Townhall

[Amric]

Apparently Per Recyznski doesn't know what a referendum means. I suggest he acquire a dictionary and look up the word. We just had one for the recent flag. The WET had one to decide to become a full province. Tilapia and St. Esprit had one to determine whether they wanted to stay in the union or not. IT was peaceful. There was no ARMED insurrection. No shots were fired.

As a deputy MDIS you have a certain RESPONSIBILITY to toe the line in terms of government policy. You have the RIGHT to speak your mind. But you do NOT have the right to DETERMINE policy. You report to Hawkton Tilly as Minister, and you BOTH report to me as President. It's that simple.

In a forum such as the general assembly, which is constantly monitored by the press of numerous nations your little speech will possibly set any possible normalization of relations with our southern neighbors back considerably. As a deputy MDIS you have a RESPONSIBLITY to KNOW better. You don't have to AGREE with the policy, and privately you may rail against it all you want. But when you WORK for the government that you PROMISED to support, undermining it the way you have is something that SHOULD be inconceivable.

Yet you have had no trouble undermining the LEGITIMATE government of Eutopia with your open and PUBLIC comments as a GOVERNMENT official virtually THREATENING our neighbors. Am I putting words in your mouth? No.

Am I interpreting them in a way others MIGHT. You bet. As I am CERTAIN the Queen and the republic of St. Esprit has also done. Congratulations. You've no doubt caused me and the rest of the government innumerable difficulties. Is this your goal? To disrupt things so that in a future election you can state that we couldn't get things done? Point fingers and say your piece. But the elections are over and you are supposed to be working WITHIN the government as a DEPUTY MDIS to carry out OFFICIAL policy. Not undermine it with thoughtless comments that will cause a great deal of trouble and difficulty between the three nations on this island.

 

[Sterkarm]

Press release from the office of Kazimierz Reczynski:

"Regarding my recent termination as deputy MDIS, while I don't agree with it, obviously, I respect the President's decision and realize that he is trying to create unity within his administration. While I would go about it differently and am somewhat surprised considering he said he would appoint ministers based on their ability, I still wish to work with President Al'Aeshir as an MGA. I hope the President feels the same way."

 

[unmerged(33865)]

UNKNOWN PREDATOR STALKS GLORIANA CATTLE, SHEEP

Sixteen head of livestock were found slain by an unknown predator in the hills of Gloriana. Additionally, two steers and one goat had to be put down after being discovered with brutal crippling injuries.
National Game and Wildlife officials are stumped over the case, as no evidence has been found to suggest a specific predator. Black bears are common in the wilderness, and on rare occasion the Auxian Lynx will seen miles from its native mountains of the WET, but none of these cases suggest either predator. Wild or feral dogs are also being considered as an option.

Is anyone interested in organizing an UNKNOWN PREDATOR hunt? Perhaps some military folks who can sign out an M-113 or better for the weekend? Bowhunters need not apply, unless they want to be bait.

 

[The_Hawk]

Is anyone interested in organizing an UNKNOWN PREDATOR hunt? Perhaps some military folks who can sign out an M-113 or better for the weekend? Bowhunters need not apply, unless they want to be bait.

Military equipment is not for use on hunting excursions, Per Fourgéres! Not unless you, and anyone foolish enough to take your suggestion seriously, relish spending a long time in the stockade...

 

[von Streusser]

Considering that those attacks ended over 3 years ago, and there were two or three expeditions that went out after them and came up empty, I doubt anything new will come of it now. Hell, I'm even investigating the case, or something close. Whatever it is, or was, you're not going to find it now.

And definitely not in an M-113.

Have you ever hunted before? There's a reason you don't see bear hunters in tanks, you know. And it's not just because they can't get them (the tanks I mean).

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Hell, I'm even investigating the case, or something close.

And definitely not in an M-113.

Have you ever hunted before? There's a reason you don't see bear hunters in tanks, you know. And it's not just because they can't get them (the tanks I mean).

Thanks for confirming rumours that something was going on with that case.

An M-113 is not a tank.

The M113A1 is a lightly armoured full tracked air transportable personnel carrier designed to carry personnel and certain types of cargo. The M113-family was developed the from M59 and M75 which were designed by FMC in the late 1950´s. The vehicle is capable of: amphibious operations in streams and lakes; extended cross country travel over rough terrain; and high speed operation on improved roads and highways.

I had envisaged two roles for them in a proposed hunt, traveling in line abreast formation as "beaters", as they would make enough noise to flush out presumably any critter, and as back-up in case the UNKNOWN PREDATOR was tougher than a bear.

As to whether I have hunted, it depends on the deffinition. I have participated in fox hunts on horseback, and have been shooting pheasant, grouse, etc in organized hunts with beaters, both now a fairly archaic practices and often protested by animal rights activists. I have not been tracking game across country. As you point out, that has been tried and it didn't work, which is why I am suggesting something different.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Military equipment is not for use on hunting excursions, Per Fourgéres! Not unless you, and anyone foolish enough to take your suggestion seriously, relish spending a long time in the stockade...

I was not suggesting anything illegal, as I said "sign out", not "borrow" or "steal". As MDIS you have apparently just forbidden this practice, as is your prerogative. But you will be faced with needing to increase re-enlistments now that the draft has ended, so denying your officers this fringe benefit might conflict with that other goal. There was recently some maneuvers down by Vilmy Creek, why not hold the next exercise in Gloriana?

 

[The_Hawk]

But you will be faced with needing to increase re-enlistments now that the draft has ended, so denying your officers this fringe benefit might conflict with that other goal.

With all due respect, Per Fourgéres, are you insane? Do you seriously consider the ability to "sign out" (I fail to see the difference between that and "borrow") high-powered military equipment a "fringe benefit" to being in the military? What else would you suggest they have private access to? Assault rifles? Fighters? Submarines? I expect there's someone in the service who gets annoyed at their neighbor, so it would be terribly convenient if he or she could make supersonic passes over that neighbor's house in the middle of the night... but it's not going to happen on my watch.

 

[unmerged(33865)]

...the ability to "sign out" (I fail to see the difference between that and "borrow")...

The difference was that "sign-out" implied receiving authorization to do it, which you have made clear will not be granted, while "borrow" was meant to imply doing so without authorization, such as "joy-riding" in a stolen car that is then left at or near the place from which it was illegally taken. I want to make it clear that I was not advocating any illegal action.

...I expect there's someone in the service who gets annoyed at their neighbor, so it would be terribly convenient if he or she could make supersonic passes over that neighbor's house in the middle of the night...

I expect you already have regulation against low altitude supersonic flights in over populated areas except in combat situations, so your example is not germane.

The point of the military is to protect the people. This usually means from human enemies, but when we are dealing with an UNKNOWN PREDATOR, that is presumably not human, does that mean the military can't help? Of course not, the tradition of military participation in disaster relief is well known. The problem here is that my suggestion comes from outside the civilian command structure (you and the President), and the necessity is not at all obvious. Whether it is pre-mature, outdated (as PJ suggested), or actually appropriate will be determined by future events. We are both on record. I hope that the threat of this menace has passed, but if some children on a camping trip are savagely mauled, what will you tell the grieving parents?

 

[The_Hawk]

Don't play word games with me, Per Fourgéres. I don't have time for it. You weren't suggesting an organized military operation to protect civilian lives, you were suggesting a sporting event, with the big guns provided by any military folks you could sucker into it. And you are correct, sir, you are on record with that.

 

[von Streusser]

Vasquez dis-interestedly lights a cigarette, then twirls it through the air as he speaks for emphasis. "I am aware of what an M-113 is or is not, Per Fourgeres. I was merely, how do you say...drawing an analogy. Let us not split hairs, the point is that no one takes large armored vehicles in to the countryside to try and hunt down creatures that, thus far, have not even been seen by human eyes.

The fact that this beast, whatever it is, is still 'unknown' indicates that no one has seen it. This in turn suggests that the creature is reclusive, meaning it will not run out to greet a column of armored vehicles, but rather use the incredible noise and fuss generated by such equipment as an advance warning to hide itself or flee well in advance of your 'expedition'.

Successful hunters are subtle, stealthy, they stalk their prey...they 'hunt' rather than 'conquer'. How many foxes do you think you could bring down with an M-113? Or better, how many lynx? Or some other reclusive creature with exceptional skill at making itself hidden.

The fact that not a single attack has occurred within three years inside a significantly populated area (Gloriana is prime farmland, Senor, there are many head of livestock there, if not a great many people) indicates to me that this creature or creatures is/are no longer a threat. Surely we're not dealing with a boogie man that needs only feed once every five years? The fact that not even a single one of these predators has been *SEEN* in three years reinforces my suspiscions, both about their reclusiveness and the end of their threat.

Then-President Glasser, at the time of the attacks, investigated personally. As well I believe there were several members of the Eutopian Rifle Association that went on an expedition that came up empty. Ah, without your 'lightly armoured full tracked air transportable personnel carrier', since you insist on mincing words. But then, perhaps they lacked the firepower to find and destroy this elephant hidden in the strawberry patch, no? Would a bazooka - oh, my apologies, a 'man portable light anti-tank weapon' - have been better suited to locating these creatures and blowing them to kingdom come?" he adds with a touch of sarcasm before taking a long drag on his cigarrette.

- PJ Vasquez

 

[unmerged(4271)]

A ragged one-armed man raises his voice from the back of the room....

"A bazooka wouldn't help! An army of men with an army of bazooka's can't kill what you can't catch, what you can't see!

Look at you all, in your starched suits and pretty little (cough, cough) designer shirts! You think you know it all, don't you? Riding in on a (wheeze) white horse to save the day?

You don't think people have gone missing in three years?

Awfully trusting, aren't you?

Did you ever consider that given the absolute disintegration of Eutopia falling down around his ears that maybe, just maaaaaaaybe Gall chose to cover a few things up?

Did you ever wonder about all of those reporter hurricane casualties? All those missing people? How easy it would be to add a few names to the rolls of the (hack!) missing?

You'll find out! You'll all find out soon enough, when it's your sons or daughters that are carried off, or when you finally brave the night to search for it and without warning it's upon you, slicing, and (wheeze! wheeze!) and cutting! and (wheeze! gasp!) biting! and stin...stin...(Gasp!) stinginggggggggggggggg...." (thud).

Overcome by emotion the bedrangled stranger has fallen victim to a seizure and tremors on the ground for moments before help can be summoned and he is carried away.

-heagart as NPC
GM Events

 

[Voshkod]

The Brigadier has been listening to this conversation in vague amusement. He recites, in a quiet voice:

" 'You may seek it with thimbles--and seek it with care;
You may hunt it with forks and hope;
You may threaten its life with a railway-share;
You may charm it with smiles and soap--' "

("That's exactly the method," the Bellman bold
In a hasty parenthesis cried,
"That's exactly the way I have always been told
That the capture of Snarks should be tried!")

" 'But oh, beamish nephew, beware of the day,
If your Snark be a Boojum! For then
You will softly and suddenly vanish away,
And never be met with again!' "

 

[unmerged(4271)]

"Piercing! Piercing and stabbing! (cough, shudder, shake) Flaying, I tells ya, flaying and ... and... (ack!)" the man manages to sputter before he is sedated and carried toward the ambulance.

-heagart as NPC
GM Events

 

[von Streusser]

At the man's outburst, Vasquez instantly extinguishes his cigarette and runs out after the man who is being sedated by mysteriously convenient paramedics. Dashing out to the curb, he notes the ambulance and its plates, then calls out to the paramedics quickly "What hospital are you taking him to?" He reaches for the keys to his car and starts fumbling to get them out in nervous excitement as he awaits their reply.

- PJ Vasquez

 

[unmerged(4271)]

"With the Rending and the TEARING and the OH MY GOD (hack hack cough! shudder! jerk!) the Ripping of bone from flesh and the (convulsing jerks from side to side) extemely painful injection of.. of.. (GAG! GAK!)...." the man appears to pass out before he chokes on his sputum.

-heagarty as NPC
GM Events

 

[unmerged(4271)]

"Umm, Eutopia General I think," says one of the EMTs, before loading him into the ambulance.

- h a N
GM E

 

[unmerged(4271)]

"Hey, wasn't that Charles Morgan?" someone asks?

-h a N
GM E

 

[unmerged(33865)]

Don't play word games with me, Per Fourgéres. I don't have time for it. You weren't suggesting an organized military operation to protect civilian lives, you were suggesting a sporting event, with the big guns provided by any military folks you could sucker into it. And you are correct, sir, you are on record with that.

You obviously do have time for word play, if you choose participate in the townhall, where it seems to be a staple. There is a long tradition of the military participating in sporting events, from the pentathlon and shooting events at the summer Olympics, to the biathalon in the winter games, to annual Army-Navy football game between the American service academies.

 

[unmerged(4271)]

At the man's outburst, Vasquez instantly extinguishes his cigarette and runs out after the man who is being sedated by mysteriously convenient paramedics. Dashing out to the curb, he notes the ambulance and its plates, then calls out to the paramedics quickly "What hospital are you taking him to?" He reaches for the keys to his car and starts fumbling to get them out in nervous excitement as he awaits their reply.

- PJ Vasquez

A stranger (a different one) leaves the town hall in a hurry and, not looking, runs right into PJ, knocking his keys, cigaratte, lighter, and other items the detective was trying to juggle, to the floor and losing his own briefcase full of papers.

In a rush, he gathers up most of PJs belongings in a pile of papers, hands then to the detective then rushes off.

Only when PJ examines what's in his hands does he realize that he has the wrong wallet. And, given the large amount of currency in the wallet, it appears that this was not intentional.

- heagarty as NPC
GM Events