilian populations of Zanevuela and other new Shantine conquests. Any persons serving in the Shantine garrisons or other reserve forces shall be permitted to retain their arms. Many Fialta civilians attempt to conceal firearms from inspectors. Shantine officials:* "Plenty of Fialta turned in their guns, but we only have half as many weapons in custody as expected."
* "A Long Death" *Patriarch Jan shot by assassin with ties to Fialta Militia mid-sermon.* "Divine Flame" *descends from pulpit to smite shooter. Jan is taken to hospital, dies after week of declining health.*
	+ "An End to Patience" *Empress Theoboda expresses sorrow at death of Patriarch Jan, vows justice. Strong words suggest limits to tolerance policy:* "If the response to rhetoric is violence, after we have opened our arms, then I don’t see what more we can do."
	+ "Doing This Right" *Knights of Adarnum authorized by Shantine Empress to make sweeping arrests to ensure total compliance with Zanevuela disarmament order, uncover mass armories hidden from Shantine authorities. Hundreds of Fialta killed, tens of thousands arrested.*
	+ "Trading Blows" *Grand Captain Mirbus of Fialta Milita slain allegedly resisting arrest. Preacher Mataxes escapes assassin’s bullet, calls for every able-bodied Kirvan to join Shantine military reserve and obtain a gun.*
* "Mandate Cut Short" *Patriarch Tarlo assassinated by car-bombing, in echoes of death of Prince Claudius. Fialta Imperium authorities single out Kirvan radical factions for blame, citing anger over Tarlo’s* "Imperium-first" *policy of fealty.*
* "Tenebrius Survives Attempt on Life" *In continued string of assaults, Admiral Tenebrius’s motorcade comes under heavy fire from Kirvan insurgent group.*
	+ "Survival Doesn’t Cover It" *Admiral reported leaping from burning staff car, killing two men with pistol before impaling third with sword, fighting way to intact car and running over fourth assassin in daring escape, still shooting pistol out window.*
	+ "Still in Charge" *After month of secluded recuperation from injuries, Tenebrius returns to active duty as Grand Admiral, taking command back from Neptos’s Interim Appointee.*
* "By Right of the Sword" *Warrior Priestess Marinia continues to raise forces in Firhbank hinterlands. Daring raid on a Union Armory takes her forces within a hundred miles of Paloctus’s capital.*
	+ "Back and Forth" *Union guns used to strike at Thalranese farmsteads, encouraging impoverished tenants to arm themselves and join* "Marinia’s March"*.*
	+ "Back Off" *Union pursuit force crosses Firhbank border, receives shelling from Thalranese border positions for violating boundary. Paloctus demands compensation*.
	+ "We’re Coming Over There" *Prince Armalos deploys army of 500,000 elite soldiers to Firhbank to put down Marinia’s rebellion.*
* "Mind Virus" *Aeldman world in vicinity of Pin Jump put into lockdown, all travel restricted, as Serene Doge Guillarme addresses parliament, discloses outbreak of* "Mind Virus" *affecting estimated 1 million troops and staff. Rumors that Aeldman Black Pyramid site may be compromised for years.*
* "Massacre, Counter-Massacre" *Fialta Imperium, Shantine Empire awash with sectarian violence: deaths from mob violence, militia skirmishes, exceed 10,000.*
	+ "Keeping Them Separate" *Fialta Imperial armed forces called into to keep warring religious factions separate. Marshal Cato gives order to fire on Fialta rioters who refuse orders to disperse.*
	+ "Follow the Law and You Will Be Safe" *Strict curfews pair with "refuge churches" as Shantine clergy and civil servants on ground in Zanevuela offer carrot-and-stick approach to integration.*
* "Mechanize the Naval Yards" *Serene Duchy of Aeldrum mechanizes naval production, prepares for* "shuttle warships" *using advanced hover technology to permit warships to operate planetside.*
* "Expand and Modernize" *Alusia raises substantial new fleet capacity, flexing translane capabilities under umbrella of exploratory expedition.* *Shantine Empire refits entire elite warship force with translane capabilities.*

**Culture and General Interest:**

* "Fire and Vengeance" *Death-bed sermon of Patriarch Jan of Bishant, released after burial, sweeps Shantine and cosmic media. Jan declares,* "I trust the Empress to lead our people, the Kirvans of all the Cosmos, into a glorious age of common faith. Kirva will act through her." *The ailing Patriarch exhorts the faithful,* "Those who struck at me showed that nationhood is nothing compared to faith. I die for my faith, and because of the faith of my shooter, not his nationality. Avenge me, Kirvans, by living always with the knowledge that faith is above nation in all things."
* "Why Didn’t You Vote? Because I Couldn’t" *Income thresholds for Aeldman voting rights come under fire from grassroots groups, Reform Party.* "What did the sacrifice forty years ago of millions of Aeldman soldiers for their citizenship rights mean if their children are kept from voting by their income?"
* "Case of the Century" *With strong public support from leading aristocrats such as Counts Guillarme du Montreal and Sinvas Luvelath, half-orc Enrick Remmek takes title Baron of Levalle through matrilineal claim.*