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2023.06.07 07:00 BevoBot [6/7/2023] Wednesday's Off Topic Free Talk Thread

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2023.06.07 06:58 linkelek1 Ukrajnai háború, szerda reggel

-Ukrajna az ENSZben terrorista államnak nevezte oroszországot -elemzés: milyen lehetőségei vannak hosszú távon az ukrán légierőnek -ukrán napi videós összefoglaló

gát robbantás

-a gátat az orosz 205th Motorized Rifle Brigade robbantotta fel -az orosz hadsereg gát robbantása háborús bűncselekmény -az USA hírszerzés szerint az orosz hadsereg robbantotta fel a gátat -állatok evauálása hersonban -elöntött ház -videó összefoglaló -orosz katonák menekülnek a vízben

orosz sorozás/mobilizálás

-orosz mobilizáltak óriási ember veszteségekről beszélnek Belgorodnál

drónok, rakéták

-FPV drón vs orosz tank

fegyverrendszerek

-sündisznó pillangó aknát visz , nagyon kis nyomásra robban ez a fajta akna -ukrán su-24 storm shadow rakétákkal videó

friss térképek

-teljes front nincs változás -Russian Invasion - Day 468 Summary of the situation, including detailed maps.

Veszteségek

-orosz tank pontos találata -stugna-p orosz AFV ellen

ISW

RUSSIAN OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT, JUNE 6, 2023 Damage to the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (KHPP) dam in the early hours of June 6 caused massive flooding of the Dnipro River delta, river wetlands, estuaries, and shoreline settlements in Kherson Oblast. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Ukrainian officials stated that the drop in the water level at the Kakhovka Reservoir should not affect the safety of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Ukrainian officials stated that Russian forces intentionally destroyed the KHPP dam and suggested that the Russian military did not prepare for subsequent flooding. Russian officials accused Ukrainian forces of destroying the KHPP dam and used the allegations to bolster ongoing efforts to portray Ukrainian assaults elsewhere in Ukraine as immediate failures. ISW has not yet observed clear evidence of what transpired at the KHPP on June 6 and is therefore unable to offer an independent assessment of responsibility at the time of this publication. Russian forces conducted another large-scale missile strike across Ukraine on the night of June 5-6. Russian sources claimed that the pro-Ukrainian all-Russian Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK) and the Freedom of Russian Legion (LSR) are gone from a border settlement in Belgorod Oblast as of June 6. Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin continued to directly threaten the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the Russian military command if they do not fulfill his demands for a larger independent army and political influence in Russia. Ukrainian officials offered assurances that the damage to the dam and subsequent flooding will not impede Ukrainian counteroffensive preparations. Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks along the Svatove-Kreminna line. Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks north and southwest of Bakhmut, and Russian forces continued limited offensive operations along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line. Ukrainian forces continued ground attacks in southwestern Donetsk and in eastern Zaporizhia oblasts.

Vége

kedd este

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2023.06.07 03:32 OGPendy Here's my pitch for FTWD after season 3.

To begin, two major changes need to be made to both FTWD and TWD. Firstly, Travis is shot in the neck, and he does throw himself out of the helicopter, but he survives by landing in a river. Secondly, in TWD, Carl doesn't die. Instead, Morgan sacrifices his life in some grand gesture, and his final plea is for Rick to end the war.
My Reasoning:

Not only was Travis' death sudden and absurd, but it also ruined any potential he had to become an excellent character. In my version, Madison and Co are still pushed forward by news of his "death," killing two birds with one stone and allowing for a myriad of interesting possibilities.
This allows TWD to continue closer to how it did in the comics, a way I find much more narratively satisfying, and doesn't allow Morgan to crossover--thus stopping FTWD from becoming the "Morgan and Friends Show". (Maybe he can die saving Carl--bringing his character arc of not being able to protect Duane full circle.)

These are not entire seasons. These are simply general ideas. P.S. - Reading this in one sitting might make it feel like a breakneck pace, but just try to picture your own episodes within these seasons.
SEASON 3
With Travis now alive, it allows season three to play out basically the same, until the mid-season finale, where Travis would reveal himself as alive. From there, we would get a Travis-centric episode like we did with Daniel, showing how he stitched up his own neck wound and lived in the wilderness until he was found by Walker's people. As someone else said on this sub, this would open up the possibility of Travis being a bridge between the two people groups.
Because of his siding with Walker, we could get a very interesting dynamic between Travis and the other Clarks, specifically Madison. Story beats would have to change, but this will help the overarching story overall. For my purposes, Travis (while with Walker's people) would revert to his more pacifist self as he was in seasons 1 and 2. However, this would not change his tendency for violence, which he would struggle with during the duration of the season. Luciana still leaves, Daniel is still shot by Strand, Madison still kills Troy, and Nick still destroys the dam.
TLDR: Travis survives his gunshot wound and becomes a bridge between the two communities. The rest of the season's events basically play out the same, with obvious changes.

SEASON 4

The dam has exploded. And after a minor time skip, we meet up with our crew: Madison, Alicia, Nick, and Travis, who are hiding out in an abandoned gas station. You see, while the dam is gone and quite a few of the Proctors with it, they're still everywhere; searching for the people who tried to wipe them out. In a hail-mary attempt, the Clarks flee up north, leaving Mexico and hopefully the Proctors by heading into Texas. They all assume Daniel and Strand are dead, and whatever sense of morality they had at the ranch has now completely been lost. They are ruthless to both walkers and people, both of which they find plenty of in the Texas plains.
One of the main relationships I want to grow in this season is between Nick and Travis. While they did interact in the other seasons, it was to a very small extent--most of Travis' time was spent with his own son Chris. But with Travis' brutality more or less returning, and Nick no longer being the fun-loving and adventurous 19-year-old we knew, they grow closer--two men who have lost their innocence and themselves to the apocalypse. Nick will become the son Travis never had. But as they grow closer, so do Madison and Alycia. However, it's not a paternal healthy bond, it's Alycia trying to live up to the "Golden Child" standard she's kept for herself. With Madison's tendency to care more about Nick becoming ever more obvious, Alycia is driven by a need to please her mother--something that will eventually tear the family apart. But for all intents and purposes, the Clarks are the strongest they've ever been.
After a few episodes of traveling through Texas, they are stopped by three members of a Biker Gang (think Hell's Angels or Sons of Anarchy). They try to intimidate our crew into giving up what little supplies they have, but with a single look from Madison, two of the bikers are dead and the other is nearly beaten to death. Travis argues they take the bikes and leave, but Madison suspects they have a camp nearby--and after a torture session performed by Travis, she's told that she's right. They are led to the Dell Diamond Baseball Stadium, which the Bikers call home. After an initial standoff, our crew is let in. Everyone is wary of these Bikers, but after only a little while, they quickly integrate into the group. Travis fits right in with the rough-and-tumble men, Alycia is praised for what little medical skill she has (which she uses to heal the tortured Biker, named Cole), Nick becomes a valuable asset for what the Bikers do, and Madison quickly rises up the ranks.
You see, these Bikers are like the Saviors. They run a protection racket. But instead of Negan's view of people: that they're a resource to be maintained, the Bikers simply destroy whoever doesn't bend to their will. However, there's a major problem: both manpower and bullets are hard to come by in the apocalypse, especially when they kill whoever disobeys them. But that's where Nick fits right in. With his skill with the walkers, he dons the blood and guts once more, using it to lead entire walker hordes into stubborn communities. They've found another new home. But as Travis and Madison make clear, it is not permanent.
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All seems well until word begins to spread amongst the Bikers. Their pre-apocalypse rivals, the Proctors, have made their presence known. In a show of force, the leader of the Bikers takes most of his men out to meet with the Proctors. At the same time, a young girl named Charlie is let into the stadium. Nick becomes a surrogate older brother, and they grow close. But our group, of course now fearful, vote to remain at the stadium with a few other nameless civilians and a healing Cole. It's going to be a few days, so Madison and the family lock the stadium down. No one in or out. That's when the Vultures show up.
Like season four of FTWD, they're still a corny group of hippies, but our group has dealt with worse. Way worse. Madison and Travis leave the stadium to talk to the Vultures, while Nick and Alycia stay back with Charlie. However, the young girl is revealed to be a double agent, the one who let the Vultures know that the majority of the Bikers were leaving. She pulls a gun on Nick and Alycia just as Madison and Travis single-handily slaughter all of the Vultures. None are left alive. Hearing the commotion, mixed with fear and anger, Charlie shoots Nick. But Alycia, in a split second, kills Charlie.
Now dying of a gunshot wound, Alycia desperately begins surgery on Nick. Madison is purely focused on her son, but the weight of what they just did is finally beginning to set on Travis. Nick is treated just as the Bikers return, a majority of their numbers wiped out. We then get a Strand-focused episode, revealing how after the dam he was captured by Proctor John himself. But we see how he was unable to worm his way into a position of power within the Proctors. We get to see how the Proctors tracked our group all the way from Mexico, and how they had a massive battle with the Bikers we know, wiping most of them out. But the Bikers we know escaped, and the Proctors have followed them.
Out of both time and options, Nick sneaks away (still very much injured), his plans unclear. However, the Proctors show up, Strand at the helm. He's the spokesperson for the Proctors now, but a wrench is thrown in the plan for battle when he sees Madison and Alycia inside the stadium. Proctor John holds his attack too, realizing his chance for revenge is within his grasp. He then proposes a deal to the Bikers, saying that if given Madison and Co, they'll leave. This, of course, is a lie. The Bikers deliberate, with Cole being the main voice for trading them over. Travis tries everything he can to convince the Bikers to not hand them over, but realizes that being killed either by the Bikers or the Proctors isn't much of an option. Bound and gagged, the Clarks (minus Nick, who Madison fears for) are handed over.
Put on their knees and guns put to their heads, Strand tries to talk John out of it--trying to make him pause and think. But it's no use.
Just as bullets are about to be fired, a massive herd comes out of nowhere! Nick has led them all here, and being careful, he slips through the herd and unties his family. He tells them to do the guts trick, which they do, but for whatever reason, he turns back. As he moves through the herd, careful not to get shot or eaten, he finds Strand fighting for his life. Nick then steps in, helps him with the trick, and leads him to safety--but not before seeing Proctor John fighting the herd. It looks like he's winning; using a row of his soldiers to gun down the horde, until Nick sneaks up behind him and slits his throat. Now leaderless and surrounded, the Proctors and the Bikers are wiped out. Covered in guts and aimless, our crew leaves the stadium.
Weeks later, and after a few more misadventures, Nick goes out hunting. As he does so, he stumbles upon a man dressed like a cowboy, and sitting against a pickup truck: John Dorie. The same exchange happens, where John asks whoever is in the shadows if they would like to join him. Nick reveals himself, and it ends the same way as it did in the show, "So what's your story?"
TLDR: Madison and Co escape Mexico only to join up with a biker gang in an old baseball stadium in Texas. The Proctors return, old rivals of the Bikers, and a massive battle ensues. A group called the Vultures show up as the Bikers leave, and are quickly slaughtered by Madison and Travis. The Proctors come with Strand in tow, and after quick thinking from Nick, the family and Strand escape, while both the Bikers and the Proctors are wiped out by a herd of walkers. Nick then meets a man named John Dorie.

Season 5

John Dorie is what Morgan should have been for the Clarks: the exact opposite of what they are. While they're ruthless and cold, he's merciful and warm. His mission is simple: find his wife. And because of Nick's insistence (and Travis' persuasion of Madison), they decide to help him do so. He explains they separated several weeks ago, after meeting at his cabin and living there for the majority of the apocalypse. But he is far from incapable. In fact, he's the best shot of the entire group and anyone they ever come across.
Tensions however, are high. Madison of course doesn't trust John, and hates the influence he seemingly having on her son. She thinks that his kindness is weakness, and fights to keep her control over Nick.
Based on the evidence John gathered, his best guess is that his wife was abducted and taken north, into Colorado. With nowhere else to go, the Clarks travel with John north. Having entered Colorado, John soon catches a trail. He finds evidence of a camp with the same logo as he found before, that of a key. He feels that they're getting closer, and he turns out to be right, as they find a small community of survivors living inside an old motel. He wants to go in and talk, but Madison isn't risking it. Instead, and with much pushback from John, our main crew goes in guns raised.
Using a small herd of walkers Nick gathered, they take out the guards and quickly find the leader of the community. At gunpoint, the man explains that he's part of a network of communities under one woman, Virginia. They're called the Pioneers, and their goal is to make Colorado the beginning of a new United States. Madison, Alycia, and Strand laugh at the idea, but Nick and Travis are more open to it. After stealing supplies, weapons, and a vehicle, our crew moves on to find John's wife. Or so he thinks.
A few days later, our group finds another one of the settlements, an old ski lodge. This time, however, based on both Travis' and John's pleas, they go in as if they're just some survivors. As they are let in, they see that the lodge is heavily armed--a death sentence had they gone in guns blazing. They stay for a while, with Nick, Travis, and John warming up to the idea of a multi-settlement government. John finds out that his wife is at the capital of the settlement, Lawton. Eager to hit the road to see his wife again, he tells the group to get ready to head out. Madison, however, has no such plan. Nick argues they should go with him, but Madison argues that nothing like this could last and that it's likely all a lie. Madison and Strand want to take over the lodge, killing them all if it came to it. Travis is against it, his guilt driving him to try to stop murdering, but Madison's mind is unchanged. Survival at any cost is her plan now, and if a few nobodies have to die for it, so what? Madison is going to keep everyone together, no matter what. So, under the cover of the night, John and Nick sneak off the lodge grounds and leave.
In the morning, Madison sees they're both gone. Enraged, she prepares to go out and immediately find them until a massive snowstorm hits, forcing them to stay inside. For Nick and John, however, a test of will is what the storm becomes. Frostbite and starvation are mere days away, and they seem to be going in circles. Until a search party finds them. They're grabbed and treated as they are taken to the capital settlement. The search party wasn't for them, but for a young girl, but finding the men so close to death stopped the search. At least for now.
Back at the lodge, Madison is planning for a seize of power. People are anxious, and she has enough trust with the guards to grab some guns. But Travis stops her. He talks to her and looks at her as if she's a different person, something that seems to haunt her. They've grown apart, barely showing any physical affection.
At Lawton, Nick and John see that the settlement is large, larger than anything they've come across so far. They have large walls, farms, livestock, freshly constructed buildings, and people. Anxious to get to his wife, John meets with the mastermind behind it all: Virginia. But unlike the show, she's a genuinely kind woman. She really does want the best for people, and after some deliberation, John finally gets to see his wife. She explains that during her own supply run, she ran into the Pioneers needing help. She did, and they invited her to join. She left a note for John, telling him where to find her, but a massive herd forced them to leave early. It's a joyous moment and something that deeply saddens Nick, reminding him of Luciana.
Until he hears a voice, "Nick?" He turns around and sees Luciana standing behind him! They embrace, and she tells some story about how she found these communities. She apologizes for ever leaving him and promises to never do it again. And after this moment, Nick asks her to be his wife. She says yes, and he couldn't be happier.
Two weeks later, Madison, Travis, Alycia, and Strand are escorted to Lawton, where they reunite with Nick. He explains what happened, and in a seemingly hopeful moment, a wedding is held. Nick and Luciana get married, and all the while Madison plots.
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After five or six months, we see how the family has gotten used to this way of life. Nick and Luciana are happy and working together, Strand has become a high-ranking Pioneer, Alycia has become a rather skilled doctor, Travis has settled down with Madison (though they're still very distant), working the fields next to a small cabin, and John and his wife work as rangers. Life is good. It's peaceful. With all the communities working together, it can seem like anything is possible. But Madison isn't happy. She doesn't trust any of it. And neither does Strand. She believes that at any second, a revolt will happen. An enemy group will rise up. She feels the Pioneers are too trusting, too hopeful. She wants to keep her family safe, and she doesn't think Virginia can.
One day, a community-wide meeting is called, where all the heads of the communities will come together to discuss general going-ons and plans for the future. All the heads come to meet in an old courthouse, including Strand. That day, Madison asks Virginia to meet, and she raises her issues: how they are too trusting, and a severe lack of top-down control. Virginia assures her that those things will happen--in time, but not to rush them. Madison asks her if she will ever actually make those changes, and Virginia pauses before saying...no. Madison then pulls a gun and shoots Virginia in the head. As soon as the shot rings out, Strand leaves the main courtroom where all the heads of communities are, locks the doors, and starts a fire. In mere minutes, the entire courthouse is in flames, and everyone inside is dead.
Immediately, there is chaos, as people think it was an attack. Madison steps up, explaining that Virginia was killed, and the fire was started by anarchists. Strand then grabs a random man and drags him up to the stage where Madison stands. After making up some story about the man, she asks the people if the anarchist should live, and there is a resounding and furious flurry of "no's". She pulls out her pistol and executes the man to the horror of Travis, Nick, and John.
At night, Madison meets with John, as he's become a high-ranking ranger. He knows that that man was innocent, but Madison seems to have no remorse. She explains very calmly that he's going to help contain the chaos, or she will kill his wife. To his shock, Madison waits for a response. He finally sputters out that he'll help. She lets him go back home, knowing he'll do whatever she wants.
Then, she goes home to Travis, who's distraught. He knows everything that happened was staged, and that Strand was helping plan it from the beginning. He's enraged, but Madison remains calm, explaining that everything she did was to protect her family. Travis is beyond shocked, exclaiming that everything that was happening was protecting her family. She looks at him, cold as ice, and tells him that he's not her family. He's not blood. Nick and Alycia are all that matter to her. Travis is horrified and heartbroken--too stunned to speak. She walks over to him and explains that if all he is is against her, he's a danger to her family. She then grabs a nearby knife and stabs him in the gut. She looks away from his eyes as he gasps for air, and as she twists the knife deeper into his stomach. She rips the knife out and he collapses on the floor, dying. She watches him suffer, and just like that, both Travis and the Madison we knew, are dead.
TLDR: Madison and Co follow a good-hearted cowboy named John Dorie into Colorado in search of his wife. After a few altercations with this group's settlements, John reunites with his wife and Nick reunites with Luciana. Months later, Madison and Strand enact a plot to seize control of power. Madison kills Virginia, and Strand lights a building aflame with all head of communities inside. Madison then threatens John into working for her, and she kills Travis.

Season 6

"Travis was killed by the anarchists." That's the lie that's told. The one spread around. At his funeral, Nick is devastated, barely able to hold it together as he gives a speech. John is silent, suspecting that Madison is the one who killed him. She knows that he knows, but she doesn't care. She cries at the funeral. But just for a moment.
Thanks to John's help, the communities have calmed down. Order has been re-established. Madison and Strand have taken up leadership of the Pioneers, but they quickly ditch the key logos and outfits. The rangers are trained to be merciless--gone are the days of trusting new people. A new rule is established: kill on site. Thanks to this, the communities are stronger than ever. John lives in perpetual fear of Madison, worried that at any moment she'll claim his wife is a member of the Anarchists, and have her killed. In order to avoid this, he becomes a vital tool for Madison, doing anything she says.
Nick is deep in grief, numb to his now wife and the outside world...until Luciana breaks wonderful news: she's pregnant. Nick is shocked, but excited--ready to be the father his dad never was.
In the meantime, Madison uses John to round up people who would stand against her, and after planting evidence and calling them Anarchists, she has them executed. Her family and community is secure. It looks like no one can stand in her way--except one woman: Luciana. Now pregnant and fearful of the dangerous new woman in control of Lawton, she wants to leave with Nick. He argues that they need to stay, it's his mother after all, and that they can't keep running forever. But she sees the danger.
That night, Nick and Alycia and hanging out together when he proudly tells her Luciana is pregnant. Alycia is really happy for him, until Nick tells her that he's decided he's going to leave Lawton with her after she gives birth. At the same time, Madison goes to Nick's home and meets with Luciana. She plays up the whole "sympathetic mother figure" deducing rather quickly that Luciana is pregnant. Luciana then tells her that they'll be leaving soon, much to the dismay of Madison. She soon leaves once Nick returns, not acting as if she knows about the pregnancy and their plans.
The next day John offers to take Nick down to one of their outermost communities, a few days ride. He accepts, feeling on top of the world. At that time, a group of armed Rangers burst into Nick's home, searching the entire place. Luciana is confused, but she is quickly tackled to the ground. Then, they find what they're searching for: the same knife used to kill Travis. Dragged out of her home, she's thrown into a holding cell.
A few hours out from Lawton, John struggles with the immense guilt of something. Nick asks him what's wrong, and he finally explains that Strand told him to take Nick out of town for a few days while something happened. Fearing something really bad is going to happen, Nick races back to Lawton, with the help of John.
The knife is supposedly the one that killed Travis, and Luciana is scheduled for a public execution that same day. At the time of the execution, Luciana is brought up on the gallows, in front of public of view, and Strand gives a speech about order and safety. Madison is absent. Nick reaches the main gates, but is temporarily blocked. Using sheer adrenaline and channeling Travis, he fights off the two guards and races to the center of town to see Luciana, noose around her neck. He screams for them to stop, but with the crank of a lever, the trapdoor falls, and Luciana suffocates to death. Nick can't do anything as he falls over, weeping, saying, "She's pregnant...she's pregnant..." Alycia comes running from the Infirmary, unaware of what's happening. John finally makes it to the town square, and using his crackshot aim, shoots Luciana down. But it's too late. For whatever the reason, she turned fast, and John walks over and quietly puts an end to her reanimated self.
Nick is completely broken now. He lays in a ball on the ground, unable to move. Alycia attempts to comfort him, but he pushes her away. John walks over to him, attempting to apologize or make what he did right, but Nick snaps. Grabbing a knife off of Alycia, he stabs John is the gut, and begins to beat his face in. Alycia tries to stop him, but Nick kicks her away as he takes swing after swing, beating John nearly to death. Nick then stops, grabs John's rifle, and screams for Strand. Strand, still standing on the gallows, attempts to duck as Nick fires at him, hitting him in the shoulder with a bullet. Nicks keeps firing, until his gun clicks empty. He stands, surrounded by Rangers and civilians.
He's locked in a cell, fists bloody and eyes empty. Madison comes to the cell, trying to play innocence, until Nick grabs her by the throat. He squeezes, a fire lit behind his eyes. All the pieces fit together now. Everything. He begins to laugh hysterically, realizing it was his own mother who killed his pregnant wife. "You...you actually thought I would what--just fall back into your own arms? Be your own little "Nicky' again!?" He tightens his grip, but he's too good a man. He can't do it. He releases her, utterly defeated. Madison leaves, telling Strand that he'll come around.
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A long time later, months, years, we're not sure--somehow, Nick is out of the cell. It's wintertime in Colorado, and he's living in the wilderness now, sporting much longer hair and a beard. Using tricks he learned while in Mexico and from Travis, he lives as a nomad. But no matter how far he travels, he's still hunted by the Pioneers.
In a flashback, we see that is was Strand who let Nick out of the cell. Nick just about kills him, but seeing the guilt Strand feels, Nick decides to just leave. He's quiet and stealthy, just stealing one of Travis' jackets and a machete. But before he leaves, he sneaks to Alycia, and pleads with her to come with him. She refuses, deciding to stay with Madison. He's sad, but he doesn't stick around. He climbs over one of the walls, and slips away.
In the present, we follow Nick as he lives in the woods of Colorado. He's almost completely silent, barely even grunting. He dispatches walkers with ease, and because of Travis, he knows how to live purely off the land alone. He's almost unrecognizable. One day, while cooking a rabbit, two Pioneers come across him on horseback. They dismount, holding him up at gunpoint, and tell him that he's going to return to Lawton with them. He doesn't speak as he pulls out his machete and cleaves one of the Pioneers' arms off. The man screams in agony as Nick impales the other one mercilessly. He kills the second man, then turns and grabs the other man's rifle. He checks its ammo, slings it across his back, and begins to raise his machete at the first Pioneer--before the man begins to weep. He begins blubbering about his wife, how they have a child on the way. Nick lowers his blade, wipes the blood on his sleeve, and sheathes it. The Pioneer begs for bandage, medicine, anything, but Nick just leaves, saying, "Tell her to stop coming after me."
The problem for Nick is that, essentially, he's trapped. Because of the thirteen-community network Madison now controls, he's surrounded, on all sides, by people attempting to capture him. It miles of land, sure, but not something easily escaped. So he's done what little he can--evade the larger search parties, and deal with the smaller pairs of rangers he encounters.
His new plan is to head farther north, hopefully into Wyoming or Montana. So for an episode he heads north, evading capture.
At the same time, Madison continues to rule the communities with an iron fist. But there's a problem: people have been disappearing from within the communities. Alicia has matured over this time, taking up a leadership position under her mother. She's an advocate for letting Nick go, but Madison can't. Strand still works for her, though he has become more brazen after his secret releasing of Nick. Madison suspects it was him who did it, but she waits to act. John has become the head of tracking Nick down, but he does his job in a way that slows down the process.
Madison calls him in for a meeting, and explains that his new mission will be discovering where her citizens are going. Thankful to be off of Nick, he accepts.
Nick makes his way to the furthermost community after days of travel, called "The Lanes". Sneaking past guards and the occasional walker, he makes it to Colorado border, and stops. He feels horribly guilty for leaving his sister with his mother, and he can't seem to shake the feeling. Then, he sees something odd: a small group of civilians sneaking out of the Lanes. He watches them, then decides to follow. After traveling deeper into the woods than he's gone before, he stumbles upon the civilians destination: The Copse.
An idyllic home deep in the Colorado woods, Nick is greeted by an old eccentric man: Teddy. Teddy is kind and wise, offering to take Nick's weapons, as he won't need them there. Nick cautiously obliges, and after a few days, falls in love with the place. Everyone who's fled from the communities has come here, and it's perfect. Until John finds it.
With six rangers vs an entire commune, Nick prepares for battle. But Teddy tells him to stop, and to let happen what needs to happen. Confused by his order, he steps down. John sees the place, and realizes that this is what the communities can be. He decides not to tell Madison about the commune, and he returns to his wife, and they leave together in secret.
After more drama and death, Madison stops all her rangers from looking for Nick, and switches the mission to finding this rumored commune. Nick catches wind of this, and warns Teddy that this is coming. Teddy refuses to arm, but Nick circumvents this by talking to the people of the commune. He finally steps into a position of leadership, rallying the citizens into protecting what they have. The citizens come together and form a fighting force, right as the first Rangers arrive.
It's a bloody battle, but the Rangers are defeated. Nick realizes that the people cannot defeat 13 communities, but they can convert them. After more fights, persuading, and uprising, nearly half of all the communities have rallied under Nick against Madison and her army.
Eager to get out from under her thumb of oppression, people from within Lawton begin to revolt. Madison, of course, shuts this down--brutally beating anyone who stands against her. Alicia sees now that her mother is truly gone, and begins to communicate with Nick, planning a final stand.
After weeks of fighting and plotting, it all comes to a head. All of Nick's forces, now seven communities, rally together to charge, all at once, to Madison's six community army stationed at Lawton. Strand, however, attempts to sabotage Madison's army by destroying their ammo reserves. He's caught, tortured for his involvement in the civil war, and in one final act of brutality by Madison, beheaded in view of both her own and Nick's armies.
On this, both sides clash, resulting in a massive firefight. Hundreds are killed between the two groups, and in the end, Lawton is in flames and Nick is within Madison's home. They fight, and it's brutal and hard to watch as we see our once mother and son duo trade blows. Nick finally gets the upper hand, and a mortally wounded Madison makes one last remark, "I kept you and Alicia safe. I did that no matter what. I tried to keep us all together..." Nick shakes his head. "You tore us apart Mom. I love you, even after what you did to us. To me. But this can't go on."
Madison hears these words, and sheds a tear. Nick looks away as Madison Clark dies. Nick leaves the house, teary-eyed, and explains what happened to the people. The war is ended. The Communities are reunited.
A few weeks later, Nick and Alicia share one last moment together--embracing at Lawton's gates. Alicia has become the leader of these communities, and peace has now truly been established. But Nick can't stay. The memories here haunt him. He's decided to leave. Go north. He shares one last goodbye to everyone he's met over the past years, and he departs, once again alone and on the road.
TLDR: After a brutal betrayal by Madison, Nick leaves Lawton. After a long time spent in the woods, he finds a new home: a peaceful commune. but realizing his mother will never stop searching for him, he rallies together the people of the commune and half of all the others. After betrayals, beheadings, and losses. The war is ended, and peace returns to the Colorado Communities. Nick decides to leave, and he's once again alone on the road.
THE END
I know that this was a long read, and I appreciate all of those who did. A few parts need work, but overall, this is a very rough draft for how I would have handled Fear.
Thanks to AI, attached are some admittedly rough designs for what our characters could have looked like in the later seasons:

Nick in season 6.

Nick on the road.

Alicia in Colorado.

An older Travis and Madison in one of the Pioneer's communities.

John Dorie at a snowy Lawton.

submitted by OGPendy to FearTheWalkingDead [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 02:05 AA56561 [Event] Preparing for the Worst

Preparing for the Worst

Should Peaceful Reunification become impossible, and should the Chinese leadership make the decision to retake the rebellious province of Chinese Taipei, it is highly likely that the United States of America and American allies in the region will seek to defeat the People’s Liberation Army on the battlefield. Due to China’s enormous and ever-growing investment into its military, it is highly likely that in a conventional conflict, the People’s Republic of China would come out on top - a result which will likely be completely unacceptable to the United States and the leadership in Washington. Therefore, it is to be expected that the US and its allies play dirty, by knocking out Chinese satellites for instance, or targeting sensitive communication nodes of China.
It is vital that even if the United States decides to engage in these activities, the People’s Liberation Army must be able to continue its ongoing military operations at a high pace and efficiency. Following several briefings by Chinese security experts and members of the PLA, the Central Military Commission has ordered for a program to be introduced, which will seek to harden critical nodes and potential targets for enemy strikes, with
Airbases and Ports
Ports and military airports are obvious targets for strikes, as they will be critical convergence points for supplies and hardware used in the military operations of the People’s Liberation Army. In order to increase protection of these sites, perimeter security will be increased, with fences, check points, video surveillance and regular aerial and maritime patrols being set up. All ports and air bases that are expected to be used in a potential conflict over Chinese Taipei will also seek heavier air defenses, which will have the ability to intercept large numbers of enemy precision-guided munitions without getting saturated. Cyber security will also be upped, to ensure that critical systems, such as power supplies, air traffic control and dockside communication networks, remain safe from unauthorized breaches.
Power Grid
Another tempting target for the Americans may be the Chinese power grid - knocking it out would wreak havoc within the Chinese public. This in turn would make conducting a massive and highly complex military operation all the more difficult, and raise the possibility of a potential defeat on the battlefield. Under orders from the Central Military Commission, the State Grid Corporation of China has been instructed to increase the resilience of the Chinese power grid against targeted cyber and conventional strikes. In order to achieve the level of resilience, the SGCC has begun to implement “Network Segmentation”, making it more difficult for hackers to gain access to critical systems, all the while restricting access to make unauthorized access much more difficult. Key nodes in the Chinese power grid will see an increase in protection, both in terms of physical security, such as fences, barbed wire, sensors, as well as personnel, with security guards being deployed on a much larger scale. During hostilities, plans have been drawn up for the deployment of anti-air defenses to critical systems within the Chinese power supply, such as large power plants. Furthermore, the SGCC will work to make the Chinese power grid more flexible, with many redundancies being worked into the system, additional back-up generators being planned and additional routing systems being designed. With all these measures, the Chinese power grid will make a much more difficult target than in the past.
Cyberspace
Targeting Chinese cyber infrastructure would cause huge economic, social and military damages, as much of Chinese society, as well as much of the People’s Liberation Army, relies on cyberspace for much of their daily lives and operations. In case of hostilities, a logical step would be to knock out the enemy cyberspace, weakening an enemy’s ability to engage in complex military operations. In order to minimize the risk of such an attack, the Central Military Commission has ordered that the defensive infrastructure be increased to fend off complex hacking attempts by enemy forces. In order to make this happen, regular security assessments have been announced, with changes to China’s defensive cyber infrastructure being made to hone its ability to defend Chinese cyber infrastructure. Additionally, access controls will be implemented, making it more for unauthorized users to gain access to the systems. Even if they do manage to gain access, the newly implemented “Network Segmentation” will help to make the damages of such an attack much less severe. Lastly, the People’s Republic of China will set up a center for monitoring Chinese cyberspace, ready to respond to any threats in real time. The Center, known as the “Cyberspace Defense Management Center”, will be comprised of China’s brightest minds in terms of cyber defense, sourced from the People’s Liberation Army, government institutions and China’s fledgling private sectors.
Satellites
On the modern battlefield, more systems than ever rely on satellites to function. Knocking out enemy military satellites would seriously degrade the ability of the opposing forces to communicate, as well as wreck much of the enemies military equipment, especially those which rely - at least to a degree - on satellite navigation or communication. In a conflict with the United States, it is therefore not unrealistic to see Satellites as a critical vulnerability of the People’s Liberation Army. In order to protect Chinese space assets, the China National Space Administration has been instructed to plan for hardened satellite designs - which will allow for the satellites to be engaged by ASATs, and enable the satellite to continue to operate - to a certain extent at least. Furthermore, cyber security will be massively increased, with the goal of making it virtually impossible to hack Chinese space assets and deactivate these.
However, this is not enough. If the Americans really put their mind to it, engage in a concerted effort with their allies and partner, they will be able to simply blow up Chinese satellites with enough anti-satellite munitions of various types. This is far from ideal, so the Central Military Commission has decided to push for redundancies to be developed which will allow the People’s Liberation Army to function completely without satellites.
In terms of secure communications, the People’s Liberation Army will begin to equip all units with redundant systems - which will frequently be used during exercises and training to familiarize soldiers with these systems should they ever be required. “Ad Hoc Mesh Nets” will be set up, allowing military hardware to communicate with each other without the need for satellites. Furthermore, the PLAAF will procure a sizable number of a “Airborne Communication Relay Platform”, with a variant of the Y-20 transport aircraft having been ordered, with these aircraft being designed to help combat forces communicate with each other and with commanders in the headquarters without the need of satellites. Wired Communication Infrastructure will begin to be implemented on all levels of the PLA, in order to make communication possible even in the toughest of situations, as well as making eavesdropping impossible without physical access.
Satellites are not only used by militaries to communicate, they also play a major role in helping forces position themselves and in most long-range military hardware. Global Navigation Satellite Systems are a critical capability in any conflict, and should these go offline, redundancies must be in place - lest the PLA intends to rout on the battlefield. Inertial navigation systems will be installed on all military hardware requiring it, giving the commanders a rough idea of where they are. In case of emergency, the PLA will have special “beacons” that emit signals at known locations, allowing for forces and hardware to roughly acquire their location.
Command and Control Centers
Command and Control Centers, especially those housing key military and political leadership, will be prime targets for the enemy. Attacks will likely come in the form of a mix of cyber- and electronic warfare, precision-guided munitions and infiltrations. If the enemy manages to take out a number of these centers, the People’s Liberation Army C2 capabilities may be permanently damaged for the period of the military campaign, something which could bring catastrophic consequences with it. Several state-of-the-art command and control centers will be built for the Eastern Theater Command, these will be deep underground and will come with heavy security measures - ranging from electrified fences to the deployment of surface-to-air missile batteries. Alternate locations and staff will be in place to immediately take over command of operational forces, should the existing infrastructure be compromised or be engaged. Major resources will be poured into making the communication systems more resilient to enemy interference.

submitted by AA56561 to Geosim [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 02:04 CelesteDobbs Rise Up John Wesley Dobbs, Florida inmate no. C00618

June 6, 2023
Rise Up John Wesley Dobbs, Florida inmate no. C00618
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5lPencsa54
The world-famous political prisoner King U combats Florida's hidden Antebellum policies Now representing John Dobbs attorney Mr. Reres Sr. Update: By Mrs. Celeste Dobbs
THIS IS WHY THEY DON'T WANT ME IN A COURT ROOM
The world-famous political prisoner King U combats Florida's hidden Antebellum policies John W. Dobbs, Florida inmate no. C00618 aka Universal aka King U I'm a political prisoner based on 4the fact that my imprisonment is not by legal construction. But instead based on the preferences of people who have obtained social and public support by trickery. And this support has the effect of placing them with the full might of the U.S. Government enforcing their favors and my illegal detainment. An unconstitutional union of Florida officials are secretly exercising Antebellum practices and are using intimidation amongst their peers to exercise their wills. King U John W. Dobbs John W. Dobbs Florida DC# C00618 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Orange County case# 48-2006-CF-015201-O The listing of events is compiled from several of John. Dobbs’ prior efforts to get justice. The uncontested facts hold that: Petitioner and his then girlfriend Deann Washington were visiting the State of Florida, when they stopped at a topless bar called Thee Doll House. Inside the club the couple met William Troy IIII and briefly engaged in a not at all hostile, but not quite polite conversation.
At closing time, the couple left the club and sew Troy with 3 or 4 other men, they were intoxicated. Petitioner’s vehicle and the vehicle transporting Troy’s party was parked six parking spaces apart. One or more from Troy’s party yelled to the couple something to the effect of they needed security to walk them out. Initially the statement appears lighthearted. John is entering his car when Troy’s friend and employee Andre Blanco starts to approach the passenger side of the couple’s vehicle. John’s girlfriend being the passenger, points out that one of them is walking over. John asks her to stay in the car, leaves the driver side, and walks around the back of the car to meet him. When Andre Blanco arrives, a fight initiated between them which all parties and witnesses perceive as a fist fight. The fight takes place close to the rear passenger side of John’s vehicle. Almost instantly. Andre Blanco is Knocked down and Francisco Gotay approaches John evades the punches and strikes Francisco Gotay with what all parties and witnesses perceive as fists. After being knocked down Andre Blanco swiftly recovers and attacks Petitioner from behind. John’s girlfriend exits the vehicle and enters the fight to help John, as Anthony Riollano and William Troy IIII approach. The couple hears someone yell ‘get her ‘ or get the girl.’ It’s around this time that one of them appears to get seriously injured and John concedes to starting to use his pocketknife, as Deanna Washington is grabbed by Anthony Riollano and tossed to the side ending her feeble attempts to ward them off. Next Riollano goes after John approaching John from behind, while he was confronted by at least one other of Riollano’s party, grabs John from the side by his shirt collar and strikes him on the head and neck several times. As members of his party feel they are unable to continue, Riollano, not knowing why the fight has stopped, but recognizing that it has, stops hitting John. Both Blanco and Gotay notice they are bleeding and don’t know why.
John gets up and the couple get in their car, and William Troy falls to the ground due to stab wounds. Andre Blanco and Francisco then realize they were stabbed. As the couple leaves the parking lot a truck, they believe to be occupied by one of their assailants try to run them off the road. Hanzel Holiday a valet from the club across the street, was not a witness to the incident, yet claim to have struck John’s vehicle twice in order to run the couple off the road, because his supervisor, Phillip Allen Westfall, the valet for Thee Doll House told him to stop their car. On third attempt Holiday notices John with a gun pointed in the direction of his attack, so he stops pursuit. William Troy died as a result of his stab wounds. John received multiple injuries six cuts. While John claims to have seen one of them swinging something shiny, which he perceived as a knife, and security for the club, Justin Idle, claims to have seen one of the men hitting John with what he believes may have been a key. All witnesses deny seeing John with a knife during the altercation. John, the only African American male in the fight, was also the only man arrested, and accused of a criminal act. Blanco, Gotay and Holiday each have multiple felony convictions, Troy had been convicted of battery on a law enforcement officer: and on the night of the incident Blanco was on probation. John who himself had one prior felony conviction, alerted the arresting office of his self-defense claim. Sign his petition on amku.org
Thank You

 Frequently Asked Questions

If Florida ‘ Stand Your Ground Law ‘ is equally available to citizens under Florida jurisdiction some of the questions that arrive basic on the evidence are:
1.) Why was he the only man arrested for a fight that all witness sworn stated as a fist fight between him and a least 4 intoxicated men who relentlessly approached him?
2.) Does race have anything to do with it?
3.) Does he have the right to protect his girlfriend for what can be reasonably preceded as acts of aggression?
4.) How is it possible to find he didn’t act in defense of himself and his lady, when no reasonable evidence existed that the men who approached them might no harm?
5.) If the statement (you need security to walk you and your girl out) can be perceived as a threat how is it not evidence of his innocent?
6.) Why wasn’t Andre Blanco arrested for violating; for his part in the altercation being that he was dunk and on probation in a state were mere police contact usually results in violation?
7.) Why did the prosecutor allow Andre Blanco to change sworn statements from proceeding to proceeding without explanation?
8.) If the only evidence of aggravated battery against Andre Blanco comes from actions, Andre Blanco testified there was no evidence of, until after Blanco ran up grab him by the back of the neck and started hitting him; How is that not self-defense?
9.) If the only evidence of Aggravated battery against Fransico Gotay comes from actions Gotay testified occurred only after Gotay ran at him swinging to hit him; How is that not self-defense?
10.) If the only evidence of aggravated assault against Hansel Holiday comes from actions Holiday testified occurred only after Holiday was attempting to strike his car and run him off the road for the thirty time; How is that not self- defense?
11.) If Andre Blanco testified that immediately after being hit with what seems like a really hard punch, Blanco gets up runs grabs him by the back of the neck and starts hitting him; and, Fransico Gotay testified that immediately after Blanco falls from being hit with a good punch, Gotay runs up and starts swinging at him. and, Riollano testified that at the time that Riollano approached him and started hitting him in the neck and head, he was still fighting at least one of Riollano’s friends. And, William Troy enter the fight sometime in between. How can they say the fights were one on one.
13.) Why were Fransico Gotay, Anthony Riollano, and Hanzel Holiday treated by the State Attorney’s Office as if their attacking the couple at the couple car was lawful when they claim to have no knowledge of why the fight started or who throw the first punch; Thus, no knowledge of whether they were in the right or wrong?
14.) How is it that he was convicted of murdering William Troy and his conviction is upheld when the only evidence is that William Troy was the 3 or 4 men to enter the fight against him, and his claim to have stab Troy in self-defense?
15.) Why was the jury led to believe that he had to try to avoid the danger before he had the right to stand his ground?
16.) Why wasn’t the State required to answer any of these questions on appeal?
17.) Why wasn’t he granted an Evidential Hearing basic on any of his claims in the Federal Court?
18.) If the police was called before anyone was believed to have been stabbed and Deputy Herbert Mercado testified at the Adversary Preliminary Hearing referring to him as the victim twice.
Doesn’t that mean that the recordings of the 911 calls that were destroyed were evidence of his actual innocents?
19.) Does this mean that Florida law enforcement knows that he is innocent?
20.) Does the wealth of William Troy’s and Anthony Riollano’s family's have anything to do with it.
21.) Is there a conspiracy to deny a innocent man his rights?
22.) If a white man fought off 4 or 5 drunk black men, who told him he needed security, and surrounded him and his girlfriend, outside his car in the parking lot of a strip club, at 2:00 in the morning; Wouldn’t he be a hero?
23.) Are Clerks of Court being paid to sabotage cases in Florida. a.) A Clark of the court filed the unsigned Charge Information. b.) On Direct Appeal they was no judge signature on the ‘Denial .‘ c.) It was a Clerk who allowed incorrect DOC number to remain on his docket for months despite the number of complaints. d.) It was a Clerk of Court that removed 15 pages of his ‘Argument' from his petition for Federal Habeas Corpus. e.) And now the Clerk of Court who denied his State Habeas Corpus without any reason again in the Direct Court of Appeal.
They didn’t put the initial provocation instruction in George Zimmerman jury instruction.

 Read proof of his innocents on his website

americanmekinguniversal.org and/or amku.org read court transcripts, and subtitle; Must Read, John's story in his own words " American Me Law vs. Law Enforcement " and give him an emergency release. Too many Florida officials are manipulating the system solely for their own personal prejudices and then having justice denied to avoid lawsuits. A favor for a favor tradition, Regardless of constitutional propriety. Many have gotten more severe sentencing when facts are manipulated at trail. Some were just been plain railroad. This system within the system is so embedded that the Feds are scared to touch it, especially because of the financial ramifications. A federal investigation is sorely needed, men like my son who have been ignored and lack opportunities to received justice in Florida that only money can buy. Thank You

submitted by CelesteDobbs to u/CelesteDobbs [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 01:20 PlanktonLonely7643 What is this noise?

I live in eastern washington state; idk what this sound is and It’s coming from this tree but have no clue what it can be.

submitted by PlanktonLonely7643 to Whatisthis [link] [comments]

2023.06.07 00:45 EagleFly_5 [M/28] Need a break from monotony & spark of inspiration.

Hi! One of the rare once in a blue moon moments I’ll post here - 2nd time in my 9 years of Reddit & 4 years of chatting w/ others here & other relevant subs, but why not! Overall it’s been a great experience for my personal growth, so the more the merrier I’d say!
Feeling a bit out of whack today w/ the forest fires making its way from Québec & Ontario down to the eastern states of the US, gives me similar vibes when it was wildfire season in Washington state in September 2022. Aside from spending most of today indoors at work, it’s unbearable today for everything else. Just not a good day to be outside I’d say…
I have been talking w/ people here for weeks to different degrees of success, but this time it’ll be a good move to wait on people first.
Let’s see, long story short about me:

I’m an American from the state of New Jersey, but I treat NYC as a 2nd home. Then again, can’t afford a solo move there!
I work as a food photographer, hopefully one day I can do commercial work & continue to set out in my own path in life.
Can’t for the life of me make friends outside the internet, but one day at a time I strive to be better with that, and here has been a great intermediary in the meantime.
For fun, I’m into photography, eating out for fun, reading, volunteering, going out to explore my area, and more. I’d strive to do my best to make the lives of others a little better in my day to day life.
Not much of a gamer or anime person these days. 😅

I don’t mind anyone who’d want to talk to me, and if you’d want to keep this for the rest of the day or however long, then great! Would help with a basic age, location (if you’d want) and go from there, but I’m ok if you really want to be anonymous.
Thank you for your time and consideration! 🙂

submitted by EagleFly_5 to chat [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 23:49 Great-Raise4727 Lawn Patches of Stunted Growth

I have areas towards the center of my backyard lawn that aren’t growing as well as are the outer edges. I wanted to get some opinions on what might me going on. Soil analyses came in low in nitrogen so I added a high nitrogen fert about a week ago and that was a month after doing my typical Milorganite application in early May. I have irrigation and I feel like I’m doing pretty good not over or under watering. This is the second spring that I noticed this. The lawn is only 3 years old so the 1st spring was new sod. Could it be compact soil? I live on the eastern foothills of the Cascades in Washington so no more like silt loam vs clay. I’ve never dethatched or aerated this lawn before. The soil probe is pretty hard push 6 inches deep. Takes some twisting and weight to get go in the last 3 inches.

submitted by Great-Raise4727 to lawncare [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 19:54 ahayling [Game Thread] (1) Las Vegas Aces (7-0) vs (2) Connecticut Sun (6-1) ~ June 6th, 2023 7:00PM ET ~ WNBA League Pass & Local Broadcasts

[Game Thread] (1) Las Vegas Aces (7-0) vs (2) Connecticut Sun (6-1) ~ June 6th, 2023 7:00PM ET ~ WNBA League Pass & Local Broadcasts

Game Information

Las Vegas Aces vs Connecticut Sun

Game Information

TIME	MEDIA	Location	Broadcast
Eastern: 7:00PM	Game Preview WNBA.com	Mohegan Sun Arena	US: WNBA League Pass
Central: 6:00PM	ESPN Box Score	Uncasville, CT	Canada: Unknown
Mountain: 5:00PM	WNBA League Pass		Home Team Broadcast: NBC Sports Boston
Pacific: 4:00PM			Road Team Broadcast: Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network

Road Team

Las Vegas Aces

Team Homepage	Team Roster & Coaching Staff
Social Media	Local Television & Broadcast
Twitter	Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network
Instagram	KVVU
Youtube

Home Team

Connecticut Sun

Team Homepage	Team Roster & Coaching Staff
Social Media	Local Television & Broadcast
Twitter	NBC Sports Boston
Instagram
Youtube

Want to use my 2023 WNBA Templates and help contribute posting game threads for wnba? Download here!. A potential 255 Game Threads for the entire for 1 person is a lot of work. This season I have two more volunteers to help me out!
Read The Flow Chart if you're Watching Games Courtesy of @cwetzel31 on Twitter for those if you're planning to watch the games.

submitted by ahayling to wnba [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 19:36 JohnT_RE Brass Leopard Patch Notes (1.1.5 PC Update)

https://preview.redd.it/y0aicaagof4b1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2fde3b28d5c7f75ba40240dfc922a9de92efc985
This update focuses on several quality-of-life improvements, gameplay changes, bug fixes and more. We feel these changes should provide many iterative improvements to the overall feel and experience of CoH3. You can find all of the changes below, or an overview here, along with a video summary here.
In this update, you will find the following

Audio improvements
- Additional intel warnings
- New sound effects audio mixes
Gameplay feature improvements
- Camera height
- Event cues
- Player names and colors
Gameplay changes
- Plane and loiter changes
- Mignano Gap and Gazala Landing Ground map fixes
A new 3 vs 3 map available in:
- Skirmish
- Custom games
- Co-Op vs AI
Several improvements to the single player experience
- Italian campaign bug fixes

NEW CONTENT
Catania Crossing - 3 vs 3 Map
Adding a new 3 vs 3 bridge map released exclusively for Skirmish, Custom Games and Co-Op vs AI modes.

A return to classic CoH bridge maps, based on the Allied Landings in Sicily.
Features dense urban combat around critical bridge crossings, perfect for those who wish to hunker down and outlast their enemy.

GAMEPLAY CHANGES
Audio
British Forces – War Cry ability

All players will now hear a trench whistle followed by a crowd swell indicating the ability has been activated.

Camera

The camera now allows players to zoom out an additional 5 meters using the scroll wheel increasing the overall zoom level.

Event Cues

Event Cues are now aligned over top of the minimap.
Event Cues priority has been adjusted across the board to prevent less important cues taking over more relevant ones.
Event Cues now allow players to click and select units behind them.
Event Cues are now limited to how many can display on screen at the same time
The background transparency of Event Cues has been reduced to improve readability
Event Cues lifetime on screen will adapt based on player interaction. Event Cues that are not interacted with will be unchanged. Event Cues that are clicked will be considered “seen” and their total lifetime will be reduced by 5 seconds. For example:
- A ‘grenade incoming’ event cue appears on screen. The player clicks on it after 10 seconds, the event cue immediately disappears as its total lifetime has been reduced to 5 seconds when becoming ‘seen’.
- The same event cue appears on screen again, this time the player clicks on it after 1 second: the event cue will be considered ‘seen' and will remain for 4 more seconds, as its total lifetime has been reduced to 5 seconds.

Maps
Gazala Landing Ground

Minor adjustments to Strategic and Victory Point locations to ensure the Western points favor the Southern team and Eastern points favor the Northern team.

Mignano Gap

Improved the southernmost engagement area (the bottom of the valley) to be approachable from more angles
Removed cover from Greek staircases to prevent unintended balance issues.
Territory layout adjusted to ensure a fair dispersal of munitions resources near each Team's HQ areas.

Planes
The intent of the changes to airplanes and loiters is to deliver more believable-looking visuals along with better responsiveness and game feel. When a player clicks, it’s essential that the feedback on the ability be more immediate. As always, we are looking into new ways to bring you an immersive experience, so we’ve adjusted the visuals and deformation on airplane crashes, dives, and projectile speeds.

Standardized airplane arrival times:
- Utility based airplanes (includes smoke & recon runs): 3 seconds
- Strafing runs: 5 seconds
- Bombing runs: 7 seconds
Airplanes now start their dives earlier to allow for a less aggressive angle.
Airplanes speed increase while loitering from 36 m/s to 72 m/s.
Airplanes turn angles are increased from 25 degrees to 60 degrees.
Adjusted Airplane crashes to create deformation and include a new effect.
Adjusted Airplane crashes to damage environmental objects.
Adjusted Airplane debris to last longer.
Adjusted Airplanes doing dives to only drop the projectile when at a distance from the target as opposed to only when on top of the target.
Adjusted Airplane abilities flares to match the center of the ability reticule.
Adjusted Airplane abilities reticule colors to match the proper intention of the ability (green for utility, red for damage)
Airplanes performing paradrop abilities are now invincible.
Airplanes performing Mark Target abilities now show a proper indicator on the target.

Airplane Weapon & Projectile Changes

Adjusted projectile speeds overall to be 2x to 3x times faster.
Adjusted bombs to have a 1.5x damage modifier against buildings and emplacements.
Adjusted deformation to better match the area of effect of some of the explosions.
Adjusted strafing runs to have an area of effect of 45m length.
Adjusted strafing runs to cover the area within 1s as opposed to 3s.

Loiter Changes

Loiters no longer acquire new targets in base sectors.
Loiters now display a ground indicator that reflects the target acquisition area.
Loiters now display an indicator on top of the unit they are targeting.
Loiters now properly display the time left for the ability to end.
Loiters now take longer in between passes.

Afrikakorps

Stuka Dive Bomb munition cost from 250 to 150.

Wehrmacht

Fragmentation Bomb now drops 6 bombs instead of 4.
Fragmentation Bomb now has two airplanes in formation.

Plane Bug Fixes

Airplanes performing a Mark Target will now leave the field properly if the target is destroyed.
Loiter airplanes no longer leave the field pre-emptively which was causing instances where instead of two airplanes loitering there would be only one.
Various Audio fixes missing voiceovers in different airplane abilities.

Player Names

A new bindable hotkey has been added to the Controls settings, allowing players to customize the button to temporarily toggle player names. Default has been set to CTRL.
A toggle for player names has been added to the game settings both while in a match and in the main menu
- ON: Player names will be permanently displayed under the unit decorator.
- OFF: Player names will not display under the unit decorator permanently, but players will still be able to toggle them temporarily using their assigned hotkey.
Player names will be displayed on unit information cards.
Player names will be using player’s selected color scheme in the UI (compatible with both team and unique colors). This will apply to names displayed in the RTS layer, on the unit card and in the player list.

Unique Team / Player Colors

Team and Unique colors now apply to player names.
Team and Unique colors now apply to units' health bars on the unit cards.
Territory point flag and capture UI now uses team colors rather than unique colors.

Player List

Added a tooltip when hovering with the mouse on Battlegroups in the Player List, containing the Battlegroup name and a brief description.
All Battlegroups from each player’s loadout will now be visible in the player list: it will no longer be possible to check which Battlegroups other players have picked.
Player names will respect the color scheme chosen by the player in the Gameplay settings: when Team Colors are enabled, the player will be assigned the blue color, allies the yellow color and opponents the red color. When enabling Unique Colors, the player’s team will be assigned the cold color palette, and the opposing team will be assigned the warm colors palette.
Team 1 and 2 background colors standardized to blue for player team and red for opponents’ team.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

Fixed a save issue where the objective UI language was incorrect when loading a save that was made in a different language.
Fixed an issue with the main menu background not appearing.
Improved indication of resolution on the settings screen when borderless Fullscreen window mode is selected.
Improved mouse compatibility and clamping while in windowed mode.
Textbox now properly displays when chatting with friends.

Audio

Added a new sound effect to campaign map captures.
Added an intel announcement for allied-controlled points that are attacked or taken by the enemy.
Afrikakorps Mortar Units have found their voice. Fixed an issue where recrewed Afrikakorps Mortar Units would have no voice lines.
Capture point now always plays capture sound when neutralized.
Fixed audio sound effects when capture points are neutralized.
Fixed certain British vehicles not using American lines after being restored by the American recovery vehicle.
Fixed unnecessary intel message that played when using a CWT truck to recrew a team weapon.
Paratrooper Squad's M1 Carbine now uses unique firing sound effects.
Recon ability sound effects will no longer be heard in the fog of war.
The Humber 15mm turret's sound effect now correctly matches fire rate and animation.
US Forces halftracks now uses different audio after being upgraded.
US Forces Intel referred to pathfinders as scouts when deployed from HQ. They are now correctly referred to as pathfinders.
Victory and Defeat music on the results screen is now no longer affected by the muffling effect on remaining battle sounds.

Voice Over

Fixed silent voice over line at the end of the Defend Potenza mission.
Intel voiceover warnings for weapon crews such as Anti-Tank guns and Mortars did not play when the unit was lost. Warnings now play correctly.
M2A1 Howitzers now has working voice over lines.
Refined the voiceover selection logic to reduce the repetition of memorable lines.
Squads garrisoned in buildings now give a voiceover warning when the building is at risk of being destroyed.
Victory and Defeat screen voiceover will now always play.

Art

Afrikakorps Panzergrenadiers now understand how boots work, therefore their legs no longer clip through their boots. It’s leg day!
Anzio Annie crew now stands on the gun, where they should be.
British Forces M1 Pack Howitzer Team now uses the correct models and portrait.
Colors on the Afrikakorps Bersaglieri squad rifles have been adjusted to better match the unit.
CWT AA Mount seat no longer clips through benches.
Fixed smoke trails to match team colors.
Flame attacks correctly apply charring to vehicles.
Heavy machine guns no longer floats when the M8 Greyhound is destroyed.
Kattenkrad Recon Vehicle now produces debris when destroyed.
US Forces M1 carbine now uses the correct semi-automatic animation.

Gameplay

Fixed a scaling issue where unit paths would be the wrong size on the minimap.
Fixed an issue where the cover dots indicators would be rendered floating in the air.
Fixed an issue where the game was not updating the player correctly when an enemy neutralized one of the player's team-controlled sectors, and still showing the neutralized territory as player owned. With this change, after a point is neutralized by the enemy team, the player would correctly see it as neutral on both the RTS and the minimap/tactical map layers.
Fixed an issue where the minimap did not orient north correctly.
Fixed an issue where units got stuck when trying to exit certain buildings while retreating.
Fixed an issue with some environmental vehicles being targetable as if they were enemies.
Fixed A.I. players not supplying a direction to directional targeted abilities. This A.I. will now be using directional targeted abilities, such as the German Wespe Creeping Barrage veterancy ability.
Fixed several instances of overly zealous infantry running towards the enemy when retreating.
Fixed several issues related to bridges not correctly having cover.
Loiter planes no longer disappear off map while performing abilities.
Updated Line of Sight generated by capture points to be more consistent with past CoH games.

Localization

Added Japanese text display improvements.
Adjusted and simplified tooltip text throughout the game.
Fixed several typos and inconsistencies in texts.
Fixed an issue with subtitles in Campaign not appearing at the correct time.
Improved localization in all languages and integrated missing translations.

Maps

Added missing cover to several objects in the environment.
Fixed an issue on Aere Perennius where the map zone/territory would be drawn incorrectly between ruined buildings.
Fixed an issue where certain buildings would make units garrisoned inside invincible.
Fixed an issue where territory lines did not display correctly on stairs.
Fixed missing collision on large standing fuel container on L'Aquila map.
Fixed several issues with indestructible hedges.
Fixed several issues with small objects taking up too much space and blocking unit movement.
Updated balustrades to provide cover as expected (identically to stone walls).
Updated hangar assets to no longer provide cover. Suspended sections were wrongfully providing cover to units beneath them.
Updated map edge visuals on Torrente, including railway tunnel and rail lines.
Improved width of impasse around some cliff areas across multiple maps to reduce clipping.

Modding Tools Improvements & Bug Fixes

Added first ability archetype “equip_and_fire_weapon”. This archetype is intended primarily for infantry to replicate the functionality of abilities such as grenades or panzerfausts. It will equip a weapon of the chosen name or hardpoint index and fire it X times at the target. The caster entity(ies) must have the weapon assigned to that hardpoint in order to cast.
Introduced “custom properties”, which allow modders to adjust the variables that will be read by state tree scripts to allow variations of existing ability archetypes. Custom properties are only used for a specific ability state tree script, however any ability that references that state tree script can re-use the same variable names to create the same effect.
Introduced the concept of an “ability archetype” -- These are template abilities that can be cloned to easily create variations using custom properties. For now, this is just the “equip_and_fire_weapon” ability with the potential to release more in the future. Previously, if you modded an ability like the rifleman’s grenade, it could only ever throw that specific grenade. Now a modder could adjust which weapon to swap in and how many shots to fire by copying the equip_and_fire_weapon ability and changing those properties.
It will also be possible to use custom properties to adjust values on some of the abilities that do not yet have a formal archetype created, such as any of the flight abilities we reworked this patch and abilities such as Repair, which now exposes several tuning handles to adjust the repair amount.
Tuning pack mods can now have their files reference each other without crashing on load
Updated the default atmosphere to the latest day lighting version, this should improve the modding experience with default settings.

Performance

Fixed a crash that would sometimes occur when skipping a cutscene.
Fixed an issue where capped fps was higher (by as much as 10fps) than the set cap due to sometime not being accumulated frame-to-frame.
Reduced memory increases across missions.

Single Player

Fixed an issue that caused some objectives to be started multiple times.
Fixed an issue where campaign save/load would become inaccessible after creating a skirmish game in single player.
Fixed a crash that sometimes happened when loading a save game.
Fixed mission failed dialog in certain campaign missions.
Fixed several issues of missing voiceover dialog in campaign missions.
Fixed several issues with camera fadeouts flickering or happening at the incorrect time during mission sitreps.

Dynamic Italian Campaign

AA Emplacements can no longer shoot at Supply Crates.
AA emplacements no longer attack ships in the single player campaign.
Added a fix for a specific Save/Load issue that affected a kill counter not updating properly in Fire with Fire mission.
Added Relevant requirement text to the Heal, Repair, Encircle abilities when out of range.
Adding correct portraits to Supply Drop Crates.
Displaying correct description text on Supply drop Crates.
Adjusted description for the following UK Artillery company abilities/upgrades to more accurately match their functionality in-game:
- Battle Hardened - Raises minimum Veterancy Level of Gurkha Rifles to 2.
- First Class Fighting Men - Raises minimum Veterancy Level of all infantry squads to 1.
Adjusted out of bounds vista in Salerno to make for a smoother transition in the distance.
Adjusted timing of Conti's Voice Over so it no longer overlaps with the sitrep.
Assassinate Baumann object will no longer auto-complete and the mission can be played.
Campaign Map A.I. no longer uses bombardment abilities from its ships and howitzer emplacements outside the playable area.
Combat music no longer starts immediately after intro to the Pomigliano airfield mission.
Companies requisitioned through a seaport now have the proper cost modifiers applied to their Heal and Repair abilities.
Disabled the forward artillery ability in Salerno until the player gets access to a base.
During campaign skirmishes, enemy squads no longer pick up supply caches at the start of the 'Recover Discarded Supplies' bonus objective.
Enemy companies in the single player campaign now use recon abilities more consistently.
Errant intel no longer plays before Corporal Conti's objective outline at the beginning of random encounter skirmishes in the Italian Campaign.
Fixed a bug in the Italy campaign that caused the bombing run to fail after capturing 3 towns in the Volturno Line.
Fixed a bug in which narrative lines in the Ice Cream event could play out of order.
Fixed a narrative bug in the Winter Line mission where a line's audio was assigned to the wrong character.
Fixed a narrative bug in the Operation Morning Glory mission where a line's audio was assigned to the wrong character.
Fixed a narrative bug in the The Great Ammo Robbery mission where a line's audio was missing and assigned to the wrong character.
Fixed an issue causing input to be blocked when exiting loading screens in certain cases
Fixed an issue in the Anzio mission in the Italy campaign where enemy units would spawn during a cutscene.
Fixed an issue on certain campaign missions where US Forces infantry were not properly displaying veterancy options.
Fixed an issue where Paratroopers would get stuck in specific areas of Ortona.
Fixed an issue where Partisan capture ability would sometimes not do anything
Fixed an issue where the British Armoured Company Fuel Airdrop tooltip was incorrect when it was upgraded to drop 3 fuel crates and still referred to 2.
Fixed an issue where the Destroying the Gun's objective in the Italy Campaign mission in Gela would not complete properly before ending the mission.
Fixed an issue where units could have more movement points than their max movement points upon a new turn if they lost some supply on the previous turn
Fixed an issue with certain bridges on River Crossing Rescue not allowing vehicles to cross properly.
Fixed an issue with certain bridges where paratroopers would be unable to cross them after spawning on the wrong side.
Fixed German Mechanized Company that retreated on the Campaign Map near Camino that would get stuck and become un-targetable.
Fixed an issue that would make a company unusable if they were paradropped onto a destroyed town.
Fixed an issue where C-47 transport aircraft that were spawned in airfields that were captured by companies with the Air Support trait weren't displaying in the airfield management page.
Fixed an issue where planes were spawned hovering over Foggia if it was captured on the same turn as the objective to capture it was started.
Fixed an issue where ships moved via the Transfer Seaports ability weren't able to move on following turns.
Fixed an issue where the population cap was not increasing properly when picked as a reward for completing the southern foothold objective.
Fixed an issue with the Campaign map torpedo ability when used from Carriers that allowed it to be used against enemy land units and friendly ships.
Fixed lighting on battleships.
Fixed Partisan support ability sometimes not being selectable in skirmish/mission
Fixed post mission death animations for defending company playing on top of the initiating company
German Companies can no longer heal within the first 10 turns unless they are near a Hospital or Triage Centre.
German Company affecters/icons correspond with their Company Type
In the Anzio mission in the Italy campaign, aircraft can now be used without being shot down if the Destroy AA Guns objective was previously completed.
In the Enigma retrieval mission, added a small lump sum of manpower when the special aid station is captured to allow for limited reinforcements. The limited amount is to preserve a raiding party/commando fixed force feel that is smaller in scope than a typical skirmish or a larger scenario. A notification to the player is given when they get the resource.
Italy Finale Mission - Fixed an issue that prevented description text from appearing on the Swap Company ability button.
Navy Salvage and Repair abilities have been moved so they are no longer overlapped by other abilities
Removed friendly fire damage from area of effect abilities like Barrage, Bombardment, and Bombing Run in the Campaign.
Repair and Heal cost no longer increase on Save/Load
Re-trimmed boundaries in Calabria prologue so mountainous regions are more reliably recognized as impassable terrain.
Smoothed airplane turning for certain bombing run and supply run abilities.
Some missions in the Italian campaign now only trigger once.
The enemy territory that exists directly East of the player base in Gela now becomes player owned once the territory point to its north is captured by the player.
The Foggia mission now correctly registers when intel has been destroyed.
The Paratrooper tooltip has been updated to reflect that Paratroopers can be paradropped anywhere outside the enemy base, rather than only within friendly territory.
The rewarded Destroyer is no longer stuck at the seaport after repairing the seaport
Tiger Heavy Tank call-in can no longer get stuck behind the Wehrmacht HQ on the Winter Line map.

North African Operation

Corrected historical facts on a loading screen that claimed Italian and German troops clashed with British forces in 1940, when German forces did not arrive until February 1941.
Finale Mission - Fixed units clipping into each other during the introductory camera pan.
Fixed an issue where players had access to battlegroups from other factions in the desert village ambush mission.
Fixed an issue where destroying enemy vehicles for an optional objective would complete the primary mission objective and end the mission early.
Fixed an issue where sometimes victory cinematics at Tobruk would play twice.
Updated minor timing issues with camera sequences.

Skirmish

The Panzergrenadier Unit from the mechanized reserve can no longer equip MP40 in campaign skirmishes.

Tutorial

Adjusted the first few steps of the tutorial to restrict what the player can interact with. This change should improve clarity, limit confusion and guide new players more directly.
Fixed a minelaying tutorial tooltip staying active indefinitely.
Fixed an issue in the tutorial in which hint arrows were not being removed upon objective completion.
Fixed an issue that prevented some hint messages from appearing.
Minor additional instruction hint added to the aid post tutorial sequence.

Stability

Improved desync handling to only remove the desynced player allowing the match to continue.
Fixed a crash that occurred when a voice over line was unavailable.
Fixed a frequent Italy Campaign crash triggered by a deleted capture point.

Store / Cosmetics

All soldiers in Captain's Retinue squad will get appropriate cosmetics instead of just the Captain.
Fixed a bug where the granted item window does not show the correct rarity color.
Winter Tundra Panzer IV’s turret accessories no longer flicker.
Winter Tundra Wirbelwind no longer leaves floating objects behind when destroyed.
Fixed issue with UK truck bed not getting camo.
Fixed issue of DAK Left Behind StuG III D not being available as an offer in the store.
Amazon Night Fighter vehicle crews now have their intended camo.

submitted by JohnT_RE to CompanyOfHeroes [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 16:11 tumadrelover Michigan vs Michigan State 22-23 Season

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2023.06.06 14:42 Johnny_Boy398 Africa Rework Proposal: Bêafrîka, Katanga, and the Mercenary Kingdoms of Africa

(This is part of a continuing series, links to which will be provided in the comments below)
Bêafrîka State: Bob Denard, Jean-Bédel Bokassa and the mercenary state.
The term “warlord” has been abused by many as a catch all term for any armed african group. It brings to mind images of a barbaric, violent oaf seeking to enrich themselves with trinkets and money off the back of their military extortion: an example of the primitive and bloodthirsty nature of the african. This is certainly the purpose of the term for the Germans, who seek to paint all native armed resistance in this light in order to justify their own return to the continent. But despite this abuse of the term, and its unjust application, it is not made up out of whole cloth: bandits, criminal gangs and short sighted thugs do exist among the africans as they do in all people, and the chaos of the German collapse has given these characters the opportunity of a lifetime. In the former RK Zentralafrika this is seen most clearly in the “mercenary state” of Bêafrîka.
Borders of a successful Bêafrîka. Many post-colonial African nations are accused of being artificial: random lines drawn on a map for the convenience of foreigners, and thus doomed to be either failures or exploitive facades. The truth of this statement is debatable: what makes a nation “organic”, is it truly critical that one be so? Are the struggles of new African nations so easily encapsulated? The argument goes on but all will agree on this: Bêafrîka is an utterly artificial and extractive state which can only begrudgingly be called a nation at all.
The north-west of Zentralafrika has always been something of a hodgepodge. The initial conquest of the area from the Free French meant the roll back of any “nation building” expenditures in favor of reverting back to the old company rule. Corvee slavery, plantations and almost non-existent infrastructure was the rule even under the French, and as such the transition to German ownership was almost seamless. If the average native african noticed a difference at all it was in the flags and helmets of the whites who terrorized them: their managers and guards stayed essentially the same. As such the region was seen by independence agitators as ripe for their own movements to grow in. Though such resistance was kept on a tight leash by the Germans it finally burst forth in the northern incursion of 1954. Supported by Nigeria and with the German forces drawn thin by the ongoing Wester Russian War, socialist militants made a lightning strike southward in the hopes of toppling Zentralafrika. For a moment it seemed as if they would do it: the road to Leopoldville was only lightly guarded and the rebel numbers were, in theory, vast. But it was not to be: poor command structures and infighting slowed the rebel advance for long enough that Kommissar Krogmann and Seigfreid Muller were able to reorganize and counterattack with the aid of a new breed of soldier: the Mercenary.
Though having been present in the role of corporate security for years this war was the instance when the Congo Mercenaries truly became a force to be reckoned with. Restrictions on who could hold a gun were dropped and the ranks of mercs swollen with Europeans, Asians and Africans. Though typically small groups and far more independent than Krogmann would have liked, they were all well acquainted with their trade and often brought along their own equipment. They could move fast, hit hard, and there was no reason to suspect their siding with the revolutionaries. With the aid of mercenaries and the cash of selling off vast tracts of land to private holders the revolutionaries were pushed back, and the long guerilla war began. Some areas of Zentralafrika were essentially passive, or had other security solutions. But in the north it was the mercenaries and the garrison which enforced the German order. Names of these men would soon become minor celebrities to the military minded, and their benefactor Seigfreid Muller got a promotion. But for our story only three names matter: the French “mercenary king” Bob Denard, “black Napoleon” Jean-Bédel Bokassa, and “the tiger” Alexandre Banza.
Though it is the armed men who hold real power in their hands, the counter-revolutionary forces are not all German and French soldiers of fortune. The APL’s anti-clerical excesses and radical nativism also alienated the thin class of native collaborators and most of all the catholic church. Barthelemy Boganda was one such native conservative, being a native priest who has tried to act through the church to both reform and aid his flock. After the death of his mentor Marcel Grandin Boganda has become a leading figure of pro-native reform without resorting to violence or leftist radicalism.
With the alliance of French and German landowners paying for their protection the mercenaries, though still technically led by Europeans, became the foremost armed presence in the north. Battling against resistance internal and external by 1962 they have become a hated and envied force, and one which Krogmann is eager to bring into line. But the South Africa War will get in the way of any reforms, with mercenaries once again being called on to shoulder the burden of warfare and internal suppression. By the end of the conflict, no matter how it ends, the mercenaries will have become an even more entrenched force in Zentralafrika. Of course when Huttig takes over this will no longer be tolerated. Having already been humiliated by Muller before, Huttig will take great pleasure in dismissing and rounding up the mercenaries, forcing them to join his forces as regular conscripts without any special privileges. Or rather he would, if he had been fast enough to catch them. When news came of Krogmann’s death and Huttig’s assumption of control the mercenaries did not wait for the order to come: they fled if they were able, and if not they seamlessly transitioned from paid agents of the state to new warlords out for their own survival and enrichment. And more than anyone they congregated around the new king of the mercenaries: Bob Denard.
For the year Huttig’s reign lasts the gangs of former mercenaries will be yet another thorn in his side: raiding, bribing and leading his forces on goose chases. And thanks to Huttig’s destruction of any boats or airplanes he could not gain control over these same former mercenaries had nothing else they could do, unless they cared to gamble trekking all the way to Free France. But Huttig’s flailing attempts to bring them to heel was only one of many threats: in this same area socialist militants and petty warlords also sprung up, and sought to destroy the hated mercenaries themselves. When Huttig dies and the German forces retreat to Leopoldville all pretense will be dropped: the Pan-africans, Fang Gabonese and Cameroonian revolutionaries will all attempt to proclaim new states and to expel the gangsters of German capitalism for good. But with their attention divided and the mercenaries still possessing skill, fire power, and all the money the old landowners could scrap together the attempt will only be half successful. Right between the three of them the new Bêafrîka State will be proclaimed.
Born in 1929 Bob Denard first got the taste for battle during the French State’s failed expeditions against De Gaulle in the late 40s. Deciding that there was better pay and better leadership to be had in Zentralafrika he was one of the first mercenaries brought in through the “King of the Mercs” Siegfried Müller. Though he has little patience for the Reich’s racial code he is a brave commander and an ardent anti-communist. After Müller’s disappearance upon Hüttig’s ascension the stranded mercenaries looked to those bold and skilled enough to lead them, and found it in Denard.
Under the nominal presidency of Boganda, who was practically kidnaped to take the role, the new state is in perhaps the most precarious position of all post-independence states.Their domestic support rests on a incredibly thin strata of white landlords, a handful of native conservatives and a mercenary army which is already looking for a way out the back door. And opposing them is a very dedicated coalition of native nationalists and revolutionaries. It would be the most natural thing in the world for this ramshackle “state” to disintegrate. But there is one thing which can unite them, and can make them all take the risk of fighting it out: Money. Specifically diamonds, gold, and other precious metals which can be sold high on the global market. The mercenaries, native or foreign, have struck for fame in Bêafrîka with the process of becoming more than the lap dogs of the wealthy, but instead to be the wealthy themselves. Baganda hates this of course, but no one asked: the guns call the shots here. And besides, the APL has already branded him a traitor to the people: in the mercenaries' eyes he should be thankful that he still has his head. And so it is decided, the mercenaries would make their own little heaven, and all they had to do to keep it was win the war for it.
Against them stands the APL, their long-time adversary. When the war begins these Pan-africanists, supported by Cameroon and Nigeria, will take the fight to Bêafrîka. This would probably be a death sentence if it were not for the fact the APL is fighting a two front war with the Nationalists to their east. If the mercenary state should still fail it will be dismantled, with the surrounding states taking over its former territory. But if it should win this first war the gamble will have, for now, paid off. Bob, Bokassa and the rest will be able to begin bringing in the money as they use outright criminal methods to both extract and then sell the bounty of the land. The people, of course, hate this as does the nominal “president”. And within the mercenary ranks new fissures will soon begin to show. When faced with a united enemy these men were willing to work together, but now that the threat of death no longer hands quite so close the question of dividing the spoils has quickly turned into a feeding frenzy: it seems to be every mercenary clique for itself trying to carve out its own privileged fiefdom. And it is here that the reformists, such as they are, spy an opportunity.
Alexandre Banza, born 1932 to the Gbaya people, is one of the very few high ranking officers who have a ethnic connection to the land they now rule. His story is much the same as the rest of the black mercenaries: born to a poor family he saw mercenary service as a path to excitement, respect and advancement he would never get on his own. Intelligent, ambitious, and unscrupulous he would rise to become a commander of his own group before the Huttig takeover, and should he take power will rename his state the Bêafrîka Republic, embarking on a cynical campaign of “reform”.
The continued presence of white mercenaries is especially resented by the people, and none more so than commander of the presidential guard and de facto leader of the Bêafrîka State Bob Denard. As such soon after the emergency of war has passed Denard will be dismissed from his position and the two most prominent native warlords Alexandre Banza and Jean-Bédel Bokassa will be invited in to take command. Denard of course has no interest in leaving, and will arrest the president in his own residence, but not before word of the new decree leaked to the streets and the other mercenaries. So it is that the fate of Bêafrîka will be decided the only way a state built on mercenaries could be: with a shootout for control of the president. On one side is Denard: he has already made overtures to Free France and the OFN, as well as criminal contacts in Europe. By leveraging these contacts, and with the aid of the remaining white mercenaries who see his removal as the precursor to their own, he may be able to fight his way out and rise to power over the bodies of his rival warlords.
If Bob Denard and his presidential guard emerges victorious president Boganda’s days will be numbered. Unceremoniously removing and replacing him with a more compliant puppet who I will not even bother you with the name of, any promised elections will be delayed, and then delayed indefinitely. In the end even the facade of democracy will be left behind as the government instead relies on various emergency decrees and under the table deals, as well as outright coercion to cement its power. This is the true mercenary state, in which the armed and powerful take what they want from the weak and destitute: the state will see its revenues come from precious minerals and eventually oil, but just as much from the underground world of smuggling, arms trading, mercenary contracts on behalf of any who will pay, and even (if rumors are to be believed) human trafficking. Denard himself is not so unsophisticated as many of his henchmen: he portrays himself and his state as anti-communist crusaders who are willing to go to the ends of the earth to protect the people from the bolshevik menace. But it makes no difference to the people and to his neighborhood: unless those friendly to him such as the Free French and the Belgian regionalists are victorious both Denard and his state will find themselves facing external invasion sooner or later. When that happens, surrounded by disciplined enemies and facing ever increasing internal revolts, Denard will do what mercenaries do best: he will gather what valuables and guns he can before fleeing. But if this should not happen: if the Congo should remain shattered, and Nigerian ambitions fail, who knows how long the dream may last?
Living as they do in a half criminal status all mercenaries are well acquainted with the underworld. Under Bob however the state itself will come to resemble a crime syndicate, with Bob acting as the Mafia boss. More than any other single resource diamonds are the breadwinner for the “White King of Bêafrîka”, but taking a page out of Manchuria’s playbook drug production and trafficking are increasingly filling the ledger as well. The diplomatic denouncements are nothing: there are always back doors which money can open.
But all this is only if Bob and his people should win the battle for President Boganda. For the first time having the full backing of the streets and with a larger manpower pool to draw from it is likely that the native warlords Alexandre Banza and Jean-Bédel Bokassa will become the victors, chasing out the (competition) colonizers in favor of their own rule. They shall of course be rewarded by the eternally thankful president for their good deeds: Bokassa will take over as the new head of the presidential guard, while Banza will become minister of finance and foreign minister. But just as inevitably there is no throne on earth big enough for two people and so the former allies will soon look for a way to oust the other. The hope of the civilians lay in the victory of the Alexandre Banza clique. If he should succeed in arresting and disappearing his rivals Banza will seek to somewhat moderate the state. Rather than rely on naked coercion he will enforce the most basic of social contracts: in return for the country's obedience he will provide protection. Though the basic facts of the Bêafrîka State shall remain: a thriving underground, an economy based on raw export, and a army of criminals, the worst aspects of this rule will be softened and the “civilianization” of government give cosmetic reform to the regime, and finally permit the nominal president a level of dignity, even being allowed to push some of his catholic inspired social reforms. Though not much more than swapping a military uniform for a business suit this will go some way to providing a sense of normalcy, and allow the state to take a non-aligned stance rather than become the plaything of some foreign power.
On the other hand is the favorite of the soldiers Jean-Bédel Bokassa. You know him as the “mad” emperor of the C.A.R. otl, but there was always a method to his madness: one cannot remain in power for over a decade by being stupid. Where Banza seeks to normalize his regime and to be seen as a developmental junta rather than a warlord, Bokassa will lean into his reputation as a warlord, adding esoteric elements to bolster his rule over strangers. Under Bokassa the new system will be entirely personal: he will take the already weak state apparatus and effectively dismantle it, instead relying on personalized dependents to govern the capital city, and leaving the remainder of the country to its own devices so long as it bent the knee when ordered. No longer able to convincingly portray himself as a benign figure to a people who are mostly foreigners to him, he will instead tap into local superstitions to appear as the master of the occult, ruling as a man to be feared even beyond the grave and allegedly indulging in cannibalism. Perhaps even more importantly however he will make a hard switch from western backing to eastern, seeking the protection and the money of Japan. In this at least he will be fairly competent: negotiating the relationship with Japan through a mixture of bribery, utility, and threatened confiscations to wring out as much foreign aid and diplomatic backing as he can. Beyond this his rule will be one of chaos and decline with the people seeing their standard of living decrease yet further to a near subsistence level. But it will be a chaos which Bokassa alone is the ruler of.
Jean-Bédel Bokassa has been fighting longer than most: volunteering for the Free French during WW2, he was captured and ultimately released during the German conquest of Gabon. From there he drifted as a menial laborer until the northern insurrection forced the Reichskommissar to bend, and Bokassa was called up by an old french commander. From there he rose to be the de-facto head of his own suit by 1962, and now the undisputed leader of his own fiefdom. The extreme personalism and close relation with Japan will eventually result in his coronation as the sovereign of the Central African Empire.
Whether it be cynical pragmatism or esoteric terror the Bêafrîka State will remain a pariah among their fellow african nations. Cameroon and Gabon will consistently attempt to undermine and take over their territory for themselves, while even the Germans will see any government as traitors and rebels. Though its military may find a backer and its people may become cowed, the incredibly fragile state will come to an end sooner than later, unless they get very lucky. Any Nigerian victory will be a disaster, but a successful unifyer to the south and east would be a great threat as well. They were already founded in the war against one of those potential unifiers and all contenders for power recognize that a united Congo is a dangerous Congo. So, either through direct aid in the case of Denard or cheering from the sidelines Bêafrîka must hope for the victory of the regionalists and Jean Schramme.
Katanga, the Regional Alliance, and “The Belgian”.
For the Pan-Africans, the Republicans, the Nationalists and even the Germans survival is not enough: they wish to reunite the old Belgian colony under their vision of the future, and perhaps even seek expansion beyond that. But not all “congolese” feel this way: in particular the province of Katanga sees no reason why it should not be free to plot its own course. Wealthy in its own right with economic ties to the south the elite of the mining provence see no reason why they should be chained to a central government, and are at least partially supported in this by the people. Just what future this “independence” takes is is still up for grabs, but in the chaotic aftermath of Huttings death Moïse Tshombe, Albert Kalonji and Jean Schramme will form a triumvirate to lead the Regional Alliance.
Élisabethville slum. Katanga is the richest province in the Congo, as well as the one with the highest concentration of Belgians, and as such has seen the beginning of a modern city develop in its capital. It has also been the prime region for victims of the Congo Dam to migrate into, on account of its relative stability and high labor demand. This has all combined to put a great deal of pressure on those populating the land south of the lake and the development of modern slums alongside the growing city.
Katanga is, in 1962, the last remnant of Belgian colonial rule left after the German takeover. Not formally of course, that had been swept away along with Belgum itself in the 50s. But just beneath the German surface the old colonial trinity of church, company and stick still held true, and mostly under Belgian control. In the aftermath of WW2 and the establishment of Burgundy many Belgians had chosen to migrate into their old colonial territory, either for political or economic reasons. Their numbers would soon fill out the officer ranks of the Force Publique, the managerial posts of various new mines and plantations, and the pews of the catholic church. But it would not be the end of their difficulties: the old trinity clashed with Krogmann’s designs for the colony and after formally absorbing it in 1955 the contest began. Where the catholic church once held near total control over healthcare and education, not to mention religious life, Krogmann favored secularism for the european and promoted dechristianization for the native. His hopes for dissolving the FP and for removing french and dutch from the lexicon would be similarly resisted. By 1962 this contest of wills has continued to grind on, with the steady advance of germanization being constantly interrupted by economic and political expediency. The Belgian Katangaians find themselves stuck uncomfortably between German pressure from above and Native pressure from below.
This native pressure is on one hand from the educated evoles, always looking to improve the lot of themselves and sometime of their kin. But it also increasingly comes from the restless masses who have come under pressure from the fallout of the Congo Dam. As the Belgian congo moderately prospered the cities began to grow as well, with the colonial authorities making tentative attempts to accommodate the influx. But after the Congo dam and the German takeover both of these trends changed. Millions of refugees fled the great flood into the wealthiest regions they could go: Leopoldville and Katanga. The population of the cities exploded, and the subsistence agriculture still practiced by most Congolese came under incredible pressure as migrants and squatters proliferated. The Belgian authorities meanwhile were left without the resources needed to truly accommodate this change, and were left with only the Force Publique to try and keep the “indigenes” separate from the new “foreigners”. It was in this context that regionalist associations with the goal of protecting specific people, such as the Lula or Lunda, came to dominate the native political scene, such as it was. Both of these movements discovered that they had similar enemies: both resented German power and feared the “national” native resistance. But this did not yet mean they became allies.
Moïse Tshombe, the nominal head of Katanga. Born to a noble lineage and always wealthy, his desire to be liked and his lack of spin have made him into an ideal puppet for other interests. His current sponsor is the remnants of the old Belgian Union Minière, which comprise much of Katanga’s economy. Though not hated by any “his” government is in reality more beholden to his lieutenants such as Godefroid Munongo.
Katanga had lived in an atmosphere of tension even before the rise of Huttig and the advent of the “Afrikareich” did nothing to alleviate this tension. As part of Huttig’s program to fully disarm the natives and bring all armed forces under SS command he attempted to disarm the Force Publique and Belgian mercenaries, rolling them into its own armed forces. Prominent civilian Belgians were arrested and replaced with SS men, leaving both the Belgians and the natives angered. Under this new pressure some decided to give it up: the new regime could not be bargained with as the prior one was, and any resistance clearly meant death. But enterprising elements were not willing to take death laying down: most prominently this included Godefroid Munongo and Jean Schramme. Using their own wealthy connections and estates as payment they would form small resistance groups, and would be the first formal alliance between the Belgians and the regionalists. To cut a long story short when Huttig dies and the Germans retreat to Leopoldville, those SS governors who do not flee will find their lifespans much shorter than expected, and those brave or desperate enough to resist Huttig will return to power. In the face of nationalist calls to reunite the congo however, the regionalists will move first. With the lavish bribery of local mining conglomerates and the justification of “popular will”, the Belgian community led by Schramme and localist leaders will form the first concret result of their ad-hoc alliance: The State of Katanga.
In its first years Katanga is a divided and unsettled place, forced into unity by the common fear of external subjugation but beholden to competing political camps. The state itself is at least nominally led by Moïse Tshombe, descendant of the kings of the Lunda people and scion to one of the last wealthy native families. He is the figurehead of a poorly organized class of native elites and collaborators, most often independently wealthy and committed just as much to their own economic privileges as they are to the cause of regionalism itself. But despite this Tshombe heads the closest thing to a “popular movement” in the new state: the "Confédération des associations tribales du Katanga" (CONAKAT). Formed in the interest of protecting the livelihoods of the Lunda against the encroaching migrants it is through this party that the people are mobilized for war. Relying on traditional authority and elite connections in the name of a tribalism has been effective in at least countering the partisans of the republicans and nationalists which contest the provence. Just as in the other contenders the war is as much a mater of internal division as it is defeating external challenges. But in order to meet those external enemies the party has been obliged to do so with the aid of their “ally”, the Belgians.
Jean Schramme, despite his official profession, is less of a mercenary and more of a Belgian “contractor” who has a reputation for getting things done and resisting German encroachment. Coming to Africa soon after the end of WW2 he is part of a new breed of Belgians who consider Zentralafrika, or more accurately Katanga, as their true home and embrace the ideal of a paternal ruler of their “primitive” neighbors. Being a successful entrepreneur as well as part time leader of the “Leopard Battalion” Jean has become a prominent part of the Belgian expat community. But though he no longer wishes to return to Europe do not think he has forgotten what the Nazi’s did: the old motherland is dead by German hands, and he has not forgiven them.
Just as on the native side the Belgians are divided internally: German policy was frustrating and insulting, but it was also relatively stable and offered a protection against the natives surrounding them. To forgo this protection and risk battle with the world's superpowers in the name of an uncertain independence requires a boldness uncommon in men. But since when did the meek make history? Returning from his armed exile Schremme will find the FP and Belgian police in disarray, and take it upon himself to topple the last of the SS governors. In his mind there is no question: in order for the Belgians to be free and prosperous they must take the risk of rebellion against Germany and carve out their own state in the chaos. But despite his personal exploits he is unable to do this on his own, and so despite his personal distaste for allying with the native regionalists his own backers in the belgian mining and administrative class have forced him to make common cause with “their” evolese. Regardless Schremme has become the critical belgian commander in this rebelion, bringing the remainder of the belgian community with him whether they like it or not. He leads in a mercenary style, never far from the front lines and with a greater emphasis on personal bravery than more mundane things like logistics.
Though Katanga is the heart of the Regionalist Alliance it is still only one part of that alliance: to the eastern flank is Sud-Kasaï, led by Albert Kalonji as the vanguard state of the Luba secessionist movement. Both Kalonji and Tshombe claim to be protecting their people (Luba and Lunda respectively) from becoming minorities within their own land and from becoming the playthings of another foreign power, whether that be Germania, Washington or any other place. They are also both from prominent and wealthy local families, who have cooperated with the belgian colonizers for generations and have every personal incentive to resist foreign acquisition. As such their support is not primarily from the people, but from the oligarchs and the army. These are two significant advantages however: While other factions are scrambling to put together a military, a state, and to pay for it all, Katanga and her allies are able to fall back on the old colonial power structures, expanding the FP and leveraging oligarchical ties to slap together an army faster than their rivals. With the mix of audacious leadership, money and the Schramme loyalist mercenaries/formed FP officers the alliance may be able to snatch its independence despite the lack of international backing.
Map of regionalist victory, Azandeland acts as a placeholder for local authority (or lack thereof), Sud-Kasai is the Luba Empire. The immediate issue facing the regionalists will be export access: the states survival depends on the revenue from its extensive mining operations, and if that material cannot be exported it is worthless. For this Katanga must either negotiate a trade deal with the German remnants, or seek a detente with the self proclaimed frontline of liberation Zambia. Neither is eager to do this, but the world calls for what Katanga can provide, most of all Uranium. Eventually the market will win out, and one side will decide it is better to compromise principle than give the other an opportunity to gain access to the Katanga bounty.
IF VICTORIOUS the Regionalist Alliance will comprise an expanded State of Katanga, the Luba Empire, and a number of minor eastern powers propped up by Katanga. For the Luba and the Eastern chiefs the question of post war politics is an easy one: tribal traditionalism shall prevail as Albert Kalonji names himself king and the local chiefs are either bribed or threatened into compliance with the new order. While some may make efforts to modernize and advance their domains it will only be done under the watchful and occasionally helpful eye of Katanga. The only question remaining is who will be in control of Katanga itself. Jean Schramme is not a reasonable man, or at least not a moderate one: if he feels that he and the Belgians are not granted their proper place he may well try to overthrow Moïse Tshombe and install himself as the leader of the new state. The natives are less than satisfied as well: though free of foreign control it is clear to them that the old order is no longer acceptable: the people who fought and won the war for independence demand that their sacrifice be rewarded in some meaningful way. And most of all the question of race can no longer be papered over: The Belgians and Europeans remain on top, the migrants have been savaged, and the land and jobs available are not enough to satisfy them all.
To reconcile these internal difficulties a conference shall be held between the Belgian leadership of the army and company's one on hand, and the native oligarchs and officers on the other to see if a viable solution can be worked out. On the Belgian side the question is that of security and property: they wish to maintain the full roster of legal rights granted to them by belgian law, to keep their property and company concessions, and for a Belgian “veto” in the national government to ensure that Belgian rights are not trampled by some future populist government. On the CONAKAT side is a desire to renegotiate the terms of the “social contract”: to ensure a majority native voice in government which cannot be overruled by Belgian privilege, greater native ownership of property and the full abolition of any legal barriers to their advancement. However both sides are united in seeking stability and in their distrust of the congolese “masses”. Those masses are not without a voice themselves: through labor unions, dissident political parties and new officer associations the experience of warfare has made the people politically aware. If the result of the conference does not give some bones to the people it may find that its support is far too narrow to be stable.
Union Minière, once the undisputed master of the Katanga economy, has declined somewhat under German overlordship. With a majority of its shares owned by the Belgian state and its former leadership fleeing to America after the end of the war its foundations were shaky. When Krogmann began the great sell off and rescinded the Belgian Congo’s autonomy the company found itself in yet more hot water. Transitioning to a locally owned company within Zentralafrika itself the Union has been forced to cut back on its paternalistic spending to make ends meet. Beyond the typical demands for labor rights and wage increases the Kantaga people also wish for a return to the housing, education and social protection once afforded by the leviathan. With its place in Katanga once again secure this may just be possible.
A successful conference will be one of compromise. For the people a number of social protections and laws will be promised: greater state funding to education, hospitals, and housing will be promised, along with a hike in wages. In order to afford this the belgians will need to accept their privileged economic position comes with a responsibility to fund the state which protects it: though direct taxes may be a bridge too far a system of expected “gifts” and an expansion of the old paternalism into state guided policy may work out. In return for their material contributions the Belgians will receive legal autonomy, organizing their own political parties and keeping their land. The native oligarchs meanwhile would take the national stage, being granted privileged places within the Katanga economy as well as using CONAKAT as their vehicle for political dominance. Concessions and compromises such as these require that all parties trust the other to keep up their end of the bargain, and not simply alter the deal when they feel they are able. And in the aftermath of a brutal civil war and a political culture of corruption such trust is very hard to come by. But if these difficulties are overcome, and Jean Schramme is kept mollified, the new State of Katanga will be ruled as a collaborative oligarchy, keeping real representation out of the hands of the people and wealth in the hands of a few, but also a relatively stable and moderate government which is willing to compromise when need be. Unless it is a question of distrusted ethnic groups attempting to secede from the state or restart Congolese unification, in which case the Katanga Gendarmerie will be the only answer given.
But what if this conference does not succeed? What if the protests outside become too large, or the sides are too inflexible, or if Jean Schramme believes the rights of Belgians are being sold too cheaply? Then the Rule of Fire will come back and those with the force to crush their opposition will prevail. And in Katanga that can only mean one thing: Schramme and his allies will stage a coup, placing themselves in charge once again as an emergency government. Those unwilling to ally with him will be dismissed, replaced with those who are. The new mission of the state is the protection of “Belgian civilization” in Katanga, with Schramme attempting to revive the old trinity of Church, State and Company under his guiding hand. He never truly wanted to be in this position: he would much rather simply go back to his plantation and be master of his own little world. But he belives that his new homeland calls out for leadership and guts it seems only he can provide, and so he will seek to lead it into the future he envisions. One where the Congo natives are grateful and subservient to their betters, where all the structures of the trinity are led by Europeans to the benefit of all. Of course most of the natives have very different ideas about what the future should look like, and so Schremma’s Katanga will immediately be thrown into a bush war as the old civil war factions reform as guerrilla movements seeking to topple his dictatorship. The profits of Katanga are vast, especially if one is willing to sell uranium to anyone willing to buy, but how long will money and determination be able to hold against the will of the people?
At a stretch the white population of Katanga is 100,000, while the total african population is somewhere north of 1.5 million. This is before one considers the increasing populations of the Luba Empire and the eternal frontier of the Eastern Congo. And then there is the highly likely presence of hostile regimes on the borders: all the money in the world cannot win Schramme this Bush War, and he will either need to swallow his pride and accept democratization for the natives or accept the return of the Reich as suzerain. And even that may not be enough to avoid the rage of a people betrayed.

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2023.06.06 13:32 cosmoshistorian A Rocket Lab Due Diligence (DD), it is time we discuss this company seriously.

Rocket Lab Due-Diligence (DD)

‘We Open Access to Space to Improve Life on Earth.’

Introduction

With the 2024 first launch of the Rocket Lab Mega Constellation Launcher—The Neutron—fast approaching, I decided it is high time for a more up-to-date DD on Rocket Lab. A lot is happening in the industry, the company, and the world. I have decided to dive into the future, fundamentals, industry, funding, financials, dreams, and of course, the memes of the aspiring space company. Now, I am posting my DD into both of the Rocket Lab subreddit, as I am new to writing DD and I want to hit as wide of an audience as I can. One disclaimer (for those who do not like stock talk), this DD is not meant to encourage buying of the stock, nor is it financial advice or a stock-only DD, I merely want to dive into this company and simply spark some discussion on it!
Now, Rocket Lab is a private aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider. The company was founded in 2006 by Peter Beck and is headquartered in Long Beach, California, with additional facilities in New Zealand and Australia. Rocket Lab specializes in the development and launch of small rockets capable of delivering payloads of up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab—self-designated as a leader in launch and space systems—is a company that has a chance at becoming a highly profitable giant over the next decade and beyond. In my honest opinion, Rocket Lab currently thrives off of the crumbs of the current space industry ecosystem. With Space X increasingly focused upon one goal—thanks to their controversial, yet nevertheless, fearless leader—being Mars, Rocket Labs can (and in my opinion will) become one of the go-to space companies for low earth orbit launches in the near term and in the long-term become one of the go-to space company for launches between the Moon, Venus, and Mars as well. Rocket Lab currently lives off of the crumbs left behind by NASA, Space X, and the United States military-industrial complex.
Like these two legends from the movie War Dogs, Rocket Lab is determined to become the go-to space company for transporting all types of goods into orbit. For those of you who have not seen the movie (I personally highly recommend it), essentially, when these two start their arms-dealing company, they focus upon all of the small contracts that the government is putting out for arms supplies. The contracts that the big players are ignoring, due to their small sizes, even so, these small contracts are worth hundreds of thousands to low millions. Now, this is where Rocket Lab currently lies in the industry.
\"A new space race has begun, and most Americans are not even aware of it. This race is not [about] political prestige or military power. This new race involves the whole human species in a contest against time.\" - Ben Bova
Now, before I dive into everything here, I need every to understand that this industry is on the verge of immense change and rapid evolution. We are currently in the first stage of the world’s Second Space Race. As a student of History, I can confidently tell you that there are murmurings within the historical community, that this is the case, beginning with the creation and success of Space X’s first reusable rocket: the Falcon 9. On December 21st of 2015, when the first Falcon 9 was launched and the landing was successful with the first stage fully recovered, the race began. In the same way that there is no single company above all others in the airline, shipping & transportation, or car manufacturing industries, is the same reason I do not believe that Space X will alone run the space industry’s transportation needs. There is plenty of room for companies like Rocket Lab to fill the gaps Space X cannot and in a decade’s time, there will be plenty of room for even more companies. Yet, there are no companies that are even close to competing with Space X—other than Rocket Lab—at this time. Now, I won’t go deeply into most of these competitors in this deep dive, but to be short, Astra is on the verge of total failure, Virgin Galactic has been playing an entirely different game—space tourism, which there is a massive market for, just perhaps won’t be penetrated by them—they likewise seem to be failing. While Blue Origin has been playing a strong game and Space X an even stronger one, albeit more and more focused solely on Mars as the years go on.
Here you can see the 1-year charts of Rocket Lab, Astra, Virgin, and Boeing for reference, as you can see, these charts speak volumes. Rocket Lab has been having a tough year but has found a nice bottom and is consistently bouncing from lows in the $3.6-4 range. While Astra has been reduced to a penny stock, with their future unknown. Virgin Galactic is only maintaining below Rocket Lab’s share price, partly due to the large number of Retail investors that do not know much and refuse to let it die, coupled with a small hope that the company can recover in the coming years. Boeing is here for reference as to what a successful, large-cap company involved in a similar industry (and the space industry as well), should look like over the course of a decent year.
Now, there are a few assumptions that I am making that we need to cover before diving into the real DD: Whether it be because we live in the beginnings of a second Space Race (fueled by privatized space companies and the world’s governments) or because of technological advancement and a rising interest in space, the increase in rocket launches, space development (in Earth’s orbit, the Moon, and Mars), and the lowering costs of space launches… it will become exponentially cheaper, easier, and faster to launch into orbit and the industry as a whole will have a massive boom—akin, in a way, to the industrial revolution—over the mid-to-late 2020s into the early 2030s. With the mid-to-end 2030s and early 2040s, we will see massive developments in terms of low-Earth orbit manufacturing facilities, tourist destinations, and stations, as well as settlements on the Moon for mining and refueling for greater exploration and colonization of the Sol System as a whole.
Now these are in part assumptions, but I think once one does the research and looks at the fact, all of this is very achievable. Even if it does not occur in this way, you can shift the dates by an additional decade and every time you do, the more likely, easier, and cheaper it all becomes.
Rocket Lab's business model revolves around providing cost-effective and frequent access to space for small satellite operators. The company aims to simplify the process of deploying satellites by offering dedicated launches on its Electron rocket. Rocket Lab operates as an end-to-end service provider, handling the entire launch process from mission planning and payload integration to launch and on-orbit operations.

Section 1: Rocket Lab Takes Flight! The Electron & the Neutron

‘Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite components, flight software, and an on-orbit management.’ – Rocket Labs
Rocket Lab's primary launch vehicle, the Electron, is a two-stage rocket powered by Rutherford engines, which use electric-pump-fed LOX/RP-1 propellants. The Electron is designed to optimize cost, flexibility, and rapid launch capability for small satellites. Rocket Lab has demonstrated numerous successful launches since its inaugural flight in 2017, showcasing its technological prowess and reliability. The small satellite market has been growing rapidly, driven by increased demand for data collection, communications, and Earth observation. Rocket Lab's focus on dedicated launches for small satellites positions it well to capture a significant portion of this expanding market. The company has already established a solid customer base, securing contracts with government agencies, research institutions, and commercial entities.
Rocket Labs—at the time of writing this—has had 37 launches—with a 91.89% success rate—deployed 164 satellites, operates 3 launch pads, and is maintaining 3 Photon Satellites in the Earth’s orbit. Of the 164 satellites launched by Rocket Labs, they were commissioned to do so by a wide variety of clients, from NASA, Space Force, DARPA, to Canon. Rocket Labs is supported by Future Fund: Australia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Data Collective, Greenspring Associates, ACC, Promus Ventures, L One W One Ltd., and Lockheed Martin.
Rocket Lab’s main rocket, the Electron—built and operated by Rocket Lab—has flown 37 times and been successful 34 times, with only 3 failures. Rocket Lab’s key areas of business penetration lie in the launch of mid-sized service rockets, the manufacturing of space systems and satellites, and their adept ability to manufacture industrial space parts, applications, and proponents. The latter of which, they are sort of unopposed in terms of competition.
The Neutron—Rocket Lab’s medium-lift, mega constellation launcher—will be able to launch 13,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit and it will be …drum roll please… reusable! The current goal is for it to launch in 2024. It will be designed for not only low earth orbital supply missions, but also deep space missions, and even human spaceflight. It will be fairing a design allowing for full reusability of the first stage and it will be lightweight, being made of Rock Lab’s own carbon composite structure. The home base for the Neutron will be at the Neutron Production Complex and the launch pad at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
‘The Neutron Production Complex will be home to a rocket production, assembly, and integration facility, as well as a dedicated launch pad for the Neutron rocket located on the southern end of Wallops Island. The estimated 250,000 square foot state-of-the-art complex will be constructed on a 28-acre site adjacent to the Wallops Island Flight Facility and will include a Launch Control Center, Rocket Lab’s fifth global operations center for launch activities and on-orbit operations. To support rapid production of the Neutron rocket, current plans for the complex include automated fiber placement robotic production systems capable of laying up meters of Neutron’s new, specially formulated carbon composite structures in minutes. As a reusable rocket, Neutron is designed to land back on the Launch Complex 3 pad after a mission and from there it would be returned to the production complex for refurbishment and re-flight.’
With Space X dominating large-load space orbital flight and transportation, Rocket Labs, in my honest opinion, is where Space X was roughly something like 6-8 years ago. While Rocket Lab intends to compete with Space X—whether it will be considered competition in an industry this brand new and small, time will tell—for cargo and humans to the low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and even Venus! Space X and Elon Musk have made it abundantly clear that the goal of Space X is the large-scale settlement of Mars. While later models of Rocket Lab’s Neutron will be able to go to Mars and Venus, it appears that is not their main goal. In the near term (being the next two decades), they will be looking to dominate the low Earth orbit and Moon market as well as the manufacturing of industrial space parts, applications, and proponents.

Section 2: The Space Industry & Company Fundamentals

Rocket Lab faces competition from other commercial launch providers, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. However, the company differentiates itself by specializing in small satellite launches, offering a tailored solution for this niche market. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket provides the advantage of dedicated launches and the flexibility to reach specific orbits, making it an attractive option for small satellite operators.
Rocket Lab has raised significant funding through various investment rounds, securing capital from venture capital firms, strategic partners, and government entities. Notable investors include Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Lockheed Martin. The company's ability to attract substantial investment indicates confidence in its business model and growth potential. Rocket Lab operates within the regulatory framework of the countries in which it launches its rockets. The company holds necessary licenses and approvals from government agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Compliance with safety regulations and adherence to environmental guidelines are crucial aspects of Rocket Lab's operations.
Despite its achievements, Rocket Lab faces several risks and challenges. The space industry is highly competitive, and the success of the company depends on its ability to secure launch contracts and maintain a steady launch cadence. Regulatory changes, launch failures, or delays could impact Rocket Lab's operations and reputation. Additionally, the emergence of new technologies or market disruptors could pose a threat to the company's market position
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the Quarterly Results. To preface, negative quarterly results mean—pardon my French—jack-shit (at least in the short term) for a company such as Rocket Lab, that is looking at penetrating a market such as the space industry. We are going to look at the past four Quarterly Results in chronological order.
Q2 2022 Report: Rocket Lab achieved record revenue of $55.5 million, showing significant growth compared to the previous quarter (36% sequential growth) and the same quarter in the previous year (392% YoY growth). Despite the revenue growth, the company reported a negative EPS of $-0.08, indicating a net loss for the quarter.
Q3 2022 Report: Another record revenue was achieved, reaching $63.1 million, with a sequential growth of 14% and an impressive YoY growth of 1,093%. The company's EPS improved slightly to $-0.07 but still remained negative. The fourth quarter revenue is expected to be lower, ranging between $51 million and $54 million, as a launch customer's push extends into 2023.
Q4 2022 Report: The company's revenue for Q4 reached $51.8 million, showing a healthy year-over-year growth of 88%. The full-year revenue for fiscal 2022 amounted to $211 million, reflecting substantial growth of 239% compared to the previous year. The EPS remained negative at $-0.08.
Q1 2023 Report: The revenue for Q1 2023 was $54.9 million. Increasing revenue by 35% in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from their launch business was $19.6 million, up $12 million from the prior quarter. Their EPS was $-0.08, indicating strong maintenance of their business. The second quarter is expected to show a significant revenue increase, with an estimated range of $60 million to $63 million.
Now, what does this all tell us? Firstly, they were very forthcoming with the quarterly expectations. Something one might think is not a big deal, but considering how a lot of publicly traded companies operate, this is a good thing. In each of their earnings reports, they have nearly exactly estimated their results, showing they are not attempting to mislead investors. The company has experienced impressive revenue growth throughout the reported quarters, indicating strong market performance and demand for its products/services. However, the negative EPS values suggest that the company is still operating at a net loss. From a shareholder’s perspective, the company's focus should be on achieving profitability and reducing the negative EPS, while maintaining consistent revenue growth. In my opinion, this stock is sitting just below a fair market value for what it is right now, sitting at just over $4, considering they are not fully profitable. Yet Rocket Lab continues to grow its business, making more contracts, and it stands a competitive chance. If they can turn a profit within 2-3 years, I think they will be one hell of a company. With their competitors failing left and right and none finding the success as Rocket Lab—other than Space X—they could stand to be a massive company in a few decades, so massive, they’re bigger than Earth.
One last financial point to touch upon… shorting, so here is some data, which is roughly one month outdated due to my difficulty in finding up-to-date information on the company without a Bloomberg Terminal (So, if anyone on the sub has access to a Bloomberg Terminal and would like to add to my DD in the comments, please do).
Last Record Date: May 15, 2023
Outstanding Shares: 478,660,000 shares
Float Size: 262,310,000 shares
Short Percent of Float: 9.80% (The short percent of float represents the percentage of shares available for trading that have been sold short).
Average Trading Volume: 4,044,396 shares
Current Short Volume: 25,710,000 shares
Previous Short Volume: 24,630,000 shares
Change Vs. Previous Month: +4.38%
Dollar Volume Sold Short: $111.58 million
Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover: 7.7 (This ratio indicates the number of days it would take for the short sellers to cover their positions based on the average daily trading volume.).
The short interest in Rocket Lab has increased from the previous month, with a change of +4.38%. The short percent of the float is 9.80%, indicating that a significant portion of the available shares for trading has been sold short. Now, Rocket Lab’s short interest is relatively low for a company that has had consistent negative EPS and revenue. Showcasing that the big players in markets either A) believe this company will make a massive turnaround in the near future (1-3 years mark) or B) Rocket Lab, due to its size, is thankfully not on their radar. However, that said, the off-exchange short percentage is 57.69%, showcasing that A) public on-exchange short volume is a complete hoax and Hedge Funds, and other big players are beating down on the stock or B) all of this information is completely misrepresented to retail traders on purpose and the entirety of the United States market system is a complete farce.

Section 3: Future Prospects & Big Moves

Rocket Lab has demonstrated strong performance and growth potential in the emerging small satellite launch market. The company continues to refine its launch processes, aiming to increase launch frequency and reduce costs further. Additionally, Rocket Lab has plans to develop a larger reusable rocket called Neutron, targeting the medium-lift market segment, which would expand its capabilities and market reach. The company has the potential to be the go-to company for low Earth orbital launches in the short term and in the long term, one of, if not the go-to company, for transportation to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab, did an interview last month on his take on the industry and their future prospects. I wanted to touch briefly on this (you can find the video on YouTube).
Firstly, the video begins with the commentator stating, "With the Space Race this week," the Space X rocket, the most powerful ever built, has scrubbed its launch. While Rocket Lab is adding a new service for testing hypersonic sub-orbital launches, being a welcome addition to the company’s wide array of services. Beck states that it is a very exciting time, stating that “the United States is kind of lacking behind in hypersonic technologies and this is a great opportunity to have high cadence, test flight environment for these payloads to really move forward the US’s hypersonic research.” He goes on to talk about how these capabilities are essentially repurposed from Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket capabilities: “We take a standard Electron orbital-class launch vehicle and we fly it in some really unique trajectories to provide these hypersonic trajectories… it is taking an Electron and making a couple wee tweaks to it and having a great high frequency hypersonic testing platform that hasn’t existed.” Beck goes on to speak on the launch cadence “being on target for 15 flights” this year with the fastest turn around this year being 7 days between flights, saying “the machine is cranking and the vehicles are flying successfully and the last flight was a reusable vehicle and we splashed that down successfully and now we’re kind at the point where we are recycling and harvesting engines and components off of those launch vehicles and getting ready to put them back into service and re-fly them.” He continues, stating, “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say exactly, but… a whole multiple gambit of reused components that are all now re-entering the production line and going back into service.” Morgan Brennan, the interviewer then speaks to how there is this emerging mismatch between supply and demand when it comes to the satellite launch market, with the fact that there are so many satellite constellations that are poised to go into orbit in the coming years and not enough capacity in terms of launching them. So, she then asks about the reusability of Electron and the development of the Neutron. Beck states that, “Electron is really serving that market very well, and there are lots of flight opportunities that are sort of just doing its thing, Neutron is the new flight opportunity for us… 2026 to 2030 timeframe there is a massive deficit in launch and there are lots of constellations that are all really vying for an ability to get in orbit, so we saw that coming and started work on the vehicle and hopefully we can bring it into service in 2024 and really solve some of those problems and take advantage of that market opportunity.”
Now, I don’t have to tell you all that this is very good to hear from Beck and this is very exciting, showcasing that he really believes Rocket Lab can penetrate this market and become a big player in the ever-evolving industry.
Rocket Lab Making Big Moves Lately:
· Bought Virgin Orbit HQ in California, this was a big win for the company, and folk on the sub were very excited to see this happen. Yay! But, sad and unfortunate for Virgin Galactic, which I am sure many of us space enthusiasts had higher hopes for, oh well, not everyone can achieve their dreams.
· Rocket Lab reached a new Company record of nine launches within a calendar year.
· Achieved a record of 100% mission success for Electron launches for the year.
· Successfully launched CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA, including the first demonstration of Lunar Photon spacecraft platform.
· Successfully deployed two satellites to space for NASA’s TROPICS mission on the first of two dedicated launches on Electron for the constellation scheduled in May 2023.
· Secured another NASA mission to Electron’s 2023 launch manifest with its Starling mission. Rocket Lab was selected by NASA to launch the Starling mission on an expedited timeline due to long delays and uncertainty with the mission’s original launch provider.
· Signed multiple new launch contracts on Electron for 2023 for undisclosed commercial satellite customers previously manifested on another small launch vehicle, demonstrating Electron’s strong position as a reliable and dependable ride to orbit for small satellite operators.
· Introduced Rocket Lab’s new HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from the Company’s Electron rocket to provide reliable, high-cadence flight test opportunities to support the development of advanced hypersonic systems technology.
· Announced that the Company will fly a pre-launched 3D printed Rutherford engine on an upcoming mission in Q3’23, a major step in evolving the Electron launch vehicle into a reusable rocket.
· Delivered financial results that exceeded the high end of prior guidance for revenue and gross margin.
· Launched three successful Electron missions in the first quarter for commercial constellation operators HawkEye 360, Capella Space, and BlackSky.
· Successfully completed the Company’s first launch from its U.S. launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on January 24, 2023. The mission deployed three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360.
· Successfully completed the Company’s fastest turnaround between launches to date – just seven days between its 34th Electron launch, “Stronger Together”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on March 16, 2023, and its 35th Electron launch, “The Beat Goes On”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on March 24, 2023.
· Rocket Lab remains the only U.S. commercial small launch provider to successfully deliver satellites to orbit in 2023. Secured a multi-mission contract with Capella Space to launch four more dedicated launches on Electron in 2023.
· Achieved programmatic milestones for the Company’s two Photon spacecraft to support NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, and for the Photon spacecraft for a Varda Space Industries’ mission to manufacture high-value products in zero gravity. Both Photon programs include Rocket Lab star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, and radios – demonstrating the value and strength of the Company’s vertical integration and in-house supply chain.

Conclusion: An Ode to Humanity's Future

Rocket Lab has established itself as a leading player in the small satellite launch market, offering dedicated launch services tailored to the needs of small satellite operators. The company's technological capabilities, solid customer base, and innovative approach position it well for future growth.
Those who lived and grew up in the 1960s and 1970s believed that by the 21st century, mankind would be a space-faring civilization. People had a fascination with the unknown. It was embedded in pop culture, in movies like the 2001 Space Odyssey, Alien, and the Star Trek series. But the unfortunate truth is that after Apollo 17 on the 19th of December 1972, mankind has not left low-earth orbit. The American public lost interest, the government cut funding, and the Saturn V rockets were dismantled and replaced by space shuttles in the 1980s (spaceships not even built to leave low-earth orbit). The curiosity and desire to unravel the mystery of the universe are now again filling the hearts of people. Technology is becoming more advanced and cheaper.
With companies like Rocket Lab and Space X, the future is looking bright. We currently live in an era of mass information. One of the hardest aspects of life in the early-21st-century is learning how to filter all this information. The news of the accomplishments of Rocket Lab, Space X, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Space Force, are lost in the large volume of collective data. The average person does not believe how close we are to colonizing Luna and Mars; how close we are to becoming a multi-planetary species. If you walked up to someone on the street of New York City, today, and told them that in the mid-2040s, and by the latest, the 2050s, there will be hundreds if not thousands of people living in Earth's orbit, the upper atmosphere of Venus, the Moon, and Mars, the person would dismiss you in disbelief. But the same would have happened if you walked up to a person on the street of New York City on the 19th of July 1962 (before Kennedy’s speech) and told them that mankind would step foot on the moon in seven years. Companies like Rocket Lab, which will make orbital flight and transportation affordable, will allow for a new era of civilization, one which was only present and dreamed of in science fiction of the past.
The Earth, as imaged from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, was suspended in a sunbeam, as the interstellar craft exited the Sol system in 1990. Earth is nearly 4 billion miles away in this image. That is us. That is humanity, all of us that have thus far, ever existed. We take to the stars in search of not only answers but in search of a purpose.
Edit: Made some edits to spelling and fixed two mistakes pointed out by commenters

submitted by cosmoshistorian to RocketLab [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 13:13 cosmoshistorian A Rocket Lab Due Diligence (DD), it is time we discuss this company seriously.

Rocket Lab Due-Diligence (DD)

‘We Open Access to Space to Improve Life on Earth.’

Introduction

Section 1: Rocket Lab Takes Flight! The Electron & the Neutron

‘Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, complete spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite components, flight software, and on-orbit management.’ – Rocket Labs
Rocket Lab's primary launch vehicle, the Electron, is a two-stage rocket powered by Rutherford engines, which use electric-pump-fed LOX/RP-1 propellants. The Electron is designed to optimize cost, flexibility, and rapid launch capability for small satellites. Rocket Lab has demonstrated numerous successful launches since its inaugural flight in 2017, showcasing its technological prowess and reliability. The small satellite market has been growing rapidly, driven by increased demand for data collection, communications, and Earth observation. Rocket Lab's focus on dedicated launches for small satellites positions it well to capture a significant portion of this expanding market. The company has already established a solid customer base, securing contracts with government agencies, research institutions, and commercial entities.
Rocket Labs—at the time of writing this—has had 37 launches—with a 91.89% success rate—deployed 164 satellites, operates 3 launch pads, and is maintaining 3 Photon Satellites in the Earth’s orbit. Of the 164 satellites launched by Rocket Labs, they were commissioned to do so by a wide variety of clients, from NASA, Space Force, DARPA, to Canon. Rocket Labs is supported by Future Fund: Australia’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Data Collective, Greenspring Associates, ACC, Promus Ventures, L One W One Ltd., and Lockheed Martin.
Rocket Lab’s main rocket, the Electron—built and operated by Rocket Lab—has flown 37 times and been successful 34 times, with only 3 failures. Rocket Lab’s key areas of business penetration lie in the launch of mid-sized service rockets, the manufacturing of space systems and satellites, and their adept ability to manufacture industrial space parts, applications, and proponents. The latter of which, they are sort of unopposed in terms of competition.
The Neutron—Rocket Lab’s medium-lift, mega constellation launcher—will be able to launch 13,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit and it will be …drum roll please… reusable! The current goal is for it to launch in 2024. It will be designed for not only low earth orbital supply missions, but also deep space missions, and even human spaceflight. It will be fairing a design allowing for full reusability of the first stage and it will be lightweight, being made of Rock Lab’s own carbon composite structure. The home base for the Neutron will be at the Neutron Production Complex and the launch pad at the NASA Wallops Flight Facility and Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
‘The Neutron Production Complex will be home to a rocket production, assembly, and integration facility, as well as a dedicated launch pad for the Neutron rocket located on the southern end of Wallops Island. The estimated 250,000 square-foot state-of-the-art complex will be constructed on a 28-acre site adjacent to the Wallops Island Flight Facility and will include a Launch Control Center, Rocket Lab’s fifth global operations center for launch activities and on-orbit operations. To support rapid production of the Neutron rocket, current plans for the complex include automated fiber placement robotic production systems capable of laying up meters of Neutron’s new, specially formulated carbon composite structures in minutes. As a reusable rocket, Neutron is designed to land back on the Launch Complex 3 pad after a mission and from there it would be returned to the production complex for refurbishment and re-flight.’
With Space X dominating large-load space orbital flight and transportation, Rocket Labs, in my honest opinion, is where Space X was roughly something like 6-8 years ago. While Rocket Lab intends to compete with Space X—whether it will be considered competition in an industry this brand new and small, time will tell—for cargo and humans to the low Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars, and even Venus! Space X and Elon Musk have made it abundantly clear that the goal of Space X is the large-scale settlement of Mars. While later models of Rocket Lab’s Neutron will be able to go to Mars and Venus, it appears that is not their main goal. In the near term (being the next two decades), they will be looking to dominate the low Earth orbit and Moon market as well as the manufacturing of industrial space parts, applications, and proponents.

Section 2: The Space Industry & Company Fundamentals

Rocket Lab faces competition from other commercial launch providers, such as SpaceX, and Blue Origin. However, the company differentiates itself by specializing in small satellite launches, offering a tailored solution for this niche market. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket provides the advantage of dedicated launches and the flexibility to reach specific orbits, making it an attractive option for small satellite operators.
Rocket Lab has raised significant funding through various investment rounds, securing capital from venture capital firms, strategic partners, and government entities. Notable investors include Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Lockheed Martin. The company's ability to attract substantial investment indicates confidence in its business model and growth potential. Rocket Lab operates within the regulatory framework of the countries in which it launches its rockets. The company holds necessary licenses and approvals from government agencies, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Compliance with safety regulations and adherence to environmental guidelines are crucial aspects of Rocket Lab's operations.
Despite its achievements, Rocket Lab faces several risks and challenges. The space industry is highly competitive, and the success of the company depends on its ability to secure launch contracts and maintain a steady launch cadence. Regulatory changes, launch failures, or delays could impact Rocket Lab's operations and reputation. Additionally, the emergence of new technologies or market disruptors could pose a threat to the company's market position
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the Quarterly Results. To preface, negative quarterly results mean—pardon my French—jack-shit (at least in the short term) for a company such as Rocket Lab, that is looking at penetrating a market such as the space industry. We are going to look at the past four Quarterly Results in chronological order.
Q2 2022 Report: Rocket Lab achieved record revenue of $55.5 million, showing significant growth compared to the previous quarter (36% sequential growth) and the same quarter in the previous year (392% YoY growth). Despite the revenue growth, the company reported a negative EPS of $-0.08, indicating a net loss for the quarter.
Q3 2022 Report: Another record revenue was achieved, reaching $63.1 million, with a sequential growth of 14% and an impressive YoY growth of 1,093%. The company's EPS improved slightly to $-0.07 but still remained negative. The fourth quarter revenue is expected to be lower, ranging between $51 million and $54 million, as a launch customer's push extends into 2023.
Q4 2022 Report: The company's revenue for Q4 reached $51.8 million, showing a healthy year-over-year growth of 88%. The full-year revenue for fiscal 2022 amounted to $211 million, reflecting substantial growth of 239% compared to the previous year. The EPS remained negative at $-0.08.
Q1 2023 Report: The revenue for Q1 2023 was $54.9 million. Increasing revenue by 35% in the first quarter of 2023. Revenue from their launch business was $19.6 million, up $12 million from the prior quarter. Their EPS was $-0.08, indicating a strong maintenance of their business. The second quarter is expected to show a significant revenue increase, with an estimated range of $60 million to $63 million.
Now, what does this all tell us? Firstly, they were very forthcoming with the quarterly expectations. Something one might think is not a big deal, but considering how a lot of publicly traded companies operate, this is a good thing. In each of their earnings reports, they have nearly exactly estimated their results, showing they are not attempting to mislead investors. The company has experienced impressive revenue growth throughout the reported quarters, indicating strong market performance and demand for its products/services. However, the negative EPS values suggest that the company is still operating at a net loss. From a shareholder’s perspective, the company's focus should be on achieving profitability and reducing the negative EPS, while maintaining consistent revenue growth. In my opinion, this stock is sitting just below a fair market value for what it is right now, sitting at just over $4, considering they are not fully profitable. Yet Rocket Lab continues to grow its business, making more contracts, and it stands a competitive chance. If they can turn a profit within 2-3 years, I think they will be one hell of a company. With their competitors failing left and right and none finding the success as Rocket Lab—other than Space X—they could stand to be a massive company in a few decades, so massive, they’re bigger than Earth.
One last financial point to touch upon… shorting, so here is some data, which is roughly one month outdated due to my difficulty in finding up-to-date information on the company without a Bloomberg Terminal (So, if anyone on the sub has access to a Bloomberg Terminal and would like to add to my DD in the comments, please do).
Last Record Date: May 15, 2023
Outstanding Shares: 478,660,000 shares
Float Size: 262,310,000 shares
Short Percent of Float: 9.80% (The short percent of float represents the percentage of shares available for trading that have been sold short).
Average Trading Volume: 4,044,396 shares
Current Short Volume: 25,710,000 shares
Previous Short Volume: 24,630,000 shares
Change Vs. Previous Month: +4.38%
Dollar Volume Sold Short: $111.58 million
Short Interest Ratio / Days to Cover: 7.7 (This ratio indicates the number of days it would take for the short sellers to cover their positions based on the average daily trading volume.).
The short interest in Rocket Lab has increased from the previous month, with a change of +4.38%. The short percent of the float is 9.80%, indicating that a significant portion of the available shares for trading has been sold short. Now, Rocket Lab’s short interest is relatively low for a company that has had consistent negative EPS and revenue. Showcasing that the big players in markets either A) believe this company will make a massive turnaround in the near future (1-3 years mark) or B) Rocket Lab, due to its size, is thankfully not on their radar. However, that said, the off-exchange short percentage is 57.69%, showcasing that A) public on-exchange short volume is a complete hoax and Hedge Funds, and other big players are beating down on the stock or B) all of this information is completely misrepresented to retail traders on purpose and the entirety of the United States market system is a complete farce.

Section 3: Future Prospects & Big Moves

Rocket Lab has demonstrated strong performance and growth potential in the emerging small satellite launch market. The company continues to refine its launch processes, aiming to increase launch frequency and reduce costs further. Additionally, Rocket Lab has plans to develop a larger reusable rocket called Neutron, targeting the medium-lift market segment, which would expand its capabilities and market reach. The company has the potential to be the go-to company for low Earth orbital launches in the short term and in the long term, one of, if not the go-to company, for transportation to the Moon, Mars, and Venus.
Peter Beck, founder, and CEO of Rocket Lab, did an interview last month on his take on the industry and their future prospects. I wanted to touch briefly on this (you can find the video on YouTube).
Firstly, the video begins with the commentator stating, "With the Space Race this week," the Space X rocket, the most powerful ever built, has scrubbed its launch. While Rocket Lab is adding a new service for testing hypersonic sub-orbital launches, being a welcome addition to the company’s wide array of services. Beck states that it is a very exciting time, stating that “the United States is kind of lacking behind in hypersonic technologies and this is a great opportunity to have high cadence, test flight environment for these payloads to really move forward the US’s hypersonic research.” He goes on to talk about how these capabilities are essentially repurposed from Rocket Lab’s Electron Rocket capabilities: “We take a standard Electron orbital-class launch vehicle and we fly it in some really unique trajectories to provide these hypersonic trajectories… it is taking an Electron and making a couple wee tweaks to it and having a great high frequency hypersonic testing platform that hasn’t existed.” Beck goes on to speak on the launch cadence “being on target for 15 flights” this year with the fastest turn around this year being 7 days between flights, saying “the machine is cranking and the vehicles are flying successfully and the last flight was a reusable vehicle and we splashed that down successfully and now we’re kind at the point where we are recycling and harvesting engines and components off of those launch vehicles and getting ready to put them back into service and re-fly them.” He continues, stating, “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say exactly, but… a whole multiple gambit of reused components that are all now re-entering the production line and going back into service.” Morgan Brennan, the interviewer then speaks to how there is this emerging mismatch between supply and demand when it comes to the satellite launch market, with the fact that there are so many satellite constellations that are poised to go into orbit in the coming years and not enough capacity in terms of launching them. So, she then asks about the reusability of Electron and the development of the Neutron. Beck states that, “Electron is really serving that market very well, and there are lots of flight opportunities that are sort of just doing its thing, Neutron is the new flight opportunity for us… 2026 to 2030 timeframe there is a massive deficit in launch and there are lots of constellations that are all really vying for an ability to get in orbit, so we saw that coming and started work on the vehicle and hopefully we can bring it into service in 2024 and really solve some of those problems and take advantage of that market opportunity.”
Now, I don’t have to tell you all that this is very good to hear from Beck and this is very exciting, showcasing that he really believes Rocket Lab can penetrate this market and become a big player in the ever-evolving industry.
Rocket Lab Making Big Moves Lately:
· Bought Virgin Orbit HQ in California, this was a big win for the company, and folk on the sub were very excited to see this happen. Yay! But, sad and unfortunate for Virgin Galactic, which I am sure many of us space enthusiasts had higher hopes for, oh well, not everyone can achieve their dreams.
· Rocket Lab reached a new Company record of nine launches within a calendar year.
· Achieved a record of 100% mission success for Electron launches for the year.
· Successfully launched CAPSTONE mission to the Moon for NASA, including the first demonstration of Lunar Photon spacecraft platform.
· Successfully deployed two satellites to space for NASA’s TROPICS mission on the first of two dedicated launches on Electron for the constellation scheduled in May 2023.
· Secured another NASA mission to Electron’s 2023 launch manifest with its Starling mission. Rocket Lab was selected by NASA to launch the Starling mission on an expedited timeline due to long delays and uncertainty with the mission’s original launch provider.
· Signed multiple new launch contracts on Electron for 2023 for undisclosed commercial satellite customers previously manifested on another small launch vehicle, demonstrating Electron’s strong position as a reliable and dependable ride to orbit for small satellite operators.
· Introduced Rocket Lab’s new HASTE launch vehicle, a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from the Company’s Electron rocket to provide reliable, high-cadence flight test opportunities to support the development of advanced hypersonic systems technology.
· Announced that the Company will fly a pre-launched 3D printed Rutherford engine on an upcoming mission in Q3’23, a major step in evolving the Electron launch vehicle into a reusable rocket.
· Delivered financial results that exceeded the high end of prior guidance for revenue and gross margin.
· Launched three successful Electron missions in the first quarter for commercial constellation operators HawkEye 360, Capella Space, and BlackSky.
· Successfully completed the Company’s first launch from its U.S. launch site, Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on January 24, 2023. The mission deployed three satellites for radio frequency geospatial analytics provider HawkEye 360.
· Successfully completed the Company’s fastest turnaround between launches to date – just seven days between its 34th Electron launch, “Stronger Together”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia on March 16, 2023, and its 35th Electron launch, “The Beat Goes On”, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on March 24, 2023.
· Rocket Lab remains the only U.S. commercial small launch provider to successfully deliver satellites to orbit in 2023. Secured a multi-mission contract with Capella Space to launch four more dedicated launches on Electron in 2023.
· Achieved programmatic milestones for the Company’s two Photon spacecraft to support NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, and for the Photon spacecraft for a Varda Space Industries’ mission to manufacture high-value products in zero gravity. Both Photon programs include Rocket Lab star trackers, reaction wheels, solar panels, flight software, and radios – demonstrating the value and strength of the Company’s vertical integration and in-house supply chain.

Conclusion: An Ode to Humanity's Future

Rocket Lab has established itself as a leading player in the small satellite launch market, offering dedicated launch services tailored to the needs of small satellite operators. The company's technological capabilities, solid customer base, and innovative approach position it well for future growth.
Those who lived and grew up in the 1960s and 1970s believed that by the 21st century, mankind would be a space-faring civilization. People had a fascination with the unknown. It was embedded in pop culture, in movies like the 2001 Space Odyssey, Alien, and the Star Trek series. But the unfortunate truth is that after Apollo 17 on the 19th of December 1972, mankind has not left low-earth orbit. The American public lost interest, the government cut funding, and the Saturn V rockets were dismantled and replaced by space shuttles in the 1980s (spaceships not even built to leave low-earth orbit). The curiosity and desire to unravel the mystery of the universe are now again filling the hearts of people. Technology is becoming more advanced and cheaper.
With companies like Rocket Lab and Space X, the future is looking bright. We currently live in an era of mass information. One of the hardest aspects of life in the early-21st-century is learning how to filter all this information. The news of the accomplishments of Rocket Lab, Space X, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and Space Force, are lost in the large volume of collective data. The average person does not believe how close we are to colonizing Luna and Mars; how close we are to becoming a multi-planetary species. If you walked up to someone on the street of New York City, today, and told them that in the mid-2040s, and by the latest, the 2050s, there will be hundreds if not thousands of people living in Earth's orbit, the upper atmosphere of Venus, the Moon, and Mars, the person would dismiss you in disbelief. But the same would have happened if you walked up to a person on the street of New York City on the 19th of July 1962 (before Kennedy’s speech) and told them that mankind would step foot on the moon in seven years. Companies like Rocket Lab, which will make orbital flight and transportation affordable, will allow for a new era of civilization, one which was only present and dreamed of in science fiction of the past.

The Earth, as imaged from the Voyager 1 spacecraft, was suspended in a sunbeam, as the interstellar craft exited the Sol system in 1990. Earth is nearly 4 billion miles away in this image. That is us. That is humanity, all of us that have thus far, ever existed. We take to the stars in search of not only answers but in search of a purpose.
Edit: Made some fixes to some mistakes I wrote

submitted by cosmoshistorian to RKLB [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 10:55 Same-Baker5025 How would this Cold War develop?

Nov 11th, 1947. The war had developed not necessarily in the favor of the Worker.
Six years. Six long years of attritional, back and forth warfare not unlike what the fathers and grandfathers of both sides experience all those years ago. Innovations in tactics, and technology promised a change, a break with the Trench Warfare that lost the world a whole generation. Instead, while it achieved great gains, losses were often just as devastating. One day could see fifty kilometers of land taken before running into a new line of fortifications, only to lose that land and more a few weeks later. Generally speaking, the Syndies had the momentum in the early stages. Their doctrine of "Bullets, not Men." turned Alsace Lorraine into a steadily deeper crater as they advanced into Germany. The Belgian fields were not much better. German Command had hoped that they could punch through the Ardennes and encircle their enemies, but as fate would have it, a Norwegian unit happened to be nearby at the time, and managed to plug the gap until heavier reinforcements arrived. From then on, a high stakes game began. Both sides would attempt to mask the true location and intent of their mechanized forces, and punch through where they suspected their enemy would have a delayed response. Of course, the defender could also hold back his forces, turning a breach into a feint to encircle the now exposed mechanized force, denying himself an opportunity to strike.
This game continued for years, looking like a rerun of the first Weltkrieg with a series of sideshows across the world. Both the Spanish, and American Civil Wars began to finish around this time, resulting in a CNT-FAI victory, and a stalemate along the Rockies between the exhausted PSA and CSA, the treaty splitting Denver in two where both forces met for the first time. Sweden's Nationalist Junta joined Germany in its quest to rid the world of Syndicalism, and invaded Norway. Finland saw a chance to kick Savinkov in the shin while he was distracted, seeing his Russianization plans as an existential threat, and joined the Germans.
The Balkan League achieved its final goal of kicking the Ottoman Empire out of Europe (with unofficial Russian Support) around this time by taking advantage of it being distracted in a war with Egypt.
Infighting between various Chinese factions and Warlords caused organised resistance against Japan to collapse, though Guerrilla warfare would continue for years and even to come in many areas.
The Russian State performs somewhat better on the battlefield than expected, mostly as Germany mainly put under-equipped, and less... politically reliable units on the Eastern Front, expecting them to merely delay the Eastern Hordes as they quickly crushed the Syndicalists who certainly couldn't put up nearly as much of a fight as their now defunct parent states. Russia also benefits from a strong Anti-German sentiment in the region, gaining the support of nationalist, and even syndicalist partisans, at least in the face of a common enemy (that, and many such movements felt Savinkov would be easier to defeat than the Kaiser.). Many in German High Command want to move troops to compensate, but are concerned that it would grant the advancing French more momentum.
In '43, seeing Germany being pushed back almost to the Vistula, the Danubian Federation chose to join the war, alleviating the rapidly collapsing Eastern Front, and quickly begin turning the tide.
By '44 new stalemate had been reached, almost along 1914 borders. Both sides were already tired, and their populations were growing restless. Germany was expecting a quick, lightning war. Kicking in the already rotting house of Syndicalism, and finishing off a Russia collapsing into madness. The Syndicalists equally expected their new methods of war to achieve results with the support of German workers finally breaking their chains. Only one nation would manage to achieve any of its goals in a satisfying manner.
Boris Savinkov would sue for peace on Nov 11th, 1944. Retaking much of the land he wanted to rebuild the Russian Empire, but not all of it. He knew Russia would be less than 6 months away from tearing itself apart at the seams if peace was not won soon. But he also knew Germany was equally desperate for relief, and his assumption bore fruit. By this point, German High Command felt that they could not win both fronts, and told the Kaiser as much.
International forces began to push with everything they had, knowing they only had a limited time before Germany's eastern forces arrived. They ended up crossing the Rhein before meeting this new eastern wall. Afterwards, it was another slow push, all the way back to bloody Paris. But this time, the French would not surrender. Not that the Germans would accept such a thing unless it was complete, and unconditional. "To prevent their insidious minds from creating some other insane ideology, we must destroy the French nation as a concept." is a quote often attributed to Kaiser Wilhelm, and though he and his family have denied saying such a thing, it's easy to see why he gets saddled with it. Widely considered by every state in the world to be nothing short of a crime against humanity, the Battle of Paris, is never called such outside the Reichspact. No, the rest of the world call it the Desolation of Paris. Rather that fighting street by street, the city was completely blasted apart by artillery fire, long after resistance stopped. The modern Paris, is nothing but an echo of what it was. An imitation.
Not long after the Desolation, organised resistance in France collapsed. Still loyal Syndicalist units either chose to form partisan units, or flee with their either their English allies across the channel, or cross the Pyrenees into the still neutral Spain, who had not joined the war due to the sheer devastation of their Civil War, and the clear writing on the wall of how the war was going. The Germans, rather than attempt an invasion of Britannia, then attempted to isolate the Union from the rest of the Europe, forming a New Continental System.
Protected by their new modern Navy and Air Force, and supplied by their American comrades thanks to Norman Thomas's policy of "Peaceful Solidarity", the Union of Britain could weather this new Continental System indefinitely, but after Savinkov settled for a peace along the Dnieper, the planned liberation of their French allies was deemed all but suicidal against the fortified shoreline. Inversely, the German High Command had felt an invasion against the Union, while costly, would be well worth the price of ending the Syndicalist threat once and for all, and bet their Navy in an all out attack called Operation Sea Lion, supported by the culmination of a secret project that had been on the backburner all war.
The Atomic Bombing of Brighton was supposed to clear the way for the landings, and in many ways it did. Much of the Home Guard, and Republican Air Force in the area were devastated. But equally, the landing itself went about as poorly as possible. It was only in a narrow area, and the Brits had secret airfield nearby. The Germans established a beachhead, but it quickly proved to be less an opening, and more a killing field. Furthermore, the Germans had underestimated the radius of dangerous radioactivity. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and civilians died in that radiation blasted city before German High Command realized this wasn't going anywhere. Warhawks in the administration wanted to send more nukes to soften the Anglos, but the Syndies had quickly reestablished the air dominance they'd briefly lost, and would fight with all they had to knock any Strategic Bombers they found out of the sky, in three cases a fighter pilot would end up crashing himself into one, sacrificing themselves to destroy such bomb carriers when it looked like the Germans might have punched through to London. The German High Command felt secure in its new holdings, and saw that further conflict would only achieve losing men and resources for no gain beyond unrest at the home front. They offered the Britons a second Peace With Honor.
When it seemed Oswald Mosley was preparing to continue the war for however long it took to win, the military began a coup, led by General T.E Lawrence, who would reestablish Orthodox Syndicalist rule across the country, and more promptly, sign the treaty, leaving only nation on the Continent under Syndicalist control.
Peace was declared on February 12th, 1947. On November 11th of that year, the Commonwealth of America would test a nuke of its own on an island in the North Sea. Both sides saw the hell of nuclear war firsthand, and hesitated. A new, cold war, had begun.
The Germans would then break up the French nation into four states, to be ruled as neo-feudal regimes like their eastern conquests, the Kingdom of France, and the Duchies of Brittany, Burgundy, and Aquitaine were established, each with German Monarchs. Despite being weary of war, the French would continue to resist their foreign occupiers, who made it general policy to prevent the return of France as a power capable of competing with Germany.
With that in mind, the Reichspact reorganised in '49. Becoming a Pan-European Alliance/State, dedicated to preserving the new status quo, with a unified military apparatus, economic plan, and aristocratic outlook. Though a handful of exceptions existed, each of these states were outright authoritarian in some manner. In Germany, the military industrial complex all but took over the nation, affirming Prussian Martial Tradition as one of the state's guiding principles, turning Germany once more into an "army with a state". "Democracy" was a privilege awarded only to those with aristocratic heritage, or those who had distinguished themselves in Military Service. What Liberal, or Socialist influence remained however was quietly removed to "reeducation" camps.
Sweden was somewhat more... zealous in its persecution of leftists, and even moderates. Swiftly becoming known as the Pact's "Little Russia" due to its militarism and brutality against undesirables and degenerates. Seeking to form a united, Nordic identity, the Swedes broke their promise to restore King Hakkon, and annexed Norway in order to prevent the King's moderation from permitting Syndicalist resistance to fester. Germany aquisces to this on the condition that Sweden would restore the King once said resistance had died out, but time will tell if the Swedes will concede to their allies in this matter, or if Germany will bother enforcing it if they refuse.
The Danubian Federation is perhaps the most moderate member of the Pact, with its signatory states maintaining some form of Democracy, if a somewhat closed off one to much of their population. Election laws and infrastructure tend to heavily favor the various Conservative Parties (by design), but Liberals and even Social Democrats see some limited representation. Nationalism however is treated almost as harshly as Syndicalism. The brief Civil War, and various ethnic conflicts Austria has had to deal with since the death of Archduke Ferdinand has soured the concept to the Aristocracy. Economically, Industrialization has boomed since the formation of the Federation, earning Vienna a reputation as the Workshop of the Pact.
Italy can be described as the Black Sheep of the truly Independent members of the Pact. It's reunification, once expected to be a bloody affair, turned out oddly peaceful... and really just odd in general. When most of the International turned towards Totalist and Maximist ideologies, the SRI was left quite... uncomfortable, having elected the Christian Socialists. The SRI was all but certain that the Authoritarians in Paris and London were aiming to either coup the still strong democracy with the support of Benito Mussolini, or failing that, leave them for dead against the Austrians, and Borbone Sicilians. Left without true allies in the middle of a hostile Europe, one can imagine their relief when the Social Democratic government of the Two Sicilies approached them with an offer they could not refuse. Peaceful reunification. The process was somewhat... convoluted, but to summarize, the two would unite by essentially combining both parliaments. This grated on nerves to say the least, but held some precedent, unification advocates pointing towards Giuseppe Garibaldi's dislike of Monarchy, but working with the Piedmontese King for the sake of Italy, as well as Italy's history of a land where various government forms fuse to form something better, like when the old Roman Republic fused Monarchy, Democracy, and Oligarchy, the Socialist Kingdom of Italy would fuse Monarchy, Democracy, and Socialism. The end result was a Constitutional Monarchy dominated by Social Democrats, Christian Socialists, and limited Conservative representation, with perhaps the most diverse economy in the world, consisting of corporations, coops, TUC's, "Mom and Pop Shops", and even the odd vestigial tenant farm, or pseudo-serf. Seeing the way the wind was blowing, Victor Emmanuel chose to allow Sardinia to be annexed into the Kingdom in exchange for retaining his claim to the title "King of Italy", monetary compensation, and a later marriage that would unite the two houses. The Legionary Republic of Italy however, would take much longer to return to the fold. The Pariah state would collapse on its own by 1950 after the mysterious assassination of Italo Balbo. A series of misadventures and fortunate/unfortunate events would see the Socialist Kingdom retake Libya and Eritrea without much of a fight, as well as annex Tunisia, Nice, Savoy, Malta, and Cosica in the aftermath of the collapse of both National, and Totalist Frances. The narrow-majority Christian Socialists, to make the situation even stranger, didn't even really want the colonial empire, being more interested in rebuilding Italy, but the Social Democrats, and Royalists insisted the easy pickings would be a condition of their odd coalition. The SD's and CS's pursued policies of cooperation with indigenous peoples, to great success in some areas, and... less than success in others, especially in Somalia, when the country was "gifted" to Italy by Germany in '54. Being a "Socialist Kingdom", one might think Italy would had its work cut out for it in the foreign policy department, maintaining a form of government many have thought contradictory, especially among the more ideologically driven circles in Philadelphia and London. It seemed however, Italy had caught Germany in a Bismarckian mood in July of 1954. While the Reich did not see Italy as a conventional military threat, the possibility of America using the Boot as a staging area, and nuclear dagger pointed at the heart of the Pact, was too great to ignore. And yet, they could not outright invade without the risk of America choosing to interfere through the Iberian Union. Instead, Italy was approached diplomatically, and offered economic and industrial concessions in exchange for aligning with the Pact, at least on paper. In truth, Italy's deal with the Pact resembles its old deal with the Central Powers than a true alliance. It would come to Germany's aid if it were to be attacked and vice-versa, and a great deal of economic cooperation took place, as well as the return of Somalia into Italian hands. Ultimately turning Italy into the Reich's second breadbasket. This... strange approach has worked well for Italy, up till now. But it has always been a tenuous position. More hardline CS's chafe under the coalition, ans want to realign Italy with the International, the diverse economic system is far from streamlined, threatening economic "hiccups", and the looming Red Scare in Germany threatens to turn their current ally against them. Will the Center hold, or will the pendulum swing left, or right?
The remaining Syndicalist nations on earth would reunite under a 5th International (declaring Mosley and Marcel Bucard's regimes illegitimate takeovers of the 3rd to be a 4th International.), and though it claimed to be a union of equals like the 3rd, it would seem to many to be an American dominated hegemony in all but name. American Business Unionism saw its economy soar in a Post-War Economic Miracle. Wary of Totalist takeover like in the 3rd, Harry Reed, Norman Thomas, and now Eleanor Roosevelt put a good deal of effort into removing authoritarian elements in the party, seeing them as just as much a threat as Longest, Federalist, and Klanist resistance. Since then, the renamed Socialist Republic of America has maintained a multi-party democracy, consisting of Orthodox Syndicalists, Moderate and Christian Socialists, Social Democrats, and a handful of Progressive Republicans. Though physical reconstruction is over, the scars and echoes of the Civil War remain. With the exception of a few compounds in Appalachia and Montana, Federalist resistance has ceased, but Reactionaries remain a constant threat to anyone below the Mason-Dixon line. Longist Minutemen, and the Silver Legion carry out regular domestic terrorist activities, supported by German and Italian gun runners. though they are rapidly running out of room to hide as they lose support among the more moderate people. Segregation and Jim Crow are officially over, but the question of how to deal with their aftermath and Legacy remain unanswered. Though most see investment and reformation of the Tenant Farmer system into Worker Coops as the best way of dealing with the issue, others advocate for an Autonomists approach, creating a special region called "New Africa" to allow African Americans to develop on their own terms.
The Union of Britain is a country in the midst of some serious soul searching. They've now lost two generations in a pointless continental conflict, and have become but Greeks in the new American Empire. Their time as the center of the world had truly set. Now they must redefine themselves. Most Moderates see the turn towards Mosley's nationalism and jingoistic rhetoric as the cause for their current predicament, and have sworn off such authoritarianism in exchange for returning to old Syndicalist principles. Many however feel as though England was "stabbed in the back" by cowards, reactionaries, and a great number of other traitorous people. General T.E Lawrence's subsequent assassination by a radicalized member of the new IngSoc party, and the general apathy, or even support of it by a significant chunk of the remaining Totalist and Maximist supporters has worried many in the International, and fear that Britain's defeat has only Martyred Mosley, rather than delegitimize him. Will the Union of Britain find its place in the new world order? Or will The Party retake control, and steer Britain down the correct path?
The Bharatiya Commune is perhaps the closest thing the SRA has to a true partner in the International. Its large population, army, and economy have allowed it to become the right hand of the world revolution in the more agrarian Middle East and Southeast Asia. Bankrolling rebellions across the Co Prosperity Sphere, German East Asia, and the Cairo Pact. Still, this position is a bit more tenuous than one might believe. Industrialization had been a challenge, largely resisted by Agrarian Unions, and more (relatively) Conservative voters. Ethnic tensions have flared to the point of violence between Hindus and Muslims. Gandhi's health has been failing for some time, but no clear heir to the metaphorical throne has been decided upon, permitting fringe Totalist and even Nationalist parties to have a chance to take power. They are also largely isolated from their allies, who often suffer from pirates (secretly privateers of the Kriegsmarine) of all things in the Indian Ocean when trade is attempted.
The true end of the British Empire is a hotly debated subject among historians, but the general consensus is that what remained of it truly died when Canada's invasion of the then CSA failed, and the Canadian people either rose up in solidarity with their American comrades, or requested armed PSA support to prevent a total revolution. By the time the King fled to Vancouver, the writing was on the wall. The Entente Cordiale was all but dead. What remained was either consumed by revolution (India), couped by authoritarians (South Africa), or incorporated into the Co Prosperity Sphere (Australasia/West Canada).
South Africa was quickly couped after the Canadian Fall by Boer Nationalists supported by Germany through Mittelafrika. Though they are resisted by the African National Congress and English Whites, both groups hesitation to work with one another results in not much being accomplished. Apartheid in this timeline is going to be sadly much worse, and much longer.
Australasia is the last of the British Dominions left standing. Having gone without a coup, or revolution under what is increasingly a two party state, divided between Labour and Conservatives. The isolated Aussies and Kiwi's initially wanted to take an isolationist approach, being really just "done with the world and its shite", but Syndicalist revolutions in East Asia fueled a Red Scare that drove them into the Co-Prosperity Sphere.
Despite its outward appearance of strength and prosperity, Japan's new Empire is built on an increasingly unstable house of cards. Though an outright nationalist coup was prevented, the Army still holds a stranglehold on Diet politics, though that grip is begging to lose its strength. Though Victory has been achieved in China, and the Pacific is their playground, the Southwest of the Middle Kingdom could have been considered a quagmire on a good day before the remaining warlords finally decided that they hate Japan far more than they hate one another, and united their efforts to liberate China. Indochina can only be described as either "on fire" or "a shitshow on fire.", as Viet Cong rebels supported by India and the SRA carry out a bloody Guerrilla war that seems to be without end. While their American allies were initially supportive of Japan's war in China, or at least lukewarm to it, their material and manpower support has dried up as public sentiment towards their allies cooled in the shadow of the very obvious war crimes the IJA was committing. President Marshall has even gone so far as to threaten America pulling out of the Sphere if Japan did not reign in its Army, with Australasia, Argentina, Columbia, and even the nascent Russian Republic joining in. The Diet was caught between a rock and a hard place. In truth, it had lost control of the Army years ago, and any attempt to resist or stop it would only result in a civil war, one the Civilian government could not win. And yet, a loss of all their allies would essentially see their economy collapse harder than most states saw in the Berlin Market Crash. It might as well have been a choice between Civil War, or Civil War. A cabal of Liberals, Social Democrats, and Moderate Conservatives have been organizing a coup along with upper echelons of the IJN to end the deadlock, but the Army will not simply allow their power to be taken from them. All the while, India has been supporting and funding the organisation of leftist groups, prepared to take advantage of the looming chaos. Either way, Civil War seems imminent, and there's no way of telling how it will end beyond the Americans taking the leading role in the alliance, at least while Japan sorts out its problems.
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submitted by Same-Baker5025 to Kaiserreich [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 09:33 SnooPredictions5832 Tutorial: How to have fun with Greece and the East Roman Republic

So a lot of posts keep appearing in my feed (damn you algorithms, for showing me what I want!!) that Greece is not the hot potato, compared to say... Bulgaria.
And while I won't get into arguments about which focus tree is objectively better, I much prefer to play Greece. In fact, I consider it my favorite country in the whole game.
Why?
Because its big enough to have its owns unique buffs and flavors, but small enough that you can get through ALL the good stuff well before Germany kicks things off.
Compare that to Bulgaria's massive, powerful, but ultimately bloated focus tree. There is some great stuff in there, but good luck getting to it before The Big One gets rolling. You'd be lucky to grab one eco focus before jumping back to the political side.
Whereas in Greece, and this post, I'm going to show you how to form Byzantium with an industry relative to Italy by the time Poland refuses Danzig, allowing you multiple paths to get your Triumphs.
But as always, lets hit the basics:
Opening Moves:

House Arrest
Basic Research Selection (Electronics, Tools, and Construction)
Queue up two CIVs
Build 12 Convoys (for a nice round 100)
Swap that Horse div for an Infantry div
Exercise your fleet until you have ~50 Naval XP (trade oil if you want; it won't hurt your non-existent economy)
And Start "Devaluating that Drachma"

So, if all goes well with the RNG gods, we should have Eleftherios back and about 144 PP to spend.
Let's spend some of that by picking this guy:
You know, I keep thinking that's Washington's Portrait. LOL.
This guy is going to allow you to grab every Greece Achievement (aside from the stupid Hellenic Civility) in one run.
But for now, his PP and Stab boost are the most important right now.
As for Technology, keep industry up to date, pick up trains, and invest heavily into cheap CAS. Its going to be your best friend by the time your war with Turkey kicks off. You should have engine-2 CAS-36 with double bombs ready for production by the time you've assigned the necessary factories to guns/art/eng.
Use the rest of the prep time to upgrade your guns, arty, and to pick up radios. You'll even have time to grab a '36 cruisers with that fourth research slot.
A Word about Poor Eleftherios:
I wish this bastard had a more consistent death rate. I've had him die as soon as I hit un-pause. I've had him live to see Byzantium Reborn.
The point is, you have three choices:

Risk the RNG gods and keep restarting until he lives long enough for you to pay off your debt, and "Crush the Monarchists,"
Spend your next batch of PP on the previously mentioned "Crush the Monarchists," for the needed War Support, but slowing down your ability to pay off your debt
Take the middle ground of sending an attache to Spain. The trouble of course is getting the PP and the Command Power.

The Monarchists will become friendly again once you complete that Political Focus, but for now, its a quick way to get some War Support.
I live for the first, hate the second, but settle for the third. Its up to you and how short your temper is.
Moving on...
Economical National Focus Path:
Now, I know all the big shot YouTubers are all about the "Open Foreign Subsidized Factories," but did you know that those eight factories don't come with extra building slots? Considering how premium real estate is in Eastern Europe, that sucks.
So instead, we're going down the proverbial right path to grab 12 OFFMAP Civs.
Here's how we're going to do it:
I love 9b for naval games, but if its not for you, just pick 9a.
Its pretty straightforward. Don't start paying off your debt until you are to able to do so in bulk. The PP cost is the same, but the recharge time is much shorter. If you get extremely lucky, and Eletherios is still alive, you should be debt free when it comes time for the big focus.
Autarky is nice too, especially, since we plan to never remove, nor change the Schachtplan. -10% CGs AND 15% CIV speed for a small malus to trade and eco laws? Shut up and take my Resources!
By the time you have "Expanded Our Tobacco Industry," we should have enough CIVs to start making an intel agency. Get the Departments that increase our Civ Intelligence so that we can spy on Turkey. Its critical that we know when they are about to take "Abuse the Office of Soil Products."
This is also a good time to grab your Naval Flexible Contracts so that you can get the "Royal Hellenic Naval Shipyard on the cheap. Spend your remaining Naval XP to create a good '36 destroyer.
I also know that the big shots love to "Mobilize the Economy," but since we're finishing out the eco tree first, we don't have the War Support or the PP to get a War Economy going so early. Besides, That tourism gives some juicy boosts that you get to enjoy for the next year or so:
Keep an eye on that CG Factories Number, its going to become important later.
Alright, assuming Eleftherios is still in charge, you've paid off your debt, and are ready to become "The Bedrock of Balkan Financial Stability."
Start improving with nations until you have the following approval:

Yugo, Hungary, Albania = 65
Turkey, Romania, Austria = 90
Czechoslovakia = 100

Don't bother with Bulgaria. Only Non-Aligned Greece can break the threshold.
I added 15 for padding due to the ticking removal, because the last thing you want to do is spend another 10 PP to start improving again.
Once you have positive PP gain, go ahead and Crush the Monarchists for the War Support. Eleftherios isn't looking so well.
When its all said and done:
That's embarrasing...
And its only going to get better once we "Rejuvenate Athens" and Crack down on those monopolies.
Its at this point that I like to "Improve Worker Conditions" to avoid Strikes when we go to war with Turkey, though its up to you. You may not be able to if Eleftherios is gone, but if he's still here, go ahead and eat the industry hit.
Because once we get down to the bottom, here's what we get to play with:
Honestly, this is my favorite Industrial Concern. Soo many goodies here.
So, its August of 1937. Ready to see the fruits of your labor? This is what is all been building to...
Told you Tourism is Underrated...
Now that's what I call seed money. Who needs Consumer goods when you've got Tourism and a revanchist population? In freaking 37' on Partial Mobilization??!!!! As a democracy??!!!
Would you believe me if I told you that you're going to fill in every one of your build slots with time to spare?
Don't believe me? Keep following along.
Military Industry Order:
So, while you build factories, here's where you are going to put them:
Transports are just a placeholder. I'm still researching my CAS.
Thanks to Limited Exports, the Schachtplan doesn't hurt too much, but eventually, you will need to trade for steel and rubber, and aluminum.
Alright, while this works in the background, here's the next set of focuses you need to grab:
Yup, you still have time, unlike a certain other neighbor...
These focuses will provide you with Army XP to get Relief of Command, meaning you can hire Niklolaos Plastiras for 100 PP instead of 200 PP, plus an extra 25% army xp buff, Navy XP for playing around with the Navy some more if you like, and Air XP to build your CAS planes.
The Hellenic Navy also gives three dockyards, which while useful on its own keeping away Turk naval invasions, will put you that much closer to getting 6 MORE Offmap Civ Factories from the UK, all the while not hurting your CG count since you decided to fix your industry first.
Now, and only now, are you ready to Bring Back the Exiled Republicans and get the Second Greek War of Unification going.
Its a straight shot down to Horror and Fear, but you'll pick up some nice batches of PP as you go along. I got lucky in this playthrough, since Eleftherios is still around, but if you are stuck with Themostikles, you should still have enough PP for the following:

Metaxas for that PP and Factory Boost.
Plastiras so you can reorganize your divisions.
Phaliron Aircraft for better CAS damage.
Napoleon and your GBP before you flip to the gamers.
War Economy and Extensive Conscription when the coup occurs.
Befriending the Commies (if Eleftherios is still miraculously alive)

Speaking of the Gamers, you can take as many gamer options as you want, because your democracy boy has been building up a massive stockpile of support in the background; just make sure it doesn't fall under 60%. Remember, the Heraklion convention will only fail if you go into coalition with the EEE, no matter what decisions you take regarding the rowdy brownboys.
But there's still a little bit of house cleaning we need to take care of.
Between "Venerate the Ancient Hellenes" and "The Anotolian Refugees," your MILS should be completed, leaving your country without any more build slots. Has that ever happened before? You can build Infrastructure to get more resources, or airfields in Thrace to get more CAS Cover, but here's the most important buildings:
If you want to fight in Thrace, you need to build those depots.
These depots will allow you to fight the Turk Army man to man, without any of those silly naval invasions that get convoy raided to death. Build your rail to level three if you have the time, but its imperative to get those depots going.
Don't forget your one-time use of the 300% depot build speed.
Now, let's organize who's going to be fighting on said front.
Here's what your Mountaineers should look like:
Missing a Mountaineer is okay. They have extra org to make up for it.
These will be great when you break into Anatolia. A Good left fist.
Here's what your Tagmata Shocktroopers should look like:
Standard 9/4 Hammer to break the Bosporus
Just save as your Mainstay Infantry Div and add on the arty. A Good right fist.
Here's what your Cavalry (wait what?) should look like:
Bet you didn't see this coming, huh?
These will be the fast little bastards that play the encirclement game with the poor AI. And the arty will give them enough teeth to play dirty. Just be sure you assign them low priority so that your shock troops and mainstay Divs receive replenishment first.
And to help out your boys, here's what's going to be flying over their heads:
Since Turkey's Army Air Force sucks, this will be just fine.
Let's put it all together for the following breakdown:

3 Mountaineers Divisions
4 Tagmata Shock Troops Divisions
10 Mainstay Infantry Divisions
7 Calvary Divisions
With 300+ CAS Support

Okay, its coup time.
While the Heraklion Convention is on its way to failure, pull up Turkey's Focus. If you've done everything right, its early January 1939, and Turkey is starting to "Reconfigure Turkish Foreign Policy."
And when the Heraklion Convention fails, you'll get refunded 10 days of focus time. As soon as Turkey's focus has between 26-59 days left, take "Horror and Fear" and enjoy as Turkey has no one guaranteeing them!
During that 60-day period, grab State Serves the Military, Extensive Conscription, War Economy, and Befriend the Communists (if Eleftherios is still kicking), once the coup occurs, and arrange your forces like so:
Note that we will defend the Aegan islands.
Its a small force, but its more than enough to win the day. Four of your mainstay divs will hold a significant amount of the Turk army in Anatolia, while you practice the good old Thrace cheese maneuver that Paradox tried to kill with the new supply system, supported by your CAS raining fire down from above.
The good old days are back, baby!!!!
Side-note: If you want to do the Bittersteel/Hatlessspider method, this will still work, just use your barely existent industry to build a port instead of a depot on the border for the needed supply, and remove one div from each of the islands for the mainland campaign. This will avoid the messy need for naval invasions.
A Splendid Little War
Once the focus is completed, slow it down to 3-Speed, you don't want to make a mistake or miss encirclement of opportunities.
First, let the AI lose their entrenchment trying to force your lines. As soon they fail, hit makeshift bridges and counter attack, using your Mainstays and Cavalry to pin the flanks.
You want to aim for this:
I love it when a plan comes together.
With a kill/death ratio like so:
Damnn...
Now, you can take the fight to Anatolia with your superior industry and divisions, or you can cheese the port encirclement and Constantinople encirclement like in the old days.
Since I love efficiency, I always go for the cheese.
Once you feel confident, you can take the war to Anatolia. Use your shock troops to break their lines, rush cavalry to force encirclements, and let your CAS work in the background. The war should last less than 140 days.
Here's the score card on the eve of victory:
A Splendid Little War.
And here's what we've all been waiting for:
I freakin' love that color, but how about we fix that name...
Now how's Italy doing?
They may have more MILs, but guess who has 0% CGs for the remainder of the game?
The Future:
Here's where I leave you, in Jun 1939. Its 2 seconds to midnight, and the world will change depending on your actions.
Do you supplant Italy as Germany's secondary partner, driving the Allies out of Africa, and then ultimately, to London itself?
Do you go back to the "historical," let the Italians declare war on you, and fight a bloody, but much more successful war in the Balkans, hoping for table scraps from the useless Allies?
Or do you think big?
Do you take that NAP with Italy and use the next two years to build up your economy and forces?
Do you play footsie with the UK to grab 6 Offsite CIVs? You already have 6+ dockyards?
Do you rush 40's fighters so you can fly "The Double Headed Aquila" with '44 fighters in '41-'42?
And ultimately, do you wait until all of the Balkans (including that annoying, tiny bit of Bessarabia) is being crushed under the weight of the Germans and friends, begging for a savior, and being ignored by a UK more interested in dying in Africa?
Do you, great Caesar, restore the Balkan themes by yourself? Constantly rejecting military access faction invites to the Allies and Soviets as you march to restore the occupied territory under the true Roman Banner?
But why stop at the Balkans? Can you truly be the Roman Empire without the Eternal City? Some of those locals don't think so, hence why if you land on their shores first, you'll gain their allegiance, and the path to restoring the heart of the empire is open.
But such ambitions require careful planning. You can't dally too long. The British are looming, wearing away the Regia Marina until the coasts are clear for intercession, and the Soviets will use any dastardly attempt to divert the Germans from the Motherland, even attempting an annoying naval invasion into Bulgaria.
So you have to get there first.
Get the max naval invasion tech, take Tip of the Spear, research the best marines, establish complete Air Dominance over the Balkans, and send in the naval hoards.
Start with Bessarabia. The Soviets forfeited their rights the moment they retreated. Bessarabia deserves a government who won't enforce No Step Back.
Now comes the tricky part, my Caesar. The Adriatic is full of ports practically begging for Allies landings. You must strike first. Hit the Italian peninsula, rally the Italian yoke to their false king, push north to the Eternal City and into the North, but do not cap them, for the beleaguered partisans of Yugoslavia will rise up and throw a sticky mess into your plans.
Instead, hold at Emilia Romagna, then send off the marines to the opposite end of the Adriatic. Rush the foolish AI where they least expect it. Take the ports, and cut off any attempt for the freedom loving Allies to reestablish the amalgamation that WAS Yugoslavia, and you'll have done it.
The path for a Triumph of the Balkans is open. Now you must only push until the frontiers are secured.
And victory will be yours, for quite little World Tension in the peace deal, I might add...
But whatever choice you make, my Caesar, please don't forget to do this:
How can you be the Byzantium Empire without the proper names?
Thanks for reading, and here's hoping u/Bitt3rSteel gives the Right Side of the Eco tree some love when he makes it to the "K"s (wait, what?) in his A-Z playthrough...
Snoo, signing off.

submitted by SnooPredictions5832 to hoi4 [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 07:43 Herrowgayboi What are your favorite places to travel within the US? Would love recommendations.

I'm located in the Bay Area, CA and have visited quite a few states. Only a few of them I enjoyed, but the rest weren't that great. That said, I'd love to travel around the states some more, but would love to go somewhere where I'll enjoy my time.
Places I've enjoyed:
- Hawaii (Oahu and Big Island) - absolutely beautiful beaches and hikes, only complaint is the amount of tourists
- Austin/San Antonio TX - I loved the culture here (both in the city and outskirts) and people were extremely friendly. I've gone to Austin multiple times and every time has been a good time.
- Utah - The national parks here are absolutely gorgeous and well worth the travels, but the only problem is the distance in relation to what is around. IIRC, you're easily driving 2-3hrs+ just to get anywhere.
- Las Vegas NV - I absolutely love the city vibe here and how dense the city (in the strip) is, but the amount of tourists is a bit bothersome.
- AZ - depending on the town, there's some nice things to see.
- Montana - While it's quite empty, I loved how clear the air was and Glacier National Park was an absolute treat.
Places I didn't enjoy:
- Washington/Oregon - It just felt like a downgraded San Francisco to me. Cost was still high, yet quality of food/service seemed to be lower.
- Idaho/Wyoming - were relatively boring to me as you had to drive for hours to get pretty much anywhere...
- Colorado - Ski parks are amazing here, but I don't think they were worth the chaos of trying to fly out there and deal with how packed those ski resorts get.
- Florida/Georgia/Tennessee/Alabama/South Carolina - my absolute will not go to again. I've only been once to this area and hated pretty much every moment of it. I tried my best to enjoy it but people here were extremely rude and there's really not much interesting things. Their "points of interest" are mediocre at best IMO. Worst part was we went to all the local recommended spots + went to highly reviewed restaurants and the food was mediocre at best. At some point during the trip, I just gave up and just ate fast food for the remainder because it taste just as good without the expensive price tag.

submitted by Herrowgayboi to usatravel [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 06:11 autotldr In Congo’s forests, Islamic State money makes an insurgency more lethal

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 77%. (I'm a bot)

KAMPALA, Uganda - An insurgent group founded in Uganda but now based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has grown increasingly deadly after receiving money from the Islamic State, according to defectors and researchers tracking the group.
Last year, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on four individuals in South Africa for transferring money on behalf of the Islamic State, including to armed groups in Congo and Mozambique.
The report on the group's finances, published by Bridgeway and George Washington University, and provided exclusively to The Post before its public release, sheds light on the evolution of Islamic State regional affiliates since the group lost its territory in Iraq and Syria.
Killing of top ISIS militant casts spotlight on group's broad reach in Africa The Post confirmed several details of the Bridgeway report with a senior Somali intelligence official who had knowledge of the 2021 conviction of a Somali financier who funneled $400,0000 to the Islamic State.
In 2017, the same year Islamic State financier Waleed Zein in Kenya, who would come under U.S. sanction, sent the first documented cash transfer to the ADF, Muhamood appeared in a video calling for recruits to the Islamic State.
In 2019, Islamic State central claimed its first attack on behalf of the group, and Baluku appeared in a video reaffirming the previously unpublicized alliance.

Summary Source FAQ Feedback Top keywords: State^#1 Islamic^#2 group^#3 ADF^#4 report^#5
Post found in /worldnews.
NOTICE: This thread is for discussing the submission topic. Please do not discuss the concept of the autotldr bot here.

submitted by autotldr to autotldr [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 05:46 HaykakanTxa Daily News Report: 6/5/2023

Date: 06/05/2023
Reading time: 6 minutes, 1249 words

Azerbaijan violates Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire, small arms fire reported in two directions

Azerbaijani military has violated the Nagorno Karabakh ceasefire with small arms fire, the defense ministry says. Small arms fire broke the ceasefire in the central and north-eastern directions of the line of contact.

Armenpress, Azerbaijani forces violate ceasefire – Artsakh MoD, Artsakh reports another ceasefire violation by Azerbaijan in the eastern and southeastern directions

Woman accused of attempting to kidnap Armenian PM’s son to be detained for 1.5 months

Gayane Hakobyan remanded into custody for 1,5 months. Ashot Pashinyan says woman tried to forcefully take him to military cemetery on May 18.

ArmRadio

Armenia actively works around visa liberalization with EU – foreign minister

The visa liberalization issue is being actively discussed with the European Union, Foreign Minister Ararat Miroyan said on Monday. The issue is an item on the agenda of Armenia and EU members and Armenia is receiving support in almost all cases.

Armenpress

No final agreement on specific map for delimitation, says FM

There is no final agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on which specific map will be used for border delimitation. Ararat Mirzoyan said that the 1975 map would be an acceptable solution for Armenia. He added that as far as he knows the Azerbaijani President didn't object to the map during the latest summit.

Armenpress, Azerbaijan needs to publicly confirm recognition of Armenia's 29,800 km2 territorial integrity - FM, Possible peace treaty won’t mention size of territories of Armenia and Azerbaijan - FM

Armenia works intensively with various countries to buy armaments – official

Armenia is in “intensive discussions” with many countries regarding the acquisition of new armaments. Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan said Armenia is taking into account the fact that Russia’s capacity is unable to export weapons now given its war with Ukraine.

Armenpress

2 new diplomatic representations opened in Armenia in 2022

Two new representations were established in Armenia in 2022, the foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan told lawmakers during committee debates of the 2022 budget. Overall, Armenia has diplomatic representations in 90 countries, and has diplomatic relations with 178 states. In 2022 Armenia accredited four new non-resident ambassadors to Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica and North Macedonia.

Armenpress

Armenia to exercise full border control on its side in case of unblocking, says Secretary of Security Council

Armenian authorities will be in charge of border control on their territory in case of unblocking. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan said this has become clear for all partners involved in the regional connections’ unblocking process. Armenia’s position in this issue is very clear, he said in an interview with Public Television.

Armenpress

Customs duties from EEU budget drop, says Armenian finance minister

In 2022 Armenia received 28 billion dram less from the Eurasian Economic Union’s single customs budget compared to 2021, finance minister Vahe Hovhannisyan said. In 2021 that amount stood at 84 billion 839 million drams.

Armenpress

Armenia considers offers from several countries on building new nuclear power plant

The Armenian Government has set up a commission on nuclear energy which studies the global market to find the most appropriate offers. Director of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant Movses Vardanyan said that Armenia should begin considering the construction of a new power plant today.

Armenpress, New nuclear reactor for Metsamor to take 10-12 years and cost $3-5 billion, says expert

Toivo Klaar to visit Armenia

Toivo Klaar, the Special Representative of the European Union for the South Caucasus, is coming to Armenia. "I am leaving for Yerevan to monitor the fulfillment of EU obligations at a high level"

Armenpress

The session of the Committee of Secretaries of the CSTO Security Councils will be held in Minsk

Committee of Secretaries of the Security Councils of the Collective Security Treaty Organization will discuss challenges and threats in its zone of responsibility at the meeting to be held on June 8 in Minsk. Press secretary of CSTO Vladimir Zaynetdinov said the meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Alexander Volfovich.

Armenpress

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan says maintains close contact with ex-FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan says he maintains close contact with ex-foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan. Member of Parliament Garnik Danielyan asked him whether or not he sought advice from his predecessors over the negotiations process with Azerbaijan.

Armenpress

Iranian national sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for drug trafficking in Armenia

Iranian national sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for being accessory to smuggling of 350kg of heroin. Iranian national was found guilty on all charges and handed over a 9-year sentence. Customs officials discovered heroin in February 2021 during customs control.

Armenpress

Washington to host another round of Armenia-Azerbaijan foreign ministerial talks

Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue negotiations on establishing relations and peace treaty. The next round of foreign ministerial talks is planned to take place in Washington, D.C. The talks will start on June 12.

Armenpress, Peace deal with Azerbaijan possible by year end, says Armenian top security official, Armenia, EU continue dialogue on visa liberalization, Foreign Minister says

Government of Armenia must try to ensure mechanism and platform for talks between Stepanakert and Baku, says FM

Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan says there are numerous unresolved issues regarding the security and rights of the people of Nagorno Karabakh/Artsakh. He said the authorities of Armenia must try to ensure the start of the dialogue, the mechanism and platform.

Armenpress

Nominations close for the 2024 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity

The 2024 Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity will be awarded on behalf of survivors of Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors. The nomination period opened on June 1, 2022, with the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative encouraging people all around the world to put forward modern-day heroes. In total, 730 submissions for 676 unique candidates have been received for the Prize.

ArmRadio

Armenian, Azerbaijani FMs to hold new round of talks in Washington

Foreign Ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov will hold another round of talks in Washington. New round of negotiations on peace treaty and establishment of diplomatic relation will start on June 12. The Foreign Ministers of the two countries last met in Moscow on May 19.

ArmRadio

FLYONE ARMENIA achieves 400,000 passenger count in five months of 2023

FLYONE ARMENIA transported 400,000 passengers in the five months of 2023, the airline’s Chairman of the Board Aram Ananyan said. The airline is approaching the threshold of having a passenger count of 1,000,000 per year.

Armenpress, FLYONE ARMENIA to name aircraft in honor of composer Aram Khachatryan

Donations to Armenia:
Himnadram
Armenian Wounded Heroes
ArmeniaFund
If you'd like to support me: Patreon

submitted by HaykakanTxa to armenia [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 05:28 definitelynotpoopin School List Feedback

Hey everybody, I was hoping to get some feedback on my school list.
I'm a non-trad who spent 10 years in the Air Force doing some really cool, unique things, and I am able to speak on them well. Stats are:
ORM male, age 30
Microbiology major, chemistry minor at a state school
MCAT: 508
cGPA: 3.77 (took some classes before I enlisted that I didn't do well in/care about); sGPA: 3.86
Research: about 500 hours over two years with one poster presentation
Very strong MD LOR, very strong science professor LOR, and I'm assuming the rest are at least decent.
3 years volunteering every other week at a free clinic, around 250 hours
Various other volunteer events, none of which were health-related. For example, I did Meals on Wheels, organized a *very* small food drive, and was involved with a military designated driver association for a year or so.
Significant leadership experience & teaching (trainer in the military); approx 10k hours
ICU tech for about ~300 hours before switching jobs
Medical Scribe for ~800 hours, will continue this until matriculation
I think that is about all of the relevant information. Onto the school list!
Albany
Rosalind Franklin
Drexel
Eastern Virginia
Quinnipiac
Dartmouth -- MD LOR writer has connections here. Figured I'd at least try.
Geisinger Commonwealth
George Washington
Georgetown
Harvard -- Was going to apply here even with a 472 :) gotta shoot my shot, right?
Lewis Katz Temple
Oakland Beaumont
Pennsylvania State
Robert Larner
Rush
St. Louis
Sidney Kimmel
University of Utah (resident of this state)
Toledo
UCLA Geffen
University of Illinois
University of Kansas - (Grew up in Missouri & strong ties)
University of Maryland
University of South Carolina Greenville
University of Washington (Was a resident of Montana for 5 years)
Wake Forest
University of Missouri - Columbia (Grew up in Missouri & strong ties)
University of Missouri - Kansas City (Grew up in Missouri & strong ties)
University of Arizona - Phoenix
Ohio State
Baylor -- Same as Harvard. Might as well shoot my shot for that 0.05% chance. This is my pipe dream school.
DO Schools:
AT Still Kirksville
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Des Moines University of Osteopathic Medicine
Kansas City University
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
I know a lot of these schools have a much higher median MCAT, and I'm well-aware that my MCAT is not strong. However, With the exception of Harvard, Dartmouth, Baylor, Ohio State, and University of Arizona, my MCAT is at least aligned with their 10th percentile scores.
Thanks for looking! Let me know what you guys think. The overall goal was ~40 schools.

submitted by definitelynotpoopin to premed [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 04:57 MaIorbas Defending the Draft 2023: Los Angeles Chargers

Preface: There’s really no way to look back at the Chargers’ 2022 season without starting at the end. The team blew a 27-0 lead to the Jaguars in the wild card round in what can only be described as the peak of decades of cruelty by the football gods directed at the Chargers. In a year that began with Super Bowl aspirations thanks to an extremely talented on-paper roster, and included a regular season of injury after injury after injury (Justin Herbert, Rashawn Slater, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, etc.), the finale could not have been more crushing. Criticism and ridicule has rained down on head coach Brandon Staley and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, and the latter was promptly fired at the end of the season to the rejoicing of fans everywhere.
But now we begin, again. The Super Bowl hopes are very much alive. The roster saw very few changes in free agency as the front office and coaching staff clearly believe the failure of the 2022 season was generally not an issue with the assembled players. But there is a much higher sense of urgency this year, and it’s not an exaggeration to say the team is going “all in” on the final cheap year of Justin Herbert’s rookie deal. Contracts have been structured in a way that will force significant cuts after the 2023 season just to get the team to salary cap compliance. This year may be do-or-die for both Tom Telesco and Brandon Staley.

Free Agency Recap

Losses: G Matt Feiler, LB Drue Tranquill, EDGE Kyle Van Noy, QB Chase Daniel, CB Bryce Callahan, WR Deandre Carter, S Nasir Adderley, LB Troy Reeder, DL Breiden Fehoko, WR Michael Bandy, OT Storm Norton
Five starters on this list: Feiler, Tranquill, Callahan, Carter, and Adderley. Letting Drue Tranquill leave is by far the most controversial decision here, especially since he ended up going to the Chiefs. He played very well last year, but seems like the idea here is that he was a factor in the defense’s struggle against the run. Feiler was a disaster last season after a great 2021, and Jamaree Salyer should be an immediate upgrade. Callahan is still a free agent and a reunion is not out of the question. Van Noy was great as a fill-in when Bosa was injured, but the team wants to get younger at the position. Carter was a quiet signing who outperformed his contract and provided much needed depth but again, too old. Adderley was benched in the season finale and then retired. The rest were backups and rotational players.
Additions: LB Eric Kendricks, DL Nick Williams
That’s it, that’s the list. Eric Kendricks steps in as the starter next to Kenneth Murray who he can hopefully help mentor into being a good linebacker. And theoretically, he will be an upgrade in run defense over Drue Tranquill. Williams was signed after the draft as insurance for the injured Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia. He may not make the team. The Chargers used most of the rest of their cap space re-signing free agents like Trey Pipkins, Morgan Fox, and Donald Parham. They still have about $12.5M to work with, pending the upcoming Justin Herbert mega-deal.

Draft Needs

WR: The trio of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Josh Palmer is one of the best in the league. However, with their contracts, there’s really no chance Allen and Williams will be Chargers in 2024. This group also lacks a speed element.
EDGE: Similar to WR, the starting duo of Bosa and Mack is elite but they are expensive and getting older. The depth behind them is just Chris Rumph.
TE: Gerald Everett is solid but on the last year of his deal. Donald Parham has potential but can’t stay healthy. Tre’ McKitty is a blocking TE who isn’t a very good blocker.
CB: JC Jackson is an enormous question mark, both from a health and performance standpoint. Michael Davis is a free agent after 2023. Ja’Sir Taylor is penciled in as the starting slot corner after very limited playing time last year.
OL: This is the strongest starting five the Chargers have had in a decade but the depth behind them both inside and out is weak.
LB: Eric Kendricks and Kenneth Murray will start, but Murray is auditioning to be on the team next year and Kendricks is old. The depth behind them is just Nick Niemann and Amen Ogbongbemiga.
S: JT Woods was a 2022 3rd round pick but barely played in 2022. Alohi Gilman stepped up when needed, but relying on him to start is risky.
RB: Austin Ekeler requested a trade, and even though it looked very unlikely to happen, the team needs to think about life after him in 2024. Neither Josh Kelley or Isaiah Spiller have shown they can handle a full workload.
KPR: With Deandre Carter’s departure, the team has no one with real return experience.

The Draft

1.21: Quentin Johnston - WR, TCU
In hindsight, this pick should have been more obvious. The Chargers have been very strict about their size thresholds for wide receivers over the years, and despite countless debates about Johnston vs Zay Flowers vs Jordan Addison, the big guy from TCU won out. This was an immediately controversial pick among fans as many believed the speedy Flowers or the crafty Addison would be more suited to filling the biggest need in this position group: speed and separation. But while Johnston may not be your traditional deep threat, his game speed and GPS tracking data suggest a more dynamic skillset than he showed at the combine. And one area where he does beat those two guys that was probably overlooked as a need: run after catch ability. Johnston was elite at that in college, and that looks to be his primary role for the Chargers. New OC Kellen Moore will use him like he did Ceedee Lamb in Dallas. And since he will start the year at number three on the depth chart at best, he won’t be under pressure to carry the offense as a rookie while he learns from the veterans in front of him.
2.54: Tuli Tuipulotu - EDGE, USC
After WR, the Chargers’ clear next biggest need was at EDGE and Tuli was the consensus best available. The team has also shown a penchant for drafting local kids from USC and UCLA over the last few years. He was extremely productive in his final season in college where he put up 13.5 sacks playing both on the edge and the interior. In the draft process, many people questioned if he would bulk up to be a full time DT or slim down to play the EDGE. It ended up being the latter as he weighed 266lbs at the combine. Tuli will provide valuable depth behind Bosa and Mack as a rookie, while also having the opportunity to play inside on passing downs like he did in college.
3.85: Daiyan Henley - LB, Washington State
The Chargers lost two linebackers to free agency: Drue Tranquill and Troy Reeder. Tranquill was the team’s best coverage linebacker, and Reeder was key depth while also being a core special teams player. Enter Daiyan Henley, who could fill both of those roles by himself. With Kenneth Murray likely off the team in 2024, Henley has the opportunity to earn a starting job over the course of the season. He is a recent convert to the linebacker position and there is still much room for growth. At the very least, he will be an immediate special teams contributor. Staley and Telesco both raved about his prowess in that phase of the game after picking him.
*4.125: Derius Davis - WR, TCU *
Another TCU receiver! This pick was definitely a surprise, as many people projected him to be a late day 3 pick. But the Chargers coaching staff said after the draft that they believed he was the best return man available, and that they wanted to draft a starter in the 4th round. Davis was indeed one of the best returners in the country at TCU, and also can add some juice on offense even if he ends up limited to a gadget role. Either way, here’s some killer speed for the Chargers offense.
5.156: Jordan McFadden - OL, Clemson
In the last few drafts, the Chargers have shown a lot of love for late round tackle-to-guard converts. Jamaree Salyer was the steal of the 2022 draft in the sixth round. McFadden played both tackle and guard in college on both sides of the line, and some scouts believe he may even be able to play some center. For the Chargers he will compete with Brenden Jaimes for the swing guard role, and maybe even push Foster Sarrell to be the swing tackle. Key depth for a position group that needed it.
6.200: Scott Matlock - DL, Boise State
Matlock is a solid run defender with some pass rush upside who will get to learn behind a strong trio of veteran starters. And with Austin Johnson and Otito Ogbonnia both rehabbing major knee injuries, he may end up seeing some decent playing time this season. I’m very intrigued by his upside, and Staley has a good track record of getting good play from late round DTs.
7.239: Max Duggan - QB, TCU
The Los Angeles Horned Frogs are ready to take the NFL by storm in 2023 (hopefully to face the Philadelphia Bulldogs in a championship rematch). The Chargers historically have carried three QBs on the active roster, and with only two signed going into the draft, it seemed like a strong possibility they would pick one. So here’s Max Duggan, who despite leading TCU to the Natty was generally not loved by scouts. He has a ton of athletic ability but the finer points of playing QB need to be worked on. There is absolutely potential to be a long term backup to Justin Herbert though, if he can beat out Easton Stick.
Notable UDFAs
Jerrod Clark - DL, Coastal Carolina: Most people expected Clark to be drafted, and the Chargers gave him a lot of money for a UDFA. I would not be surprised at all to see him make the roster as an additional run defender.
Cam Jones - CB, Ohio State: Another guy who could have been drafted, there are depth spots at corner up for grabs and Jones is an intriguing option.
Tiawan Mullen - CB, Indiana: Mullen used to have a pretty high draft stock but fell hard in the process. The Chargers are thin at slot corner and he could earn a role.
Mikel Jones - LB, Syracuse: There’s a wide open competition for ILB5 that will most likely be decided by special teams.

Roster Prediction

QB (3): Justin Herbert, Easton Stick, Max Duggan
RB (5): Austin Ekeler, Joshua Kelley, Isaiah Spiller, Larry Rountree, Zander Horvath
WR (5): Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Derius Davis
TE (4): Gerald Everett, Donald Parham, Tre’ McKitty, Stone Smartt
OT (3): Rashawn Slater, Trey Pipkins, Foster Sarrell
OG (4): Zion Johnson, Jamaree Salyer, Brenden Jaimes, Jordan McFadden
C (2): Corey Linsley, Will Clapp
EDGE (4): Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu, Chris Rumph
IDL (6): Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, Otito Ogbonnia, Scott Matlock, Jerrod Clark
LB (5): Kenneth Murray, Eric Kendricks, Daiyan Henley, Nick Niemann, Amen Ogbongbemiga
CB (5): Michael Davis, Asante Samuel Jr., JC Jackson, Ja’Sir Taylor, Deane Leonard
S (4): Derwin James, Alohi Gilman, JT Woods, Mark Webb
K (1): Cameron Dicker
P (1): JK Scott
LS (1): Josh Harris

Conclusion

Super Bowl or bust.

submitted by MaIorbas to NFL_Draft [link] [comments]

2023.06.06 04:55 CozyLemonadeYT [Mega Thread] 2023 Virtual College Baseball Invitational: VCBI Preview

With about one more week until the 2023 VCBI, how about we give you a rundown of it.
This is a "virtual" tournament that takes the concept of a College Basketball Invitational, but for college baseball. I got this idea out of Quidster4040's Baseball NIT's. Games are simmed on Massey Ratings because i don't have a baseball game. (Maybe next year i'll get Super Mega Baseball 4).
The field has 16 teams, and 4 regionals. The winners of the 4 regionals go to the VCBI Series (basically formatted the same way as the College World Series). Since there's only 16 teams and not 64, there are no Super Regionals. Top top four regional hosts are who the NIBT Selection Committee announces as the first four out of the NIBT Tournament. This year, it was Elon, William & Mary, Stetson, and Utah Valley. The rest of the field was decided by me. Bids are determined by record and conference placement.
Here's the field:

Elon Regional:
#1 (1): Elon vs #4: North Florida
#2: Florida State vs #3: Gardner-Webb

Orem Regional:
#1 (4) Utah Valley vs #4: Little Rock
#2: Portland vs #3: Kansas

Williamsburg Regional:
#1 (2): William & Mary vs #4: Saint Louis
#2: Penn State vs #3: Bryant

DeLand Regional:
#1 (3): Stetson vs #4 Wagner
#2: Evansville vs #3 Washington State

LAST FOUR IN: Bryant, Washington State, Wagner, Saint Louis
FIRST FOUR OUT: Pittsburgh, Grambling State, Fairleigh Dickinson, UTRGV

submitted by CozyLemonadeYT to collegebaseball [link] [comments]