[color=39b54a][u][b]War Never Changes the Great North West Exchange[/b][/u][/color] [hider=Colab between] [@Tiberius67] And myself [/hider] Pouring himself a glass of hot apple mead while the pot simmered over the hot plate North turned as metallic rapping on the door began. With a slightly wobbly stride North walked towards the door and opened it with inviting Barnaky inside. “I don’t believe I have anything to offer, besides a seat. Unless you can still drink.” Gulping his glass as the metal cup was sat on the table North pointed towards a chair. “Don’t mind if I do”, Barnaky replied as he took the seat he was offered and chuckled. “The seat that is….this body is just a robot. I’m stuck in one spot permanently, I’m afraid. They built these robots for me to help keep me engaged with people.” “I hear you’ve met with the other Alaskans, Arctic Haven. And helped them out; to the point Alaska has is share of problems, geography among them it gives us a buffer between the other nations and unfortunately allows some groups to move quietly.” Setting a picture down that seems to have been taken from a high altitude, North slid it towards Barnaky lifting the two fingers off the table. “This, I believe is the last few working Submarines in this new world. And it’s in the hands of those who we fought, we being descended from the pre-war military organizations that is. The Chinese. To be more precise, the Empire of Zhang as they call themselves.” “Yes”, Barnaky said, “I’m working on a project with Arctic Haven.” He looked at the photograph and whistled. It was obviously a nuclear submarine, and a big one. Back in Omaha, Barnaky sifted through the Calculator's database, speedily coming up with a match. “When it rains, it pours”, Barnaky said. “It’s a Mao Zhedong class ‘Submersible Command Ship’. They were built to control a whole squadron of nuclear submarines, as well as provide repair and resupply services. We have some, but only a limited amount, of information on them. If this “Empire of Zhang” is operating one of these, that isn’t good. When, may I ask, was this picture taken?” “Just last year, a float plane snapped it as it was on it’s way, just happened to spot something and got lucky. Likely they are cut off from mainland China if that even exists, and are attempting to conquer and steal in order to contact them, according to reports based upon what they’ve stolen and my own council’s speculation. All high grade electronics, communication equipment and tools. Every time they appear it’s where there’s technology and food. So that’s the only logical assumption I can conclude, normally if they asked nicely I’d help them go home, but they have continued their war on our people taking every chance they can to kill civilians unprovoked.” “I’ve read the post-exchange bombing surveys that SAC did in the days after the War”, Barnaky said, “Back when they still had recon satellites over China. Very grim reading...they got it even worse than we did. If they are trying to send a message home….I doubt anyone listening will care about them anymore. But then perhaps they know that already.” “I honestly don’t think they’ll listen and even if they have an inkling as to what happened, they might not want to hear about it from us.” Striding over to the hot plate to refill his cup North spoke turning his head slightly to face his guest. “Ironically the Great War that the Americans and Chinese fought saved Alaska as we know it, it gave our state time, time to recover from the plumes of smoke that filled it’s skies two hundred years ago, Polar Bears and many creatures were on the brink of extinction as mutated as they may be they survive. Funny, the second Ice Age saved my people, the Inuit and set us as the most dominant ethnic group since we were so displaced from the bombs we came out unscathed. Alaska has thrived in this post war world, due to its geography and natural resources and it has birthed dangers unknown to us. But we survive we prevail, now I ask your help in securing this sub, so that whatever dangers it may carry will not be unleashed upon this world a second time.” “We’ll help”, Barnaky replied. “That vessel is nuclear capable and we should assume it is still armed with strategic missiles. They are not a threat to only your people….but everyone. Have you thought of approaching Arctic Haven as well? They have some specialized troops that could help. If necessary, we can hire them to assist.” North hummed and hawed. “We have, considered it. But our terms have been standoffish at best, we try to keep out of eachothers way mostly just to keep tensions low. However manpower was never a real issue, pinning down the thing was. Basic fishing sonar is what we mostly have and we have only one vessel with military sonar to penetrate the sea. We just don’t have the power to search a wide swath of ocean to dig them out. Which, is why I wanted to ask you for aid. Tech has a hard time staying functional due to the extreme colds so the more sensitive something is, the more often it breaks down.” “I see”, Barnaky said. “You need help locating it. We can help with that, as well as repairing the military sonar set or other equipment of that type you still have. I will have my people start looking into options to locate this vessel. As far as the gear they took, is any of it trackable, or capable of remote operation? Also, how often have these attacks been taking place?” Taking his few steps toward his chair sipping casually at his drink North sat himself down, “some years every few months, others nothing, then near the end of the year they’ll pop up. I assume when they have the tech they want they hunker down and prepare until food runs short. They’re being rather active as of late perhaps we have a window of eight months before they hide again. And given the distance needed to reach Alaska, that’s a month gone in travel, thankfully you might have members there already so you know what you’ll need to prepare for gear wise.” “Very well”, Barnaky said, “I will instruct my Paladin-General to begin planning a Technical Mission at once. If feasible, we would likely send a small advance party first, to work with your staff and establish a direct datalink between your people and my Command Staff in Omaha, as well as arrange the necessary logistical arrangements.” North rubbed his beard and pulled out a paper map setting a cap onto a point of interest. “It’d be best to come by air, the Ted Stevens International Airport would accommodate a large airship or plane and allow us to move right to a nearby railway, our Vault is quite a ways off and takes a full day by rail assuming snow isn’t blocking the tracks. We’ll have quarters prepared for your arrival while the equipment will be unloaded and stored until needed. I do hope that shall be alright, any special requirements or demands your men will need? Allergies, or diet we need to cater to?” “None”, Barnaky replied as he studied the map. “We prefer to live simply. We don’t have access to the Pacific, so coming by air is the only option for us. Once we’re set up, we’ll probably need a weekly flight in for supplies…..any spare capacity can be used to fly in things your people might need. We can also send in a tanker to top off your fuel bunkers if you’re short on aviation fuel.” “No, we are good on fuel, though only one Oil Rig is currently operational. Last in existence I surmise. We’re currently not selling outside as we simply couldn’t keep up with demand.” North said cheeks rosy from his warm beverage. “Any other issues you wished to discuss at this time?”, Barnaky asked in conclusion. “There is something, I’d like to ensure the nukes if any are properly disposed off. And to have an observer report that they are no longer a threat.” “We’re in perfect understanding then”, Barnaky replied. “The destruction of any nuclear weapons recovered from the Chinese was to be my condition...I can’t emphasise how pleased I am that you feel the same way.” He then continued. “I have trained personnel and procedures in place to dismantle them, and reprocess the cores into reactor fuel. You are welcome to send observers to witness the process.” “We have only just now begun talks our first meeting has gone well enough and you have been too kind.” North said as he looked towards the window holding his cup with both hands as steam rose gently filling the air. “You have to realize as friendly as you are and willing to help I can’t help but be suspicious of ulterior motives. I don’t fully trust any Nation as of yet nor am I well versed in any of their histories, as an outside Nation to the lower states I need to be overly cautious. If I can’t be sure these nukes are gone, I am afraid I’ll have to find other measures to finally deal with this matter. I am telling you this because you too should be wary, making alliances too easily will prove dangerous unless you can properly ascertain the motives behind their olive branch. I seek the tech from that submarine, and am willing to share in that. Nautical Exploration, swift and rapid deployment. I could lock down my coastline well enough with a sub like that, but nukes. As thankful as I am to the Great War for the swift climate change pivotal to survival of Alaska’s ecosystem I would not want to see nukes again in any of my lifetimes.” North said placing down his cup his face stern despite the warm glow from his cheeks indicating his overindulgence of alcohol. “My concern is that the nuclear weapons aboard are destroyed so they can never be used”, Barnaky said, “If the price of that is your people gaining possession of the vessel itself, then so be it. I would point out, however, that operating and maintaining a vessel of that size will be enormously expensive….I would caution against basing your defense on a vessel you cannot replace if lost.” “Noted, If possible I wish to at least glean it’s construction that I may produce a smaller one if need be. If capturing it intact is impossible at least I could make a smaller more manageable submarine. Even the wreckage should provide enough for a small crew manned vessel.”