Flashpoint: Antarctica

[Smyg]

Flashpoint: Antarctica

Welcome to Flashpoint: Antarctica.

As the E1968 turn will take an extensive amount of time to process (I have currently finished Western and Northern Africa, which is about 4,000 words), here is a thing you can do in the mean time.

If you so wish, you can carry out scientific expeditions to Antarctica, or work to construct or expand scientific stations there. More exciting, perhaps, will be your response to certain international events involving the great continent of the far south.

Responses and actions in in-character format can be posted here in this thread or elsewhere. Secret actions can be sent to me. Don't attempt to use credits for anything - contact me for questions on whether you can or cannot do a particular thing. Diplomatic responses, domestic reactions, etc. will be rewarded with minor credit bonuses in the main game.

[Smyg]

Antarctican Events, E1968

• Activity surges in distant Antarctica, where the Americans finish the construction of their new Palmer Station. It joins Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, Plateau Station, Brockton Station, Hallett Station, Byrd Station and McMurdo Station (notable for its nuclear power plant, maintained by the US Navy, which generates 1.8 MW of electrical power) as the US outposts on the continent. Elsewhere on the American side of things, the armed icebreaker USCGC Glacier becomes the first ship to cross the Weddell Sea from the edge of the ice pack to the continental landmass.

• On the communist side, the military veteran Alexey Tryoshnikov continues the 13th Soviet Antarctic Expedition, while the 12th under Pavel Senko finishes. From the Motherland comes scientific reinforcements, as the 14th Expedition arrives, commanded by D. D. Maksutov and E. T. Krenkel. Business continues as usual at Mirny Station, Vostok Station and Novolazarevskaya Station, while at Molodyozhnaya Station early preparations for the E1969 launch of suborbital meteorological sounding rockets is underway.

• More problematic is the completion of Bellingshausen Station in the South Shetland Islands, a Soviet move immediately protested by the Provisional Salvation Government of Argentina, which claims the whole of that territory. Although it is also claimed as part of the British Antarctic Territory and the Antártica Chilena Province, the British and Chileans - unlike the self-proclaimed government-in-exile - keep quiet, as is customary. Perhaps they have more pressing concerns.

• The first season of construction at Vanda Station in the claimed Ross Dependency, commenced by New Zealand during the austral summer of 1967, finishes. A second season is planed for 1968-1969, followed by the arrival of a five-man team set to winter there during 1969.

• The New Zealand Geological Survey Antarctic Expedition names several notable geographical features along its path, including Ian Peak and Champness Glacier (both after members of the expedition).

• Australia plans to close down the old Wilkes Station by E1969 and replace it with Casey Station continue. Increasingly buried in ice, and with fuel seepage causing fire hazards, Wilkes Station is simply not safe anymore. Likewise, the temporarily closed Davis Station is set to reopen in E1969.

• Also due for completion in E1969 is the Meteorological Center President Frei on King George Island in the South Shetland Islands. This scientific base is hardly the center of Chilean attention right now, but work still continues.

• Although it remains to be seen when construction can begin, careful plans are being made by the for the E1970 establishment of a proposed "Mizuho Station" on the Mizuho Plateau by the National Institute of Polar Research. It would be used as a transshipment base by the researchers at Showa Station, where the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition has begun a new phase this year. Radio reports from one researcher on the expedition back to Tokyo, describing strange lights in the skies above the station, go ignored.

• Elections take place in the Falkland Islands for the Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands. Established in 1845, with universal suffrage introduced only in 1948, it's still not entirely democratic. Out of the Legislative Council's 10 members, only 4 are elected, two from Stanley and one each from East Falkland and West Falkland. In Stanley the incumbent Richard Victor Goss is re-elected, and is joined by Nanette King. While in West Falkland the incumbent Sydney Miller is re-elected, in East Falkland Marjorie Vinson - who in 1964 became the first woman to be elected Councillor - is ousted in favour of Robin Andreas Mackintosh Pitaluga. In total, 1,455 people turn out to vote in the elections, in a population consisting of about 2,000 (incl. children). Voting is temporarily interupted in West Falkland when a child enters the polling station and declares that the Posadists are invading, prompting members of the Falkland Islands Defence Force to flee in panic. It soon becomes apparent that it was a case of the boy crying extraterrestrial wolf.

• With most Western powers --- the United States, the United Kingdom and the French Republic --- having fully recognized the Provisional Salvation Government of Argentina as the legitimate government of Argentina, surrendering all Argentine government assets held in those countries to the PSGA, the Argentine Legion is formed. With Juan Perón, now again titling himself President, as its Commander-in-Chief, thousands of Argentine nationals living abroad are said to be applying for membership with the goal of liberating their homeland, and hundreds already reported to be receiving paramilitary training in a Madrid compound, armed by Generalissimo Franco. A campaign that surprises the world soon takes place, as Perón - using donations from the Argentine diaspora - sends off a rented tourist cruiser, rechristened the Buenos Aires, to Antarctica, carrying a civilian crew and several members of his Legion. The Department of Argentina Antarctica, which has been in radio silence for the past two months, is after all likely to be the sole part of Argentina (although a part which is not recognized as Argentine territory by any other country) not occupied by the Aliens and their Posadist allies. In order to allow for the defence of this vital sliver of land, the PSGA announces that Argentina will immediately suspend their ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and its arms control provisions.

• Upon arrival in late January, the Buenos Aires attempts to make contact with the Argentine military-scientific stations on the Antarctican Peninsula, of which there are many. They are met with cheers at their place of arrival, the civilian-led Esperanza Base in Hope Bay, from where radio broadcasts announcing the base's allegiance to His Excellency President Juan Perón are now sent out. With no word yet arriving from the other, often poorly equipped and understaffed, permanent and seasonal stations, the Buenos Aires heads off to reach the Air Force-administrated Marambio Base. To the idealistic volunteers' shock, they find themselves under attack by machine gun-armed Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters as they approach the harbour! The slow and heavy ex-tourist cruiser frantically retreats to Esperanza Base, only to find itself under siege by a ship flying Argentine colours, identified as the ARA General San Martin, a military icebreaker. Its commander, soon revealed to be Mario Luis Olezza, a former military aviator who made the world's first transpolar flight in 1965, demands the immediate surrender of the Buenos Aires and Esperanza Base. An emergency call for aid goes out to all Antarctic research stations, who in turn relay them to their governments, from the besieged base.

• The Falklands Revelation. While all this goes on, a Royal Navy patrol ship, the HMS Endurance, causes even more breaking news across the world, when its crew return to port in the Falklands Islands. The sailors, ordered to attempt to reach the Argentine Coast to investigate the situation by their superiors, report something most extraordinary: they just couldn't sail there. The moment they entered Argentina's territorial waters, the crewmen all agreed, they lost control of their own bodies and simply steered back home. Within not too long, leaks within the air forces of Argentina's neighbours — not to mention an array of adventurers and UFOlogists in private aircraft attempting to enter Argentine airspace — reveal what some have likely known since First Contact. Some form of electromagnetic signal is being beamed out off Buenos Aires and several other locations in the country, which instinctively forces all those operating aircraft and ships to turn around, inducing a form of forced somnambulism. HAM radio operators attempting to pick up this signal report failure. The science behind it all remains so far unknown.

Antarctican Stats

Included here are claim Antarctic territories, research stations, sub-Antarctic territories, and the Falkland Isles by virtue of being nearby.

The Antarctic Treaty System (Signed 1959. Effective 1961.) sets aside Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activity on that continent. It was the very first arms control treaty of the Cold War. Some signatories have "Consultative Status", and hold yearly meetings where they vote on joint policy. One accomplishment gained through that is the Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora (1964). All signatories may observe consultative meetings, but not vote. Current signatories:

• United States of America (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• United Kingdom of Great Britain (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• French Republic (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• Kingdom of Belgium (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• Republic of South Africa (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• Commonwealth of Australia (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• New Zealand (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• Japan (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• Kingdom of Norway (Ratification 1960, Consultative Status 1961)
• Argentine Republic (Ratification 1961, Consultative Status 1961) --- RATIFICATION SUSPENDED AS OF E1968
• Republic of Chile (Ratification 1961, Consultative Status 1961)
• Polish People's Republic (Ratification 1961)
• Kingdom of Denmark (Ratification 1965)
• Kingdom of the Netherlands (Ratification 1967)

_________________________________


-Falklands Islands Crown Colony-
Government: Ceremonial Monarchy, Multi-Party
Sphere: British Colony
Armed forces consist of a few dozen Royal Marines, about a dozen officers of the Royal Falkland Islands Police, the Falkland Islands Defence Force (c. 100 men), and the HMS Endurance.
Major Settlements:

• Port Stanley
• Goose Green
• Port Howard

-Falkland Islands Dependencies-
(Consists of the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands)
Government: Colonial
Sphere: British Colony
No permanent inhabitants, but several decrepit whaling stations are still used on-off:

• Stromness (Abandoned 1961)
• Leith Harbour (Abandoned 1965)
• Grytviken (Abandoned 1966)

-British Antarctic Territory-
Government: Colony
Sphere: British Colony
Permanent and Seasonal British Stations:

• Halley Research Station
• Signy Research Station
• Adelaide Base
• Fossil Bluff Base
• Base F

-Argentine Antarctica-
Government: Colony
Sphere: Argentine Colony
Unknown numbers of Argentine soldiers, marines and sailors inhabit this predominantly military region.
Permanent and Seasonal Argentine Stations:

• Base Aérea Teniente Benjamín Matienzo
• Almirante Brown Research Station
• Capitán Cobbett Naval Refuge
• Deception Station
• Esperanza Base (PSGA-held)
• Orcadas Base
• Jubany Base
• Belgrano Base
• Cámara Base
• Sobral Base
• Petrel Base
• Melchior Base

-Chilean Antarctic Territory-
Government: Colonial
Sphere: Chilean Colony
Permanent and Seasonal Chilean Stations:

• Base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme
• Captain Arturo Prat Base
• Risopatrón Base
• Collins Base
• Meteorological Center President Frei (Completion due E1969)

-French Southern and Antarctic Lands-
Government: Colonial
Sphere: French Colony
Northern Settlements and Antarctic Stations:

• Port-aux-Français
• Port Alfred
• Dumont d'Urville Station

-Australian Antarctic Territory-
Government: Colonial
Sphere: Australian Colony
Permanent and Seasonal Stations:

• Macquarie Island Station
• Wilkes Station
• Casey Station (Completion due E1969)
• Davis Station (Completion due E1969)

-Ross Dependency-
Government: Colonial
Sphere: New Zealander Colony
Permanent and Seasonal Stations:

• Scott Base
• Hallett Station (Joint with United States)
• Vanda Station (Completion due L1968)

-Queen Maud Land-
Government: Colonial
Sphere: Norwegian Colony
Norway maintains an entirely formal claim to Queen Maud Land, and has no permanent or seasonal stations.

-Peter I Island-
Government: Colonial
Sphere: Norwegian Colony
Norway maintains an entirely formal claim to Peter I Island, and has no permanent or seasonal stations.

-American Outposts-
No territorial claims, spread across the continent.
Notable due to nuclear power plant at McMurdo Station.
Permanent and Seasonal American Stations:

• McMurdo Station
• Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station
• Byrd Station
• Brockton Station
• Plateau Station
• Hallett Station (Joint with New Zealand)
• Palmer Station (Completed E1968)

-Soviet Outposts-
No territorial claims, spread across the continent.
Permanent and Seasonal Soviet Stations:

• Mirny Station
• Vostok Station
• Molodyozhnaya Station
• Novolazarevskaya Station
• Bellingshausen Station (Completed E1968)

-South African Outposts-
No territorial claims, a single outpost.
Permanent and Seasonal South African Stations:

• SANAE

[CarpeVerpa]

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

In light of recent revelations regarding the apparent prowess of our alien visitors, we hereby call for an international alliance of the finest scientists and engineers to assemble and be given all the resources they ask for in order to study this phenomenon surrounding Argentina and neighboring areas, so that we might better understand what we are dealing with, and perhaps even use it to our advantage. We must ensure that this alliance is both wholly dedicated and supported, and entirely non-partisan in its efforts. The purpose of this endeavor should be to work toward the interests of all of mankind, and not simply one nation or its allies.

[Flaming Bolshevik]

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

In light of recent revelations regarding the apparent prowess of our alien visitors, we hereby call for an international alliance of the finest scientists and engineers to assemble and be given all the resources they ask for in order to study this phenomenon surrounding Argentina and neighboring areas, so that we might better understand what we are dealing with, and perhaps even use it to our advantage. We must ensure that this alliance is both wholly dedicated and supported, and entirely non-partisan in its efforts. The purpose of this endeavor should be to work toward the interests of all of mankind, and not simply one nation or its allies.

Romania will be sending its best and brightest to assist in this research and will send manpower as needed to protect our scientists.

[Gesar]

As Grand Mufti of my nation, I am authorized to tell the international community that Saudi Arabia echoes the Yugoslavian call for unity among the nations of the world and their proposal for dealing with these newfound revelations. The King has given the royal affirmative in proclaiming that our nation will send whichever of our scientists are deemed necessary, and to propose to those nations whose programs are, like ours, regrettably not as prepared to deal with the Extraterrestrial-Posadist threat as other nations, that an international fund may be set up in order to secure financial contributions to the scientific establishment of any proposed alliance.

We are, as a nation, willing to contribute [50 credits] to an international research fund. Insha'allah, some knowledge of these strange, seemingly-atheist invaders will be discerned.

No! This international proposal is ludicrous, and will only concentrate power in the hands of the kafir!

The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia might accept this bill, but true Muslims who proclaim loyalty to it do not. Our supposed 'friends' across the globe must first recognize the superiority of our methods of examination, of fiqh itself, and then come to a conclusion about these potential extraterrestrials. Antarctica is not such -nor, truly, at all- a populated continent that sharia mandated us to examine the effects our actions might have. It is a barren wasteland, international claims not withstanding, and I urge my fellow Muslims, from the clergy of my nation to the presidents and monarchs of those abroad, to reject this ludicrous suggestion of "international" cooperation when a truly Muslim effort might suffice.

[LordMoose]

It saddens the UK that religion might cause rifts that lead to the death of ALL humans
by a force so ungodly that it has made different religions that historically have fought
to the death come together in unity to fight it. The UK will send money and support to
this effort, how much and who is still in debate with in the UK.

[OYID]

The world agrees, we must come together if we are to face this threat.

If it helps our Moslem friends along, we should make preparations for an all-Moslem division of the united human effort.

As for the effort itself, the USA proposes it be two-fold: a joint scientific project working closely with an international experimental military division. Both divisions should be under the control of the UN, which will recieve funding for them on a joint fund and allocate them according to both planned spending plans and a special fund for specific spending at every moment.

We propose that the Research Project simply be known as the Extraterrestial Research Unit, while the military division would be known as the Extraterrestrial Combat Unit, or X-COM for short.

The United States is ready and willing to donate its army bases and antartic outposts for both of these Units. We will also be sending teams of scientists from NASA and the National Ufology Institute to join posthaste.

****

Now, the nations of the world must also take up the matter of the brewing Argentinian Internal conflict.
If backed by other nations, the United States is prepared to send a battleship to Esperanza outpost to hold talks and defuse tensions.
This is no time for petty squabbles.

[LordMoose]

[occ I don't think that's what X-COM stands for]

The UK would gladly be apart of the science project but is extremly worried about the military side of things. to be openly plotting to make wepounds towards an alien threat that we don't understand [we don't even know if they already know our plans] and has threaten to wipe out all humans if an attack was made on it [which is slightly ironic coming from the nation pressing for world peace to show the aliens how great we are], we don't see how this is such a good idea. We respect the ideas of everyone and would happily be apart of the non-military side of things but until a good enough argument is made or we figure out what the hell is going on [just a little bit more] we can not in good faith for our own people and the worlds safety be apart nor endorse this X-COM of yours.

If this is a big enough problem for anyone the UK will sadly be forced to use its own bases and labs to look into these new developments, we don't whish to do this as this would end up harming everyone but we must keep the safety of our people, the people of England, Wales, Scotland, the province of Northern Ireland, the many overseas territories and crown colonies, in mind before agreeing or even endorsing plans that could and would possibly affect them in any way shape or form.

also on a 3rd note any military units/military training is banned from the above mentioned treaty, in creating X-COM anyone whos in agreement with the arctic treaty would be in major volition and more or less voiding it

[OYID]

We would remind our European allies, once again, that the purpose of the Planet Earth Peace Process is not to "look good" before the Aliens but to guard against any possible division among our ranks.
We should hope that the UK would not enter such a process with only their image in mind.

Their legal concerns, however, are valid. We will shortly begin preparations for a reform of the Antartic treaty.

We also wish to remind the gentleman from England that an Extraterrestrial invasion of planet Earth is everyone's concern, not just that of the country currently occupied.

[LordMoose]

We understand that this is everyone's worry, but making a "Combat" unit to fight an alien power we don't know about and has threaten us in our mind is not wise nor prudent

[Gesar]

Saudi Arabia -excepting those of the ulama whose views do not coincide with that of King Faysal or the Royal Court- agrees with the British desire for caution, but must remind our friends in London that an international defensive effort would be just that: defensive, and not immediately committed to an ostensible hostile action.

If this preparedness is not palatable to certain supposed leaders of the international community, perhaps our allies ought rethink their role on the global stage.

[LordMoose]

IF it is purely defensive then we will have no problem IF it is set up in a way with checks and balances for the protection of everyone.

Note this X-COM is still illegal under the Antarctic Treaty and would require either every major world power to agree to void it [not really a good idea] or for a temporary "New Antarctic Treaty",Hence forth known as N.A.T for all UK referrals to it, to be quickly put in place and agreed apon by the UN

[Snacks]

Pakistan applauds the United States' efforts to create a solution to this alien menace, and sincerely hopes that the rest of the security council will see the prudence of this proposal. While Pakistan has no Antarctic claim, nor stations there, we will gladly prepare to send scientists to assist this endeavor at American stations or wherever necessary- and, politics allowing, send soldiers to assist as soon as we are able. My nation has not forgotten the past kindness shown to us by America, my friend.

That aside, though we feel the United States representative and others have already laid out what is at stake here quite clearly, Pakistan must express its worry that the United Kingdom fails to see that the military coalition proposed by the United States could be anything but defensive, in light of the aggression towards the whole of humanity already shown by these invaders:

They and their collaborators have already overthrown the government of Argentina.

As we speak, they overrun the Bolivian countryside and stand poised to do in La Paz what has occured in Buenos Aires

Whatever their own ideology, that of their human proxies declares every government on Earth- capitalist or communist and nevermind whether its head of state is known as 'Mr. President', 'Comrade Party Chairman', or 'Your Majesty' -as foes to be overthrown. Their human spokesman is a man insane enough to think Fidel Castro a CIA employee and nuclear armageddon a positive step forward for humanity.

While we have always respected and valued the input of our British colleagues in this forum, we must be blunt for a moment and point out that these calls for caution are tantamount to sticking one's head in the sand in light of the existential threat that these beings and their local allies pose to our self-determination as a species.

To put it simply, to prepare militarily for the threat of extraterrestrial and/or Posadist intervention while we all have the time to do so *is* being properly cautious, and some of the bitterest of geopolitical and ideological opponents have already agreed that finding a way of putting aside our differences and creating a united front to oppose further agression from these aliens is the least we can do for our safety. To wait and see when we have had ample evidence of our visitors' intentions is recklessness itself, and a disservice to the peoples our nations bear responsibility for protecting.

We do not mean, of course, that the threat of invasion means we must silence dissent. The United Kingdom is a world leader, the rock that less than half a century ago stood firm against the tide of Nazism that drowned Europe, and the world looks to them to not just seek problems in these proposals but to put forward solutions and real alternatives- not to naysay and suggest the best solution is to do nothing for the sake of finding out 'more' when two nations have been attacked without provocation.

As to the notion of 'looking good' to these aliens or to anyone else, I would rather be known as a savage beast than to have uselessly delayed protecting my family and my people, and I would rather be called a fool for preparing to strike back at this threat where it next rears its head than wait for these posadists and their masters to begin crossing my nation's borders.

[Coin]

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has - to be frank - very little active ability to assist in any Antarctic expeditions. Our own national focus is on the defence and security of Africa, from threats extraterrestrial and terrestrial. We hope to be able to contribute to international efforts in that manner, and accept that - due to the legacy of exploitation all Africa struggles from - our power projection is less than that of the powerful nations of the world.

Nonetheless, we are deeply concerned by both the facts and the reaction thus far regarding Antarctica. The southern continent might be near-inhospitable to us, but it is of great global significance and strategic relevance. Gentlemen, you must not allow keeping up appearances to stop reaction against Posadist aggression. Particularly, given the possibility that all Posadists are in actuality in service to extraterrestrials only through the use of powerful mind control devices - devices which the very Devil himself might envy!

The present situation of non-militarisation of the Antarctic is quite evidently irrelevant, given the fact that we have mind-control devices and a faction - apparently - in power in Argentina, which is committed to thermonuclear war as a matter of policy. The nations of the world less capable than those with international navies and large militaries can only beseech Antarctic powers to be proactive in dealing with the situation. At worst, it is an opportunity to make further contact with the extra-terrestrial backed Argentine regime.

[LordMoose]

The UK will relent and give support to this agreement as long as the military is an international affair controlled by no one nation