The Limniam War Council

Japuile

The War Council of the Great City of Limne is held in only two cases - in a state of war and in the state of creating a budget for The Grand Ducal Army before the start of the Christmas break. The building where the war council takes place is the Town Hall of the Grand City of Limne. Semi-secret meetings bring together the most important figures of the army and representatives of two cabinets - the Royal Treasury Cabinet, the Royal Cabinet of Affairs, and a representative of the government - sometimes the Grand Duke or The Honorable Prime Lord.

The War Council was continued according to the plan, which was almost copied from previous meetings, so that everyone could return home. However, before the discussions concluded, a representative from the Royal Cabinet of Affairs raised his hand. All turned their eyes towards him.

-I believe it's worth discussing another matter related to the Pythian Union Army, which they are planning to establish soon. From our preliminary calculations, they intend to allocate as much as 2,080 billions from our national budget, which could be used differently. The allocation of production for the equipment of the union forces has been roughly discussed, but there remains one field for us...ballistic missiles.- stated Representative from Royal Cabinet of Affairs.

-Ballistic Missiles? We've just started sending rockets with satellites into space. We don't have the necessary infrastructure nor testing grounds for this kind of weaponry!- said the General of the Grand Army Loup Deschamps, a little surprised by this proposal.

-Indeed, we lack the logistical and production infrastructure, but that's not an issue. Subunit "R" of the Future Forces has ready plans and a location for designing and building such ballistic missiles. We only need to find a testing ground, and we'll be able to sell the missiles at production cost. We will likely recover a portion of the funds. After all, our industry focuses primarily on precision, not mass production.- Admiral of Force of Future Philibert Leclair said, speaking for the first time since the beginning of the meeting.

A brief discussion arose among the present members of the semi-secret meeting, presenting arguments for, against, questions, and uncertainties. Subunit "R" has the support of Gascon Géroux, the Grand Admiral of the Grand Navy, and the Representative of the Royal Treasury Cabinet. A neutral stance is represented by General-Baroness Arlette Bourreau of the Grand Air Forces, while the most skeptical is Grand Army General Loup Deschamps.

The entire discussion was resolved by Grand Duke Casamir I, who announced that the Future Forces will constitute a separate unit, operating semi-independently. They will collaborate with the overall command of all armed forces during times of war, while maintaining a reasonable level of independence during peacetime. Today, the Grand Ducal Army has acquired a new structure, which will likely cause a minor shock among the military, but in the long term, it will bring benefits and protection to the distant lands and colonies of the Grand Duchy of Japuile.

Japuile

Seedling Slowly Sprouts Roots

After the New Year's budget allocation for the Grand Duchy's Ducal Forces, a new division was brought into existence - the Grand Forces of the Future - whose primary objectives are enginnering and technology, while matters directly related to combat have been deferred to future plans. The newly appointed General-Scientist is Alban Trottier, who previously engaged in research on medical and military exoskeletons, and he has been designated as the foremost representative of future-oriented thinking. He proceeded to the construction site of his command base - a vast industrial complex located in the Duchy of Limne.

"I remember today as if it were yesterday when I practiced moving in this combat armor, when it was still in its prototype version. It was heavy, sometimes unwieldy; I could barely fit through doors. I still recall the day I bought that unfortunate bicycle, which fell apart while I was riding it. I was thrown off with such force that I lost consciousness and woke up in a hospital, hearing very bad news. That's when the military arrived and offered me help...and I wanted to repay for the assistance. So here I stand, looking at the construction site..." - Alban Trottier said in a monologue, lost in thought once again. Until now, he hadn't had the time or opportunity to reflect on his current situation, past, and future.

Materials for the construction of the factory complex are brought in by rail, passing through the nearest military base. Materials transported by trucks come from the port of the Grand City of Limne. A parking lot is being built in front of the entire facility; to enter inside, one must pass through security checkpoints, the same applies to the railway. Green zones and outdoor recreational areas are being established between the factories. An administrative zone is being set up away from the factories. An underground transportation railway is being constructed between the factories to limit the number of vehicles outside.

Japuile

The Modern Armament Factory

With great joy, General-Scientist Alban Trottier welcomed the completion of The Modern Armament Factory. The underground warehouses have been filled with necessary materials from Tepror and Nova Solaris. Additionally, reserves have been established to sustain a full month of intensive production. The entire compound has been adorned with green spaces nestled between the buildings, creating a place of mental and physical respite for both "white" and "blue-collar" workers.

The process of relocating engineers, scientists, and young cadets to The Modern Armament Factory has commenced. These individuals were once integral parts of the Grand Air Force. Alongside them, the endeavor of designing a new kind of armament has been initiated. While the primary focus was on developing a ballistic missile to bolster the state budget, it was not the sole project undertaken within the factory.

Project "The Boom Parrot"

Personally, General-Scientist Alban Trottier undertook the leadership of the project codenamed "The Boom Parrot," poised to propel The Grand Ducal Army into a new technological era. This project also serves as a symbolic testament that the effort invested in the "Forces of Future" factory complex has been profoundly valuable.

Japuile

Lunar Zephyr Project

General-Scientist Alban Trottier rallied the brightest minds to work on the creation of the first ballistic missile. Its goal was not only to bolster the defense of the Grand Duchy and the Pythian Union but also to generate a return on the investment allocated to the union's budget. Initially, the focus was on designing a ballistic engine responsible for propelling the missile into orbit. A decision was made to employ modified rocket fuel, as environmentally friendly alternatives did not prove as effective in simulation tests.

The remaining two teams, led by Commander-Scientists, were tasked with developing the warhead and the intermediate section situated between the warhead and the engine. These teams faced more time-consuming work due to their smaller size, but nonetheless, they made significant progress. The intermediate section was crafted from a lightweight metal alloy, coated with a thermal shield and a matte finish. Meanwhile, the explosive warhead was loaded with 1.5 tons of RDX, enabling it to achieve a blast radius of 250 meters from the center. An environmental technician came up with the idea of utilizing pyrolusite canisters, which increased the explosive capability to a radius of 300 meters from the center.

The Lunar Zephyr Project - Testing Phase

General-Scientist Alban Trottier's team provided support to the smaller teams as much as possible to expedite the construction phase and move on to testing. Our partners from the Grand Republic of Tepror had already prepared the terrain and launch site for our ballistic missile. Special rail tracks and a military transport aircraft were readied to transport the missile to the site.

Japuile

Industrialization of Japuile - a new beginning for the dead garden?

The culture of the Grand Duchy of Japuile adores nature metaphors, especially those related to flowers as a consequence of the decline of heavy industry and socio-economic transformation. For many decades, the revival of heavy industry has been a very prickly (unpleasant for discussions) topic for the government, which tried to sow new irises (ideas, concepts) for the country's industrial sector - after all, industry, especially the light one, is the nation's soil.

However, weeds (negative illusion/bad action) don't always mean that something bad is happening - the appearance and survival, and even the current appearance on the national stock exchange of the Petroleum Refinery Research Laboratory, shocked the entire nation, although invisible to third parties not familiar with the sociology of the Grand Duchy. A meeting is currently taking place with a potential investor who wants to undertake the revival of heavy industry.

Armament Meeting

"Dear Grand Duke, thank you for the opportunity to present myself and my vision, even if you are probably already well-informed - my name is Baudet Droz. I come from a family that once led an armaments company called Systèmes Sentinel. We mainly produced rifles and handguns for the military and anyone who wanted to have the means of self-defense. Our family has not lost the spirit of gunmakers in its spirit and body - we deal with the production of hunting weapons and ammunition on demand, in accordance with legal and quality standards. With the Crown's patronage, I intend to revive Systèmes Sentinel as a state armaments corporation to supply our armories and our allies with quality weapons."

Grand Duke Casamir I of the House of Episcopo considers the words of Droz, whose family runs a home-based artisanal industry under Artane. His eyes, which could find talents even in the most lost souls of his Grand Duchy, seem to agree with him. After taking a big sip of his tea, his valet pours him another cup of tea, nodding his head.

"Mr. Baudet Droz, I agree with your vision. The armaments industries will have their designated industrial zone, but I advise you to prepare for research activities towards more ecological production, as we will be closely monitoring your actions towards the ecological side of the whole heavy industry that will be revived under your wings. I will ensure state assistance for the purchase of necessary equipment, as well as for the construction of the first factories."

After a two-hour meeting full of courteous exchanges, small talks about flowers and more, the construction of the Heavy Economic Zone in Oros began, where handguns (and maybe more) will be produced for the military of Japuile and its allies. Mr. Baudet Droz purchased the equipment needed for the production of this armament from the Grand Republic of Tepror, a friendly state that became very interested in the entire project. The zone is already under construction, and machines are being relocated to a specially designated area to acquaint the first engineers and architects with the needs of heavy industry.

Japuile

The Revival of Heavy Industry

The Heavy Industry Zone in Oros was prepared for several months to meet the requirements of the Crown of the Grand Duchy. A two-way metro line was established from the city to the zone, along with a railway station for transporting materials and products, primarily for the military transport network, especially towards Limne. Small park strips with trees, shrubs, and benches for employees were set up between factories. There are also roads for transport vehicles that move semi-finished products between various factories. The buildings were painted in different colors based on their function to avoid monotony.

The zone includes three cafes, one restaurant, and a clinic with a pharmacy. A shop and JFP, which financed its own restaurant as an investment in the future of the zone's employees, are also present. The menu was updated with new coffee options. With all these amenities, work could commence. The manager of the Heavy Industry Zone, Baudet Droz, announced the official opening.

Systèmes Sentinel

The Heavy Industry Zone in Oros specializes mainly in the production of small arms, explosives, and ammunition. A fourth factory is being prepared to produce heavy equipment, including vehicles and tanks, whose designs are expected to arrive in the future for engineers and workers. Until then, the armored heavy weaponry factory will produce semi-finished products and store them in a warehouse.

The industry is just waking up from a long slumber, but its beating heart is once again starting to pulse - and it is unlikely to stop anytime soon.

Japuile

Grand Navy Exercises - Deep Waters

"Admiral Gascon Géroux, I am pleased to inform you that the Grand Fleet is ready for exercises with the ships purchased from Herwa. We are only awaiting your order."

Vice Admiral Odile Bozonnet, recently promoted for her skills and performance in simulations that soldiers from the rank of Commander must regularly undergo, spoke through the communicator. Admiral Géroux, due to his age and health, cannot participate in simulations as often because his mind tires easily.

"We begin the training, Vice Admiral Bozonnet. May the Lady of the Moon ensure favorable waters," responded Admiral Géroux, sitting in his chair on the admiral ship, which is also participating in the training. On his ship were also guests from various countries who wished to observe the training of the Grand Fleet of the Grand Duchy of Japuile. All guests were provided with comfortable seats, drinks, and food for the duration of the exercises.

The Trirèmes impériales (Imperial Triremes) had exactly 45 seconds to launch the selected ships in the designated direction and escape using military underwater scooters. The signal to begin had just been given. Ten Imperial Triremes participated in the exercise. These ships were then hit by rockets with a visual guidance system, where each cannon had its own "eyes" analyzing the distance, position, and direction of the target.

After the initial hits, bombers that had been flying high in the clouds, launched from the aircraft carrier, descended, creating chaos in the "enemy" ranks. After a short pause, the entire fleet began artillery fire – 4 battleships with 18-inch and 12-inch main guns and 8 cruisers with 10-inch guns. Additionally, cruise missiles were launched by 16 destroyers and 12 frigates.

For the exercise, 40 training ships were ordered from MIC Michael. After two volleys, only 12 remained. Next, another volley of rockets was fired from the battleships and several cruisers, leaving only 4 ships. These were then taken out by torpedoes launched from submarines.