2187(1434)-2192(1439) (Ætas ab Brian)
From Alternative History
History of Rome-After Ætas ab Brian
| The Corporation: An Inconvenient Development 2173(1420)-2187(1434) | The Yellow Scare: 2187(1434)-2192(1439) | Future! 2192(1439)- |
2187(1434) Later being revealed as a misnomer, the incorrect adjective being ‘Yellow’ (and a more accurate adjective being Corporate)-Nihonia, Khmer, and the Ulterior Australis nations and provinces largely suffered what were apparently semi-coordinated pro-PAB coups (claimed as pay back to the CM’s interference in Krajinia (really just an excuse as it was purposely focused in Asia where the CM and Rome’s influence was weakest), no Asian nations or provinces except Khmer fell. Smaller, similar revolts occurred in Africa. In Nihhon, even with so many CM troops in the country, the fighting was fierce and afterwards a large increase in public attacks on coalition forces (and families) and supporters continued. During the revolts, the ‘rebels’ had access to large stocks of PEM(EMP) devices, usually grenades. They were instrumental in many terrorist acts, but the majority of CM electronic devices both civilian and military were hardened against them (as a long standing precaution since the revealed electro-magnetic effects of nuclear weapons). As the Yellow Scare was largely performed by small Kaslatii cells (backed by corporation groups) not as much political harm was done as there could have been. Many turned out to be immigrants from the former Muscovite Empire (still incensed at Muscovy’s descent). Putting down the uprisings in Nihhon was particularly costly-the nation’s leaders had almost been captured by the rebels and by exception much of Tokedo’s civilian infrastructure was not hardened against PEMs. In an attempt to better security after the scare, Nihonian officials had 2 replicae capital complexes installed in 2 other major cities: Firona (Hiroshima) and Tamazei (Kawasaki). Parliament would occur at one of the three, chosen randomly by a government computer (one which was not connected to the aranis (internet) and its program was often checked for alterations). Over the years, the 3 cities would eventually be referred to as Tokedo Iych, Ni, and San by westerners and even some of Nihhon.
2187-2190(1434-1437)The Khmer Civil War
2187(1434)The Khmer civil war and regression into a Corporate-enslaved market was quite different from those that occurred in Nihonia and the Ulterior Australis nations. When CM armour, aerocraft, and ships invaded, they were inexplicably destroyed by what seemed like bolts of lightning. It was soon revealed that the communication towers in Khmer, all built by apparently different companies (which were now obviously fronts for a single corporation) were in fact, some sort of weapon, using massive amounts of electricus energy to fire a molecule-thin line of *Fragurus*(Tungsten) or Hydrargyros (Mercury) at 40 times the speed of sound. This ‘teledeturbo’ beam vapourized targets in an instant and created extreme losses and panic to coalition forces. The range of the towers was estimated to be over 1000 kilopes (300km). CM military commanders were at first baffled (and a few killed) by this super-weapon that apparently jumped right out of an old Som-Sci novel. The only respite from these towers was the fact that they were utterly unmanoeverable and seemed to require a power plant unto themselves to operate-leaving the civilian nets wanting. Orbital missiles (the conventional kind) could not get through the network of towers either-though telemoder alesalitis (high flying remote-controlled spy planes) and spy satellites were able to get views of the ground where smoke covers were not being used. It was soon surmised that power-plant sabotage by Rome’s Praetorius Foederii operatives was the only solution but a disparaging few made through corporate security, not only that, but sabotage and terrorism headed by the corporations themselves were also taxing. Although it was against the original spirit of the CM, the Concilium realised that they in fact did need a covert-op corp of their own in order to effectively defend against the corporations. This was not expediently acted upon because such a force was still against the CM’s policies.
*Civilians began to refer to this death by teledeturbo as “fragavi” as in: to be fragged*
While CM forces from without tried to enter Khmer, forces stationed within the country had to deal with reduced communication, minimal supplies, and being overrun as proportionally fewer corporate soldiers (quite a few hired from Africa) were required to defend the skies and borders. Only a few thousand legionaries were known to have escaped the country-a significant loss considering the 120 000 CM/Khmer troops stationed in the country at the time.
Early 2188(1435) The mechanical/electronic characteristics of the teledeturbo towers had been discovered (they were concentrated in south-east Asia) and those that had failed to be activated were neutralized by both the CM and PAB. Many stratagests in the CM and PAB then advocated the widespread use of such devices but the vast amounts of power needed for extended use (the system was slow for starting and stopping) made it quite impractical for the moment.
Mid 2188(1435) Most of Khmer was occupited by the corporation Konsi Appa, the 5 regions still free were placed under CM marshal law.
The Konsi Corporation then had a minor setback with its pro-PAB conspirators. Konsi was placing Khmer under corporate control: privatising, taxing, and monopolising all resources (like rain), property (yes, that included possessions), and services; denying the pro-PAB the ability to request for PAB recognition. Another disagreement between Konsi and the pro-PAB was that Konsi next planned to invade Dai Viet. It was now obvious the corporation never had any intention of co-operating with the pro-PAB beyond their own agendas. Konsi did away with the pro-PAB at that time though they continued to advertise for PAB support against the CM.
While consolidating control in Khmer, Konsi Appa initiated a similar coup and a simultaneous invasion of Dai Viet, allied with the underground Thang Xiasi in Dai Viet. creating the Konsi-Thang Cartel.
During this invasion, the PAF unveiled their own (less fantastic) secret weapons. Actually, one was not really a weapon. It was called a Tiewei; originally it was designed to use a burst of a strong electro-magnetic field, acting with certain metallic armours to destroy incoming shells and other projectiles bare fen (3.3333333 millimetres) from impact. Because of the requirement for an armour that could be magnitised, ceramic armoured vehicles could not be equipped. The Tiewei ‘field’ coincidentally proved to be the only defence against the Corporates’ teledeturbo beams, though because of the amount of power needed, the Tiewei usually could only be used for 2 minutes at a time.
The other new weapon was the first powered body armoured troops. They would have been excellent and unstoppable against infantry and light vehicles, but their plating was of course less sturdy than a tank’s, and were even less work for Konsi-Thang’s teledeturbo towers to zap. Luckily few were killed before the PAF pulled them out of front line battlefields.
So on the whole, these did not really slow down the completion of Corporate absorbtion of Dai Viet in early 2190(1437). What was worse was that there was a larger than usual armed forces and civilian abandonment in Dai Viet as the vassal’s petitioning for a conditional independence (like Nepal’s in 2180(1427)) had been repeatedly delayed, Dai viet had been a vassal for 74 years 2106(1353). Of course, most slapped themselves upon finding the Konsi-Thang Cartel’s rule less than benevolent. As Khmer and Dai Viet were now lost, both the CM and PAB were forced to suspend further active assaults, instead attempting to blockade the cartel from beyond the protection of the towers.
Also, near the end of this year, the CM formed the Magastratus Cautela Impigrus(The Bureau of Active Security) to aid the Praetorius Foederii in countering Kaslatii actions. The Praetorius Foederii follow different rules, have fewer regulations, and different procedures from the C.M.M.C.I (nicknamed by some as bimille-unis: CM[900]+MC[1100]+I[1]=2001)
2188(1436) Seeing the harm done to international relations, Joanna Mars Astris’ was moved to leave her military aspirations and began a career as a negotiator between the CM and PAB.
2189(1436) Ductum Albula joined the Senate
2191(1438)The CM and PAB talked and agreed that corporations were a dangerous problem. Together they formed the Mandatus AnteCorpelgium/Fan Gongsi yu Shui. By end of the year, they made a fantastic (film worthy) seizure of the Missan Corporation, which had been using several of its now 5 sattelite laboratories to develop pathogens for use by kaslatii cells world-wide. Missan was utterly gutted and most of its connections were dredged up and severed (to paint a metaphorical picture). The victory allowed international laws to be passed, declaring most forms of civilian corporations illegal. Greater co-operation between the 2001, Praetorius Foederii, Gong Ya-an Yi, and CMMAC/FGyS began arising.
With competition between 2 hyperpowers, in hindsight it seemed to be pretty inevitable that such minor groups could make such an impact. Proxy wars and funded rebels had finally been revealed to be ineffective in gaining any global advantage. What at first was just Rome and Sinica playing up violent opposing religious or ethnic factions in places like Taioan, India, Choson, Aztecae, Tibet, Bactria, Dai Viet, Scanata, and Pagan (and that doesn’t include the manipulation of allies) had finally become (with the last straw being the rise of corporate power) an uncontrolled, self-sustaining cycle of violence that neither could contend with in this civilized age. The Praetorius Foederii and Gong Ya-an Yi (Pan Asian Secret Service), though all powerful in their own eyes, could not control or effectively fight to win against such an entity, which could be supported and hidden by anyone anywhere in this era of free-flowing information. Now rebels were capable of influencing the actions of those who gave them power in the first place, and while 2 giants fought for supremacy, the microscopic factors could destroy them both, and replace them with nothing any better.
It was a small grace that Konsi and Thang were contantly trying to screw eachother over to gain dominance.
2192(1439) Soyoung Kaneda, a PAB diplomat from the Choson territories in Sinica began a formal collaboration with Joanna Mars Astris to better bring the PAB and CM together, in a way using the threat of the Corporations for a positive outcome.
Human Genome project was started by a joint PAB-CM research group
| The Corporation: An Inconvenient Development 2173(1420)-2187(1434) | The Yellow Scare: 2187(1434)-2192(1439) | Future! 2192(1439)- |
