Kintsugi

Hello! As I am being mentioned specifically by name in this reply many times, I would like to point out that I never accused you of anything at all, and I certainly did not present an "argument" at any point - I did not contact staff about the remarks that got you banned, and I didn't particularly have much to say about the matter to begin with. Yes, I was concerned by your use of a phrase that fascists often use to self-identify or describe their ideology, largely as a consequence of my history of interactions with you and by virtue of you having made many remarks in the past that concerned me. I have also not ever mentioned your religious beliefs, nor have I insulted you in any capacity. I'm not really sure why I'm being singled out in this regard and named so many times, but I don't think it's appropriate for you to try and shift things onto me when, again, I have absolutely no involvement in this matter or in your ban. Thank you!

BREAKING: Armed Forces Draft Office Bombed! Shocking news from Aemaq today, where an Elyran Armed Forces recruitment center that had been converted into a draft office for processing NCPs in the capital of Rumaidair was rocked by an explosion shortly before operating hours. The blast, which claimed the lives of four EAF personnel and wounded six others, is believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device stashed in a foyer ceiling, possibly by maintenance workers or possibly during operating hours by a civilian. It is unclear how the attacker was able to evade detection by on-site EAF personnel, though the huge volume of draftees being processed in recent weeks likely played a part in obfuscating the preparation for the attack. Investigators are already working tirelessly reviewing the evidence and canvassing the scene, and while a suspect has not yet been disclosed, it is abundantly clear that this incident represents a startling and drastic new escalation in the NCP unrest over the recently passed draft laws. While incidents of NCP criminal behavior have reportedly increased sharply following the instatement of the draft, this is the first such incident of a targeted attack at an EAF facility, and many have been left stunned by the attack on a military facility by an apparent NCP terrorist. Already there has been a massive response to the incident, with large numbers of police and National Guard personnel deployed to Rumaidair at this time, and many citizens and legislators across the Republic calling for closer monitoring over the NCP community within our nation and stricter requirements for accessing potentially explosive materials. This is a developing story, and more information is likely to be released in the coming days and weeks. Further Reading: Sol’s Folly: How Allying Itself with Moroz will Only Bring the Alliance More Problems Citizen’s Watch: How Newly-Formed Grassroots Neighborhood Protection Organizations Police NCP Behavior in Their Communities Schools Closed in Rumaidair Today: Is Your Child Impacted?

I'm curious to hear how you currently feel about NBT2, in light of how important the megacorp team will be in completing the transition to the new setting. Could you post your thoughts regarding the new setting and the planned gameplay and lore changes that will come with it?

I think that clears up my concerns, thank you.

I hope this doesn’t come off the wrong way, but I feel like you misinterpreted Biesel’s lore if you ever read it as being a “genuine beacon of liberty”. For the duration of at least my time on this server, Biesel has always been a carefully tended asset for the megacorporations, and the facade of being a beacon of liberty is a key component of that artificially constructed state - sure, some characters in the lore have been true believers in Biesel and it’s not so cut-and-dry as “Biesel is solely a corporate puppet state” by any means, but the fundamental nature of the state is that it is a corporate cash-cow dressed up as a liberal democracy. Likewise, I’m concerned about how you framed the dynamic powering Biesel as a dichotomy of either being like Sol to being like a sort of True Free Biesel. Similarities have more to do with the nature of imperialism as opposed to the characteristics possessed by either state, and furthermore I can’t help but point out that I think the way that you describe Sol itself as being out of alignment with the actual lore of the state. Your desire to “De-Sol” Biesel begs the question of how you intend to do so, and if you’re framing the “Sol-like” traits as the evil parts of Biesel, don’t you run the risk of turning IW2 into a conflict between a “good” side and a “bad” side? Maybe I’m not communicating my feelings well, but in general the way you’ve framed this answer has me concerned about your goals with the position - whitewashing Biesel would be massively detrimental to the server, in my opinion, and I hope that’s not what you intend to do. To close off, the final sentence there almost reads as an ultimatum that you want to take Biesel in a specific direction and you will not pursue this application further if you’re not able to do so. It was part of the job description that megacorp writers are going to have to deal with deferring to other teams and the loremasters more commonly than the species teams would have to, and I don’t think this attitude meshes well with that need. I hope you can clear up these concerns for me; thank you!

I noticed that you didn’t really speak much about Biesel. Could you elaborate on what direction you feel you’d like to take the Republic of Biesel in, especially in the context of what you know about Anabasis? I would personally argue that Biesel is the far more important responsibility for this new team to handle, especially in light of how the megacorporations are changing to become a less dominant force. With regards to other lore teams, how well do you feel you’ll be able to accommodate their vision? Are you able to accept compromise and defer to other teams when necessary to do so? The changing nature of Biesel and the megacorporations is going to necessitate extensive cooperation with other lore teams, and with much already being worked on behind the scenes, do you feel you’ll be able to mesh in with an internal vision you might not like? I would also disagree to an extent with your characterization of Avarizia and other freelancer groups as resembling the megacorporations and having the potential to become new ones, but that’s a relatively minor point. I hate to bring this up because it was an incident that happened all the way back in 2024, but one major concern I have is how you are able to handle friction and disagreements. While we sorted this out and the matter is several years old, I recall a point in time where you blocked me over what I believe was a minor lore disagreement, if my memory serves me correctly. While obviously this is not reflective of how you might be in the present as there’s a significant time gap involved here, I still have my concerns about how you’ll be able to handle players and other lore writers disagreeing with you or saying things you find objectionable - do you feel you’ll be able to do so without having to cut off contact entirely?

Department of Defense Announces Rollout of Kyoto-class Battleship UNITY STATION (GST) - The Department of Defense today has announced the long-embattled Kyoto-class battleship project has met all DoD specifications, and procurement of the ship for all major combat fleets was now underway. This development comes after years of revision and back-and-forth negotiations between Secretary of Defense Lucien Courtois and his counterparts in the top ranks of the admiralty, as the Kyoto-class has been plagued by decades of development woes - with both political malfeasance from within the Navy and corruption among military and civilian administrators responsible for the project that had reached its peak under the Frost administration. By far the most modern craft to ever serve with the Navy, the Kyoto-class represents the cutting edge of naval warfare and design, with a suite of highly advanced weapons, automation systems, sensors, engines and bleeding-edge plasteel-polymer ceramic composite armor. While originally intended to replace the Navy’s aging Rome-class battleships completely, phoron supply shortfalls have made this decision effectively impossible - instead, the Rome-class will undergo modernization to use the most effective non-phoronic equipment at the Navy’s disposal, with some hulls scrapped, some assigned to second-line fleets and training formations, and the excess being either modernized and mothballed or mothballed outright. Another key change to the program is the decision to use a Suzuki-Hammer drive instead of a bluespace drive, which came as a consequence of the aforementioned phoron procurement and supply issues. SecD. Courtois gave this statement alongside the announcement: “The success of the Kyoto-class program has been a major demonstration to the rest of the Spur of our recovering strength, as well as our continued commitment to peace through deterrence. Sol has always stood as the foremost guardian of humanity throughout the Orion Spur, and the Kyoto-class shows that we are serious about maintaining that role - our Sovereign Alliance will always be ready to bring peace and prosperity by any means necessary. Further Reading: Priscilla Keeser Photographed Visiting First Moroz PAWELWURST Location Department of State Issues “Do Not Travel” Order for Serene Republic of Elyra, Citing Mounting Unrest and Violence Rumors of Phoron in the Lemurian Sea Puzzle Observers, Experts

Valley Hale Bilateral Settlement with Biesel Reached UTHMA, PERSEPOLIS (GST) - After weeks of intensive negotiations with officials from Biesel, good news has come from Mendell City today, as the diplomats assigned to talks with the Tau Cetians over the status of the Valley Hale and a number of other border areas have come to report that a settlement has been reached with their counterparts with Biesel. While not all conditions of the agreement have been revealed at this time, it is reported that the Serene Republic will recognize the space occupied by Biesel in the region as legally Tau Ceti’s, in exchange for finalizing the borders between our two nations and a commitment to strengthening bilateral security cooperation. The agreement comes as a profound relief to many domestic observers, as the border with Biesel has been a persistent issue for relations between our two countries ever since the Solarian collapse several years ago. Friction on the border began with the establishment of the Orchard Moon phoron mining and processing facility, an SCC industrial site established in territory previously claimed by both nations. A number of minor incidents involving corporate vessels and Elyran border guards further cooled ties, as Biesel began committing a significant quantity of TCAF squadrons to the Valley Hale region in order to enforce their claims. Nonetheless, as the spur grows more dangerous by the year, officials within both governments recognized that our two Republics are stronger together than apart, and diplomatic efforts to repair ties and resolve areas of contention beginning this year have finally come to produce meaningful results. It is expected that the solidification of the border will allow significant quantities of Naval forces to be relocated to the western border of the Serene Republic as Imperial encroachment continues there, providing a major boost in forces there alongside the arrival of NCP draftees to the frontline in several months. Further Reading: NCP Draft Riots Continue Across the Republic Rumors of Phoron in the Lemurian Sea, “Absurd,” says Finance Minister MP Gökay Slams NCP Draftees as “Unprofessional”, “Inept”, and “Detrimental to overall readiness” in Fiery Speech

I see absolutely no reason to compel people to play the game against their will. Succumb allows people to take their exit when they’ve lost all character agency or when it would be most suited for roleplay. If people are using it to avoid roleplay because they’re only here to frag, they should be dealt with by moderation.

Dave has been an immense help to human lore alone on multiple fronts and I think he would be an excellent addition to the wiki team

Visegradi Restaurant Chain to Expand to Empire of Dominia FELLEGVAR, VISEGRAD (GST) - In light of the success of Pan-Solarian’s Callisto-Visegrad-Moroz line and a remarkable degree of enthusiasm for the restaurant among Imperial visitors to the rainy world, the Visegradi currywurst chain PAWELWURST has recently announced plans to open several locations on Moroz in Q2 2468, with further aims to open restaurants on Novi Jadran if the Morozian ventures prove successful. A mainstay on Visegrad, PAWELWURST is most known for its vintage-styled restaurant kiosks, which are ubiquitous throughout the planet’s cities and designed to be highly efficient in space management. Imperial opinions are most positive towards the chain’s pork and beef sausages, with the Visegradi-native wollbiest sausages being more contentious; though few nobles surveyed reported enjoying them, the rich and fatty meat of the wollbiest is especially popular among Jadraners. Spokesperson for PAWELWURST, Anton Kasparek, gave this statement alongside the announcement: “The aim of PAWELWURST has always been twofold: to be the best taste of Fellegvar you can get anywhere in the spur, and to always have a meal ready for you when you need it most. Those were the goals of our founder, Pawel Popescu, and we’ve stayed true to them all these decades later. I know Pawel would have been honored to bring Visegradi cuisine to Moroz, and we will continue to make him proud as we grow and expand further in the coming years.” Further Reading: Cooking: Earth Classics with an Alien Twist Drugs For Every Vice: How Venus’ Criminal Underworld Works Fleet Admiral Klaudia Szalai to Hold Officers’ Symposium on Alliance-Imperial Cooperation in Fellegvar

Sorry fuys

Ministry of Tourism and External Affairs Revokes Diplomatic Recognition of Empire of Dominia UTHMA, PERSEPOLIS (GST) - In the continuing aftermath of the Zhu Yu border incident, the Ministry of Tourism and External Affairs has moved to revoke diplomatic recognition of the Empire of Dominia following the passage of the “Republic Border Defense Act”, which denounces the Empire’s ongoing expansionism in the Sparring Sea and throughout the spur and bolsters spending on defense by a further 25% increase. The act, floored by MP (EPP) Gökay, is meant to set a red line in the sand for the Imperials that further border incursions will not be tolerated, and directs the government to avoid diplomatic contact with the Imperials until such a time that their aggressive posture has ceased. Already all diplomatic staff within the Empire have been recalled to the Republic, and the Imperial facilities on Persepolis have been shuttered, with their staff awaiting transportation back to Moroz. MP Gökay had this to say to ENN reporters: “It is fundamentally clear to all those who are conscious of the actions undertaken by the Imperials that their intention is to conquer us. These constant surveillance missions and violations of our sanitary cordon serve one end: to wear down our readiness and to determine our weaknesses. What the Imperials do not know, however, is that we are an unbroken people, who have thrown off the shackles of the Sol Alliance and repelled the invasion of the Lii’dra; we are not afraid of their bellicosity. We stand united and ready to defeat any aggressor. This act sends the Empire a powerful message: we will not capitulate to tyranny.” The Morozian government has yet to respond at this time. Further Reading: Reservist Training Call Ups Doubled by Border Defense Act: What Reservists Need to Know Damascene Alcohol Industry Reports Revenue Decline Due to Diminished Domestic Market Diplomatic Mission Reportedly to Meet With Biesel

Navy Issues Statement on Escalating Imperial Salami-Slicing Tactics UTHMA, PERSEPOLIS (GST) - In response to false claims issued by the Imperial government on Moroz regarding a border incursion that took place last week, the Navy has held a press conference with ENN and a number of independent citizen-journalists in order to dispel the allegations of the Dominian media and its diplomats. Key details revealed by the Navy include that contrary to Imperial claims, the vessel known as “Zhu Yu” was operating in a Navy-imposed sanitary cordon where Imperial vessels were explicitly disallowed, and that it was engaged in active surveillance of Elyran border space. Proof of those allegations come in the form of survey data recovered from the wreckage of the Zhu Yu prior to its scuttling, after Morozian forces had abandoned it in response to severe asteroid damage. Attached is a partial recording of the press conference, with the questions and answers segment omitted: The recording depicts a scene that those who follow ENN closely would recognize: a Naval officer with a neat buzzcut stands at a podium at the front of a sterile conference room, with a gaggle of various reporters and cameramen visible throughout the space. After a few moments of silence, the officer begins to address the small crowd. “Good afternoon, my fellow citizens. The purpose of this press conference is two-fold; to report on the escalation of Imperial salami-slicing in our border space, and to provide an after-action report regarding the pursuit of the Zhu Yu, an Imperial spy ship. For those unaware, salami-slicing is a tactic in which gradual, small actions are taken to achieve a greater overall goal. At this point in time, the Imperials have engaged in such actions over the past several years, with the rate of such actions greatly accelerating over the last year. Dominian outposts have been constructed throughout space to the Serene Republic’s galactic southwest, and Imperial patrols have increasingly come closer and closer to our sanitary cordon. Last week, a naval border patrol responsible for maintaining the cordon detected an Imperial surveillance vessel later identified as the “Zhu Yu” active within it. This ship gave chase, and the Zhu Yu refused to comply with our security action, fleeing into a large asteroid belt within the system in an effort to avoid detection. Due to navigational errors on the part of the Morozian crew, the ship took substantial damage, and its crew fled to a third party corporate vessel. Naval Infantry teams promptly boarded the wreck of the Zhu Yu to gather evidence, and recovered the ship’s survey database. Review by naval intelligence analysts found that the data within contained scans of Naval outposts and civilian industrial sites throughout Republican border space and the sanitary cordon, along with those of unclaimed worlds in the region that we believe the Imperials intend to establish outposts upon. After proper documentation of the wreckage and the necessary search and rescue efforts were completed, the Zhu Yu was scuttled in order to deny the Imperials an opportunity to recover it.” This newest escalation of efforts to undermine our border security has prompted intense discussion within analyst circles, with debate raging about the best way to stop the Imperial encroachment without further inflaming tensions. Hawks within the national security establishment have advocated for naval infantry to board any craft that violates the anti-Imperial cordon, whereas more moderate voices instead advocate for an expansion of the cordon and for the reassignment of patrols in the Valley Hale to be rerouted to the Sparring Sea. The entire press conference can be viewed at the navy’s extranet site. Further Reading: Heartwarming: Patriotic Doner Shop Owner Gives Free Meals to Veterans and Servicemen Medina Unrest Among NCPs Continues Following Substance Control Act What’s Next For The Phoron Industry? Pathways to Recovery and Growth

I think the volume of replies to this thread shows that it goes without saying that Joe is one of Aurora’s best players, and at the very least I personally have met few better than him in the long period of my time playing here. Give him a command WL lol