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>>4592969
Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Sun%20Belt%20Crusaders

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Our starting location and home base next to a larger city. (Needs updating)

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>>4592969
>>4592970
Thank you for posting the OP from that late/early phonepost I had to deal with on "page 11"! For those not in the know, I am the actual QM, but I had to hand off the all important duty of posting the opening post to a fellow anon.

>>4593627
The map is still fairly accurate, except that raider base has been taken over and converted into a sort of camp area where prisoners are held (trying hard to not use the "C" word here). Yes, those images are accurate, even Nic Cage there!

Pic related is a zoomed out sat map that includes a view of the metropolitan Phoenix area. What you see in the very bottom centerish area is Maricopa, the large city looking thing in the map with the pictures and arrows. Yes, Phoenix is really that monstrously gigantic. Taking it will likely be a long, involved process, if it is even possible. Nobody said Civil Wars were easy affairs!

And with that out of the way, onto the actual update, which has a small recap of previous events from the leader's point of view (as opposed to his underlings point of view in the previous thread) and some progress in events...

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>>4593745

Your two underlings, cardinals Trkulja and Musella, have both returned from their respective missions.

Trkulja had volunteered to deal with incidents of missing cattle in the southern ranching region of Maricopa known as Stanfield. While some may have doubted the reserved logistician's mettle, he more than proved himself capable as he found the perpetrators, captured them all, and got full redress for damages. While parts of the story were hard to believe, such as the ranchers ending up with more cattle than they started with and some vague incident that horribly maimed the perpetrators, all of the details and more were verified by Maricopa. With the situation resolved as well as could be expected, mayor Preis has been validated in his decision to support your faction and the overall reputation of the Crusaders as a competent force has been bolstered. This upcoming half-week, no more has been requested of the Sun Belt Crusaders.

Musella, who was sent to Goodyear, returned with a very strange story to tell. Apparently, instead of practicing traditional diplomacy, he and his guards got involved in some kind of adventure with the colorful mercenaries that guarded the region before your crusaders unknowingly did their jobs for them. Musella, a former CalPERS employee whose work mostly involved money laundering, somehow managed to perform admirably as a soldier of fortune for a day and won over the "BNB" group's trust. When their contract in Goodyear is over, they will allow your men to accompany them for a share of the rewards. It could be an interesting way to use some of your troops to acquire additional resources. Other parts of the report are very strange though, as Musella has apparently been denied access to traditional diplomacy with Goodyear. He also very heavily stressed the fact that this was all due to some enigmatic "Bertha" figure and that some other cardinal would have to deal with the situation. If this was anyone else, you would be very confused and press this issue, but you trust Musella. If only you knew he was D.E.A...

All in all, it was a successful, if unorthodox, start to the week.

While the two of them and their forces were busy elsewhere, a lot happened on the home front. Last week you completed the first step in restoring and upgrading the abandoned chemical plant, and now you're reaping the rewards. Large quantities of high quality, light blue meth from special processes you have mastered fill numerous containers and if you can find a way to offload this truly remarkable amount of product, it will dwarf the W.P. output of anything your followers could manage. While you unfortunately cannot "cook" full time due to your many duties and a lot of capacity is left in excess, you will likely be left accumulating inventory for a while.

>Gain 7 Meth Units (M.U.) per half week...

[1/???]

>>4593747

[2/???]

On the subject of the chemical plant, your followers make steady progress on upgrading the plant to include a workshop with which to make pharmaceutical products. You expect it to be done at the start of next week.

During this time, there are a few more major construction projects in the works. In the Sierra Estrella base, or Black Site, as some call it, large holding cells have been constructed along with marginally better communal facilities for the prisoners. It's still remarkably unpleasant and something that would be the subject of numerous scandals if the U.S. federal government hadn't collapsed and word got out, but it's an improvement. The odds of negative events such as plagues or riots has gone down, although there is always an element of chance.

>Determining prisoner situation at Black Site...
>Great Outcome

The guards at the location inform you that nearly a dozen prisoners become active collaborators over the days. Whether it was the better facilities or the promise of better conditions or maybe even the brainwashing, something's working. The active collaborators voluntarily work and provide labor and help in keeping the place in order, effectively acting as followers. The prisoner situation, which looked like it could be quite dire, has proven itself to be manageable. This is surely a sign that God favors his flock.

Another major construction project under work was an effort to improve the housing situation. With the construction equipment brought in, improved communal housing facilities are erected from the guts of abandoned parts of Mobile. The construction coincided with the arrival of followers from Maricopa, which means that while there is more housing capacity, there are also more individuals to house. The overall situation has not changed very much, as you merely preserved the status quo in a changing situation...

>>4593750

[3/???]

The last major project is perhaps the most important one. Mobile has finally been repaired to a level comparable to its state before the raid. Being so small, Mobile was devastated by the fire damage to the collection of buildings that constituted its core. In Maricopa, this wouldn't have been that much of an issue, and Phoenix probably regularly sees a similar number of damaged buildings by pure accident. In this locality, however, your otherwise minor rebuilding effort has gone a long way to build up goodwill.

From the rebuilding effort to the cooperation between the crusaders and the Mobile Infantry to the marriage event to the simple matter of familiarity, the Sun Belt Crusaders have gone from being a bizarre danger to being valued friends. By the time you finish the symbolic ribbon cutting ceremony with the mayor, there is no difference between the two as far as either side is concerned. Your people may have some strange customs they are only slowly becoming used to, and their rural way of life is a thousand miles away from yours, but these are now the subjects of jokes and curiosity rather than fear and suspicion. Mobile integration has been accomplished.

This is a major first step. Today, you are unifying this small village. Tomorrow, you will be unifying Maricopa, Phoenix, Arizona, and God willing, the entire country.

>Local Unification Achieved
>Mobile Citizens Now Considered Followers
>Increased Leader Capacity (Sixth Cardinal Spot Potentially Open...)

Turning the focus to other locations, the Stanfield Cattle Incident was not the only major happening. At the Native Reservation at Maricopa, the situation between the M.M.P. and the Natives was tense, with both sides accusing each other of various misdeeds and suspect activities. Last week's situation with Mueller more than proved something was bubbling under the surface...

>>4593751

[4/4]

>Determining outcome of the Native situation...
>CRITICAL RESULT You SoBs lucked out with that roll

Mueller, who you assigned to preaching duty, had apparently built up a great relationship with local law enforcement. In a strange turn of events, he had nearly abandoned his preaching duties and decided to work with the man almost full time to investigate a potentially still active terrorist cell. This risky move ended up being highly rewarding.

You're not sure about the details. but the two of them managed to find evidence that implicated involvement going all the way up to the highest levels of Reservation leadership. What you do know is that they provided information that allowed you to access previously unobtainable data on the various storage devices that apparently was enough to allow them to execute an otherwise impossibly risky raid. A member of their highest council was arrested on treason charges. He is currently being interrogated and you are investigating more of that seized data. One of the Black Site collaborators was seemingly willing to divulge information, with her swearing up and down that she has information on covert operations being conducted in this area. With recent events, you're more inclined to believe things.

>Major breakthrough in the Reservation situation
>More information and events to come as the week progresses

Regarding the M.M.P., there are increased allegations of fowl play among their Native neighbors. Given your position as a semi-official military wing of Maricopa, you know from Mayor Preis there is talk beginning to emerge from the M.M.P. side of everything form deploying "peacekeepers" to assassinations. Preis also informs you that he has given strict orders for them to focus on the POZ threat and to leave things in your hands. Or Mueller's hands, realistically.

Speaking of Mueller, he comes to you and asks to be temporarily relieved of his duties as a preacher in order to more effectively deal with the situation at hand. He requests a platoon of crusaders to be ready nearby, as well as any other material support that might be needed. In effect, he's asking for something comparable to Trkulja's or Musella's missions.

Do you accept this?

>Yes, give him what he needs and get more involved in this [LOCKS IN A DIPLOMATIC ACTION & TEMPORARILY PAUSES PREACHING]
>No, order him to continue preaching and let the situation handle itself, to allow you to do other things [???]
>[Write-In] [Specify How?]

I also forgot to mention, for anybody passing by, that this quest is a one update per day sort of quest. To balance it, I try to provide a decently sized update (expect ones shorter than this, even if recently they've been long) with a measure of consistency, along with a firm promise that I will not ghost. I will only drop if something very serious happens that completely bars further writing, and in that (so far unlikely) case I will be transparent.

>>4593754
>Yes, give him what he needs and get more involved in this [LOCKS IN A DIPLOMATIC ACTION & TEMPORARILY PAUSES PREACHING]
>Swich preaching to Musella in the meantime [PREACHING CONTINUES]

I'd rather not put a pause to the preaching, but I'm all for resolving this with a diplomatic action. Maybe he can focus on Maricopa proper in the meantime, get some on-air preaching with Carl, focus on the MMP, other communities, etc.

>>4593754
>Yes, give him what he needs and get more involved in this [LOCKS IN A DIPLOMATIC ACTION & TEMPORARILY PAUSES PREACHING]

So how many followers do we have now we've absorbed Mobile entirely and had some new Maricopan converts arrive? Did we get any new farms from absorbing Mobile?

>>4593841
We'll get the numbers when the turn itself fully processes, and then we can choose what we can do next.

>>4593754
>>Yes, give him what he needs and get more involved in this [LOCKS IN A DIPLOMATIC ACTION & TEMPORARILY PAUSES PREACHING]

>>4593754
>Yes, give him what he needs and get more involved in this [LOCKS IN A DIPLOMATIC ACTION & TEMPORARILY PAUSES PREACHING]
How much Manpower do we have and how many of them can fight, follow orders, and follow us into battle? I lost count. Didn't we have a pastebin?

I just found out I've been looking at the wrong Agua Fria in New Mexico, instead of the one in Arizona. The battle at the school makes alot more sense now.

>>4593995
Three platoons worth of veteran Mechanized Crusaders, plus two platoons of Mobile's Infantry. One platoon is defending Moblie, while the other is keeping our Black Site secure. So we have three platoons max at our disposal. With our new faithful joining us, we can reasonably expand our forces if desired, though I hunger for more manpower overall.

>>4594009
Those numbers are chump change if taking over phoenix is being eyed.

>>4594021
Indeed. We'll need to subvert the whole PRC to maintain control, or potentially the POZ with our meth somehow, but we had to start somewhere. It's the reason why I want Musella to continue preaching while Mueller deals with the political situation on the Reservation, to continue our subversion while keeping the manpower pipeline open. We can't afford to slack off with the POZ starting to gain the upper hand in Phoenix.

So what are we gonna do about that group 200 of Poz guys coming down to Maricopa later this or next week?

>>4594072
Whatever Maricopa decides to do. We'll either fight them, or sell meth to them. Either way, we'll have to find a way to benefit from the situation regardless.

>>4594077
Those commies don't seem to be the kind to take kindly to our religious type, and its doubtful they will like us push- Hang on a sec, Why can't we try selling them drugs? When they set up the CHAZ/CHOP back in Seattle, there was plenty of drugs to go around.

>>4594107
Just to clarify, we try to get them hooked on the good stuff and start manipulating them and gaining influence over POZ/Phoenix before helping them shatter, and we scoop up the loose pieces to form into new members. We can also offer drug rehab(brainwashing) to anyone who wants it.

>>4594107
>>4594109
That's the plan. Try to attack and subvert them on multiple fronts.

Something to consider regarding any invasion of Phoenix is that numbers really aren't a concern. They are currently being held at a near-standstill and I imagine with certain aid, e,g a killdozer or two armed with mortars and machineguns to form a spearhead for attacks, countering the sheer numbers approach they seemingly take becomes much easier. Further on this point, we've eventual chemical weapons on our side which render attacks by massed infantry without protection risky.

Another thing to consider is that the POZ being contained as they are means that recruitment for us is easier than for them. The longer they fail to break free, the longer they have to drain the willing and able from Phoenix while we and others can recruit from elsewhere. Their manpower is already known and partly tapped, is unknown and not really accessed. Once we've the radio tower up and start preaching, we'll see more converts than we're seeing currently (which is already a fair amount).

>>4593824
the only problem i see in this is the importance on building rapport. Preaching is more effective when we put a man well trusted by the community to preach instead of putting Musella, who is only well aquainted with the mayor.
I suggest we do what you say but the other way around. That is, we keep Mueller preaching while the platoon is being handled by another cardinal.
We can send that other cardinal guy that hasnt made an appearance that was mentioned here >>4560655 to handle the platoon.

>>4594489
actually just went through all the cardinals. anon i referenced was wrong, we currently have only 3 cardinals (Mueller, Musella & Trkulja). Here there was some good suggestions for a 4th one:
>>4494840
>>4558464
>>4560646

>>4594505
burnt out ex - cop dectective turned private eye that found out too many "truths, Red pills, conspiracies, and cover ups" that he went insane and became a drunk of sorts and started taking harder substances until we found him and helped him find his faith (by selling him meth and a bible Walter White version).

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>>4594511
lets put pic related in charge

>>4594522
Perfect.

>>4594489
In all honesty, I believe Mueller has all the info, connections, and skills necessary to see the DA resolved to our satisfaction, regardless of his unavailability to preach for the duration.

Musella is well acquainted not only with the mayor, which is ripe for subversion, but also the MMP leadership as well, and a popular if unusual radio-show host that's technically right up our alley given our sweet spot for crazies. He could probably do a lot with preaching.

>>4594505
I like the Battle Nun personally, works with the 40k ascetic, plus her perspective would be interesting to get into.

>>4594511
The guy who created Mahoney, right?

I always thought >>4594522 from the movie as a character would be interesting on his own, desu.

>>4594607
>The guy who created Mahoney
Who?

I think we should try creating lower level characters instead of filling out all the cardinal spots....

>>4594653
I'm down for that.

Had a Bonnie and Clyde duo in mind, with a bit of a Jihadi John and Robin Hood vibe.

Crusading Chris and Maiden Marian (ya don't call call her Methhead Mary in front of her), the duo crusing around, helping the poor, stealing from the rich, bringing justice to Christ's enemies, and just being an all around nutty folk heroes.

>>4593824
>>4593841
>>4593983
>>4593995

OPTION SELECTED:
>Yes, give him what he needs and get more involved in this [LOCKS IN A DIPLOMATIC ACTION & TEMPORARILY PAUSES PREACHING]

You approve Mueller's proposition. Whatever he and his buddy cop are uncovering has the potential to either resolve the problems in the Reservation or plunge it into chaos. Either way, it could prove useful to your interests.

During this time you also get word that the crashed pilot "Nikolai Ondrejko" has now recovered enough to walk with assistance. This was, in part, discovered when he was discovered with a makeshift pair of crutches trying to possibly escape, or "get some fresh air" as he put it. Apparently, he asked numerous times for you to be told that it is in your best interest to send him to New Vegas (never mind the potential impracticality and danger). What a strange character...

On the topic of strange characters, the excessively loud radio host has been strangely silent about issues relating to Phoenix's politics. While everything he or his callers said were blatantly rumor and often propaganda from one side or another, they were still there. Even though he still accepts call ins from Phoenix via the horribly unreliable and short distanced remnants of the cell network, the topic doesn't seem to get brought up as much and is glossed over in favor of often mindless drivel. Something's going on. That, or he really has just momentarily stopped caring and would rather spend hours ranting about how a chimpanzee could tear you to shreds. Come to think of it, this might just be a strange idiosyncrasy.

Finally, the garrison at Mobile reported seeing some vehicles on the 238 from the west. The vehicles, likely pickup trucks, drove close enough for mutual vision, but quickly turned around due back west. You have no idea who that could be, nor does anyone else, really. Based on the geography, they likely passed through Gila Bend, but that tells you very little...

[1/???]

>>4594899

[START OF WEEK 5, HALF 2]

>Mobile citizens added to follower count
>Mobile infrastructure (i.e. farms) added
>Arms and military upkeep
>About one and a half weeks until the POZ comes knocking at Maricopa's door...

>Available Manpower:
2 full strength Mechanized Infantry Platoons (can swap to Light Infantry freely)
1 half strength Mechanized Infantry Platoon (slowly recovering as some wounded heal and via training followers)
1 Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mountain Base]
1 Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mobile]
~260 followers (non-combatants)
~105 prisoners

>Wealth:
190 Wealth Points
+55WP per half-week from followers
+10 WP per half-week from Maricopan patronage
201 Food Units
-35 Food from consumption per half week
+30 Food from 5 farms
+15 Food from Maricopan patronage
8 Meth Unit
+7 M.U. per half-week

>Projects:

>Construction Actions Possible: Unless stated otherwise, assuming 1 week to complete.
Farm: Restore some abandoned farmland. Makes more food. - 35 W.P. [Takes only half a week]
Chemical Weapons Lab Level 1: Allows for the production of basic chemical weapons. - 400 W.P.
Machine Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic weapons and ammunition. - 300 W.P.
Explosives Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic explosives. - 500 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]
Training Fields: Upgrade an existing firing range to allow for training with higher tier weaponry. - 50 W.P. [Takes only half a week]
Broadcast Tower: Sends messages far and wide to anyone with a car or receiver. Massive boost to propaganda. - 150 W.P.
Oubliette: Dungeon like room for basic interrogation/conversion. Unlocks conversion (brainwashing) oriented construction options. - 100 W.P.
Improved Housing: Continue improving housing to support a larger population - 40 W.P.
Nothing: Save the W.P. and forgo construction
[Write-in]

>Special: Can use a one time 50% discount on a factory upgrade if desired

>Toggles
Purchase advertising for Maricopa's radio to help with recruitment/outreach - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]
Send Cardinal Mueller out to the Reservation to preach. - 5 W.P. per end of the (full) week [CURRENTLY OFF]
Crudely "preach to" prisoners at the Sierra Estrella location (i.e. brainwash) - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]

[2/???]

>>4594902

[3/3]

>Diplomatic Actions Possible:
Envoy: Send a diplomatic envoy to a location to engage in trade, propagandize, or make agreements. Better at getting deals than scouts, but has no stealth and is worse if a fight breaks out. Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Maricopa, Goodyear, or a [Write-in] and note what you specifically want them to do.
Scouting: Have the group organize a scouting party and explore a location. Stealthy and decent at a fight, but not very good if diplomacy is needed. Select from the Gila Bend, Maricopa, or a [Write-in] and specify what you want them to do.
Raiding Party: Send forces out to a location and attack them for loot and dominance.
Missionary Outreach: Send missionaries to a location to recruit people into the totally legitimate religion. Could anger the locals if you don't have permission! Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Goodyear, or [write-in].
Side Ops: Do mercenary work [CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE]
Nothing: Forgo a diplomatic action.
[Write-in]

NOTE: ONE DIPLOMATIC ACTION {Envoy: Mueller Reservation Buddy Cop Investigation} ALREADY LOCKED IN

>NEW POLICY DECISION:
With the mass production of meth happening for the first time since leaving California, some members of the True Faith begin to remember the old days. Back then, a significantly larger proportion of your followers were "somewhat frequent" users. When the Exodus from California occurred, just as some claim that many of the Jews stayed behind in Egypt, a proportion of these followers were left behind. Those who did follow through had to go through an involuntary reduction in use where faith covered the gap the lack of drugs left. You consider this shared struggle to be one of the reasons your followers developed such a strong faith. Still, there are those who look back on the old days fondly and would be more than willing to partake heavily now that the policy of careful saving is no longer necessary.

What is your official policy position on meth?
>Controlled Substance: Continue to prevent usage except for special situations like battles. Everyone is already used to conservation, and the product would be better off sold.
>Communion Booster: Allow for usage once or twice per week in a controlled, religious context. Hope that this will boost spirits and maybe even productivity without causing unwanted side effects.
>Forced Usage: Mix meth into the food of all of the prisoners, perhaps making them more productive and open to the faith, with all of the ups and downs of having an entire prison group regularly on meth.
>Free Flow: Fuck it, make all of the meth public use all of the time for everyone at Mobile. What's the worst that can happen?!
>[Write-In]

>Select policy decisions, a construction action, and a flexible action (either construction or diplomacy) for this half-week (and optionally, toggle changes)

>Roll 2d100 for events

>>4593995
Hopefully the above post answers some of those questions. Note that followers refers to generally non fighting persons who can, to a limited degree, get training and reinforce a platoon. This is currently happening with the "third" mechanized infantry platoon. Do note that it will be impossible to turn all of the followers into fighters for obvious reasons. As a cult, you guys can get away with a fairly high percentage though.
And yeah, the geography in America's southwest can be a little confusing since a lot of names might overlap. We saw this earlier with the situation where Maricopa is not even in Maricopa County, but Phoenix is in Maricopa County.

In general, if something's unclear, feel free to ask. I try to walk a balance in keeping things loose enough to be readable (fluff) while being mechanistic enough so that things are structured and it doesn't feel like bullshit (crunch).

>>4594021
Very, very true. The faction is currently so small and insignificant that there are no real indications that either the POZ or the PCR (Boiz notwithstanding) even know who you guys are. This might be for the better. Taking over Phoenix, hell, even Maricopa, will have to be a slow process with plenty of ways to fuck up and not much tolerance if you do really gain their ire early on. To modify an old joke, it's still a case of "What will I do if the Sun Belt Crusaders invade? I'll have them arrested!" for now.
In four threads, we have only just now taken over a small rural village via diplomatic means, which should give you an indication of the pace of things.

And on that topic, things have been fairly slow going. A lot of the quest has so far been stuff going on in a civil war type scenario rather than fast paced conquest action. Given people are talking about "lower level" characters, I'll take this as an indication to continue, although I am open to feedback.

>>4594107
>>4594109
>Why can't we try selling them drugs?
You guys absolutely can. I had/have plans for what would happen with you guys working with the broader left or a POZ aligned SBC. It won't happen on its own, though. Just like how all of the cardinals aren't generated in one go but rather done when diplomatic actions requiring a cardinal come up, any drug dealing will have to be done by either going over to some people (i.e. diplo action) or in an event when somebody comes to you (like that one time you guys sold meth to those Nazi Brigade LARPers due to one of your cardinal's foresight. Haven't forgotten about them, btw!)

Deleted the previous post because I fucked up and one of the replies didn't work right

>>4594902
>Oubliette: Dungeon like room for basic interrogation/conversion. Unlocks conversion (brainwashing) oriented construction options. - 100 W.P.
I'm tired of having to roll every week and risk getting revolts. The only reason why we haven't gotten one yet is because we've been getting lucky.
>Scouting: Have the group organize a scouting party and explore a location. Stealthy and decent at a fight, but not very good if diplomacy is needed. Select from the Gila Bend, Maricopa, or a [Write-in] and specify what you want them to do.
Let's go explore Gila Bend. Now that we've mostly explored our nearby surroundings and realized how much stronger our neighbors are we need to seek new expansion routes west.
>Communion Booster: Allow for usage once or twice per week in a controlled, religious context. Hope that this will boost spirits and maybe even productivity without causing unwanted side effects.
Meth used as the body of christ during every mass. It will also force whoever wants some of our meth to attend mass (where they will be subconsciously influenced by our highly charismatic messenger).

>>4594902
>Training Fields: Upgrade an existing firing range to allow for training with higher tier weaponry. - 50 W.P. [Takes only half a week]

Envoy: Send a diplomatic envoy to a location to engage in trade, propagandize, or make agreements. Better at getting deals than scouts, but has no stealth and is worse if a fight breaks out. Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Maricopa, Goodyear, or a [Write-in] and note what you specifically want them to do.
Start loudly preaching front of city hall till the mayor comes out to talk to us.

>Controlled Substance: Continue to prevent usage except for special situations like battles. Everyone is already used to conservation, and the product would be better off sold.
>Forced Usage: Mix meth into the food of all of the prisoners, perhaps making them more productive and open to the faith, with all of the ups and downs of having an entire prison group regularly on meth.

>>4594902
>Training Fields: Upgrade an existing firing range to allow for training with higher tier weaponry. - 50 W.P. [Takes only half a week]

>Scouting
Gila Bend

>>Communion Booster: Allow for usage once or twice per week in a controlled, religious context. Hope that this will boost spirits and maybe even productivity without causing unwanted side effects.

Rolled 30, 77 = 107 (2d100)

>>4594903
>Roll 2d100 for events

Rolled 90, 81 = 171 (2d100)

>>4594902
>Oubliette, unless it leads to a tie, in which case Training Fields
>Gila Bend Scouting/Envoy
Because we need to figure out what happening over there, and our need for expansion.
>Communion Booster: Allow for usage once or twice per week in a controlled, religious context. Hope that this will boost spirits and maybe even productivity without causing unwanted side effects.

>>4594903
>Controlled Substance: Continue to prevent usage except for special situations like battles. Everyone is already used to conservation, and the product would be better off sold.
OR
>Communion Booster: Allow for usage once or twice per week in a controlled, religious context. Hope that this will boost spirits and maybe even productivity without causing unwanted side effects.

A lot of religious communities make use of psychedelics and uppers, few of them really go for the heavy-weight stimulants however. I'd advise being very careful if we do Communion Boosting, that it should even be once a month or something to avoid addiction.

Rolled 24, 62 = 86 (2d100)

>>4594903

Rolled 38, 90 = 128 (2d100)

>>4594903
>Diplomatic Actions Possible:
Envoy: Send a diplomatic envoy to a location to engage in trade, propagandize, or make agreements. Better at getting deals than scouts, but has no stealth and is worse if a fight breaks out. Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Maricopa, Goodyear, or a [Write-in] and note what you specifically want them to do.
send the Russian to good year to do bureaucracy shit.

Training Fields: Upgrade an existing firing range to allow for training with higher tier weaponry. - 50 W.P. [Takes only half a week]

>Communion Booster: Allow for usage once or twice per week in a controlled, religious context. Hope that this will boost spirits and maybe even productivity without causing unwanted side effects.

i think we should save this for only the truly devout in the flock so we can keep it on the low. and only use meth in pill form and NEVER smoke it. t least for now. taking an "adderal" is a way better look than sucking on a meth pipe.

i was thinking that in the future we should defiantly have church festivals(why be catholic if we dont have church festivals). it would be an amazing for moral and will defiantly lead to a few pregnancy that could grow our numbers and also be a great time to invinte people from the surrounding area to show them we are normal.

The votes are all kind of close between training/torture, scouting Gila/some kind of envoy?, and controlling supply/meth rituals. In case somebody out there wants to put in a late vote or swap a choice or whatever, I'm going to delay the update a little bit. Since this is what's going to happen for the turn/half-week, it's a larger choice than most. Who knows, maybe even some Svengali type will come around and convince/trick you guys to do some crazy shit out of nowhere?!

>>4595191
I will, however, be taking these 2d100, including that 30 on the local event roll. It's a somewhat negative one, breaking the streak of very beneficial rolls. I won't be writing up the event for that in off chance the choices you guys make effect it or vice versa.

>>4595969
The Proletariat has arisen, Comrades!

1776 comes forth once more!

>>4595024
>>4595044
>>4595189
>>4595191
>>4595362
>>4595458

GLOBAL EVENT: 77
>UNKNOWN
The Southern Territories emerged as an unstable union of various petty warlords, leftover military assets, and state & local governments. With nothing to really hold them together other than a patchwork of alliances of convenience and a vague sense of being "Southern," it was your expectation (along with most sane persons') that the nascent polity would fracture and destroy itself like much of the had. But to your surprise, there seem to be no indications that such a thing has happened. If anything, these territories seem to be eyeing to expand if you are to believe Redfield's claim about them making moves to take refineries along the Gulf. With the Piedmont Atlantic mega-regions along with parts of the Gulf Coast and Florida under its control, it has a surprisingly strong population, industrial base, and position from which to expand.

You may have no way of knowing what exactly is going on there, but if the Southern Territories can manage to hold on to their coalition and keep up their momentum, they could go from being a dark horse to a likely unifier.

LOCAL EVENT: 30
>Growing Pains
The unification of the Crusaders and Mobile was peaceful and voluntary, but that does not mean it is completely without issue. As the two factions live different lives and have very different views of the world, there are inevitable disagreements on issues like who gets to boss whom around, where to allocate resources, whether new followers should be allowed to temporarily reside among long time citizens of Mobile, and a host of other issues. The two main effects are the lowered efficiency of work, lowing W.P. generation, and the confusion causing minor issues in morale among the platoons.

>Lose 10 W.P. production this half-week
>Crusader platoons suffer a slight morale penalty; Mobile Infantry suffers a slightly higher morale penalty.

POLICY DECISION SELECTED:
>Communion Booster: Allow for usage once or twice per week in a controlled, religious context. Hope that this will boost spirits and maybe even productivity without causing unwanted side effects.
With your faction able to function without a constant supply of blue fuel, you don't want to risk some of the weaker willed members slipping into addiction like those left behind. That said, you know first hand just how effective mind altering substances can be in strengthening the faith and resolve of your flock, especially the newcomers. You will make the consumption of small amounts of the substance part of weekly services as part of the sacramental wine...

[1/2]

>>4597000

[2/2]

While it would be heresy to add meth directly into the wine and corrupt it, there is the tradition of adding water into the wine. This water cannot be expected to be pure, and some trace minerals and ions will inevitably be part of it. Would it really be such a leap to have small amounts of methamphetamine in it? As the Pope and Messenger of God, you are the only one who can definitively answer this, and you allow it. At the end of services this week, you will see the results of this policy.

>Quantity needed is negligible
>Effects to be seen...

CONSTRUCTION ACTION SELECTED:
>Training Fields: Upgrade an existing firing range to allow for training with higher tier weaponry. - 50 W.P. [Takes only half a week]
With the expanding size of your faction and the need to train for more than just shooting (especially in driving and mobile warfare,) you decide to expand the firing ranges into full on training fields. The increased space will allow for practice in shooting on the go to help your mechanized platoons, and in the case that you ever want to make use of the artillery, you will have a place to train a mortar support platoon if the need arises. Best of all, you have heavy equipment with which to flatten the terrain quickly. While one of your cardinals insists that you should be "thinking bigger" regarding the bulldozer, you tell him that any plans regarding weaponized construction equipment must wait until there's a place to actually train with it first.

DIPLOMATIC ACTION SELECTED:
>Scouting [Gila Bend]
Most of the concerns over the past weeks have related to the east. It is the direction of the Native base, Maricopa, Phoenix, and other important locations. Still, it would be good to explore just what is going on west. When your group passed by the towns in the area, there wasn't much time to properly figure things out. Also, the situation can be so fluid in the outer regions that in mere months information will become utterly outdated. With the garrison reporting activity along the 238 in that direction, you choose to send a scouting party.

First, who do you choose to send?
>Mobile Infantry
>Crusaders
>Mixed Unit?
>[Write-In]??? Not sure if this is possible, but included for completeness

What kind of numbers do you have in mind?
>A single squad/vehicle
>A full platoon
>An entire company (3 platoons)?!
>[Write-In]

And finally, who do you choose to lead it?
>A trusted lower level leader [no POV switch, just auto-resolve]
>Select/make the cardinal for the job [MUELLER LOCKED]

File: Another Soviet Needs Our Help.jpg (389 KB, 1920x1080)

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>>4596570
1776? Communists? You mean like a patriotic minutemen militia of communists? I think we've found a truly novel idea that hasn't been done before...

>put minutemen communists into a search engine and get pic related as a result

Nope, nvm, the Internet has done everything

>>4597001
>>Crusaders
>>A full platoon

Recon in force

>>4597001
>>Select/make the cardinal for the job

The UFO guy seemed like an interesting character

>>4597013
>>4597022
+1

>>4597013
>>4597022
supporting

So, I for one say we should start training more troops. We could easily raise another companies worth of men.

>>4597001
>Crusader
>Platoon

>>4597022
If the UFO guy is a lower leader, sure.

If your planning on making him a cardinal, then I must say no.

>A trusted lower level leader [no POV switch, just auto-resolve]

>>4597191
We need more followers for that, we can have a high follower to military ratio than a normal faction, but you can't make your faction all military without anybody to support them. We can try to raise as many platoons as we can, though we'll need the equipment for it from our Patron.

>>4597239
Seems kinda pointless to flesh out nobodies when we still haven't fleshed out all the cardinals. We just unlocked an additional slot in any case.

>>4597249
We have approximately 150 men, 60 essentially being garrisons. With 260 followers training up another 100 or so men shouldn't be that big of a deal, and we should have quite a bit of spare equipment to arm them with on hand.

Really, 3 line platoons and a hq/weapons platoon would make for a decent company structure, specialists would probably be better suited to independent commands that could be attached freely.

>>4597292
Then I vote for the Battle Nun, as this is a scouting mission that has a high chance of combat, and a conspiracy theorist isn't conducive to a mission of this type.

Training up 3 platoons isn't a problem, it's maintaining them that's the problem. 6 platoons would stretch our resources, increase construction time, lessen WP generation, may impact the Food situation, and leave us with precious little in the way of replacing casualties when we do get in the fight. Give it a week or two, then we may have enough for another company without compromising our other industries.

>>4597326
>would stretch our resources, increase construction time, lessen WP generation, may impact the Food situation

Well I think we'd need clarification on that before we argued about it. As it stands we appear to have plenty of income and food, and not nearly enough fighting men.

Hopefully we can recruit some bikers to our cause, I feel they would be a good addition to our mechanized forces.

On the subject of 3rd parties, is anyone in favor of trying to send an envoy down to the prison at some point? Sounds like a good market for our meth.

>>4597342
And that will drastically change as we convert resource gatherers into military manpower, but we can get some clarification, sure.

+1 on the bikers, I still have that Mad Max image in my head about all this.

+1 on an envoy, as it looks like ripe for both meth and faith. We should be weary though, these are criminals after all and we don't want to draw their attention too much to our area of operations, as we already have enough on our plate without worrying about roving bands of criminals actively harassing us as we're dealing with the POZ.

>>4597345
>I still have that Mad Max image in my head about all this

Same

>these are criminals after all

Well you know what they say, birds of a feather and all that. I'm sure there is someone from our original followers who would make a suitable ambassador. Might not be bad having buffers against the cartels as well.

>>4597368
Or try and subvert them ourselves. These cartel may be more fertile ground than it might seem on the surface, given their cultural marination in Catholic beliefs and our mutual profession.

>>4597381
I was thinking that myself, honestly I could really dig some syncretism wuth Santa Muerte and all that.

>>4597001
send battle nun

You know, it might be worth making cardinals out of some of the people we come across, such as the president of a biker mc

>>4597419
Ye.

>>4597498
Honestly, that's bond to happen eventually. We may actually make a cardinal out of one of our recent 'converts' from the Indian Raiders we have in the mountains, just as an example to the other POWs we may get along the way, though that may be a ways off a bit.

>>4597001
>Mixed Unit

The people of Mobile are familiar to this area, and may have contacts inside Gila Bend proper to help us figure out what's going on. Plus, this may help integrate some of the community with us further, since there are some disagreements that need to be ironed out.

>A platoon, with some aerial reconnaissance

Nothing majorly dangerous, just a quick recon.

>Battle Nun

Sounds epic as hell.

File: The Mahoney Herald Office.jpg (60 KB, 1280x720)

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We seem kind of split between "hey, let's have Red-Pill Overdose Victim shenanigans" and "random insane dude cardinal is too stupid, let's Battle Nun" factions. Given that I remember Battle Nun caused some controversy and there was a general desire to have more "normal guy" characters that aren't from an action movie, I'd give the edge to Bunker Dude.

I want to try and compromise the positions, but I recognize that it would be a big departure that might just piss everyone off. So, I will have a snap confirmation vote on the following:

>Force Size: Full Platoon
>Force Composition: Crusaders mixed with squad of Mobile Infantry selected for knowledge of terrain or loyalty
>Force Leader: Trusted low level leader, but with a POV switch

>Low Level Leader:

Nick Mahoney used to make a living out of writing in for a magazine, the Mahoney Herald, that ranged from topics such as UFOs to Bigfoot and other conspiracy theories. When the US Civil War started, he closed himself inside his home-made bunker, convinced that the Civil War would end in nuclear armageddon not actually impossible. Despite the fact that his supply could've lasted for years, after a few months the loneliness and curiosity got the worst out of him, so he came out one day outside to a Mobile now occupied by the cult. Himself being well aware that the other factions like the Chinese and Paxtonites are secretly lizard people puppets or NWO, he quickly joined the Sun Belt Crusaders, whom he regards as the only faction fighting for humanity and worthy of his unyielding loyalty and devotion.

>Sure
>No, that's dumb let's do this... [Write-In]

>>4597191
We are! Troops are trained passively, in this case they're reinforcing the understrength regiment that took heavy damage during the attack way back. As >>4597249 mentioned, we are still limited in how many can actually turn into soldiers. If I understand the numbers right, in WW2 the Soviets had about a quarter of their male population as soldiers. The Soviets of course were basically taking everyone they could and shoving them into the frontlines, lack of proper training or equipment be damned! With an equal opportunity meat grinder, that's about the upper limit of what you guys could expect for a follower to combatant ratio if most of your territory/denizens are based on civilians (i.e. complete takeover of Maricopa or Phoenix).

That said, if you form your army around recruited bikers, marauders, mercenaries and similar sorts, you can go a lot higher! Also, equipping troops is currently not a big deal due to Maricopa having taken that responsibility in exchange for services.

>>4597342
Swapping between fighters and non-combatants shouldn't have a major effect on the food situation. And unless a huge amount of people are being shoved onto the front lines, actions shouldn't be different. W.P. generation could go down, but as long as you guys have some new source of followers (preaching,, conquest, etc) it should even out.

>>4598350
>>Low Level Leader
i like this compromise, i just wasnt sold on the idea of him being a cardinal. Im not sure he would make a good first impression, maybe him and the radio host guy would hit it off though? anyways, maybe the guys in the mobile infantry can give some "testimonials" about the benefits we could bring.

>Sure

i think a low level leader/cardinal along the lines of a master of whispers cool be super helpful/fun to play as. could help us seek out the bikers again or set up covert drug deals?

>>4598350
>Sure
he seems like an interesting character we could add.
>Force Composition: Crusaders mixed with squad of Mobile Infantry selected for knowledge of terrain or loyalty

>>4598372
>seek out the bikers again or set up covert drug deals
this could be interesting, he could be our "guy" who deals with these sort of things

>>4598372
>>4598383
>>4598385

I'll take this limited, but unanimous vote as a go ahead to write up the Mahoney option. Don't let this discourage you if you are of the opposing mindset or have something to add, of course.

>>4598420

OPTION SELECTED:
>Force Size: Full Platoon
>Force Composition: Crusaders mixed with squad of Mobile Infantry selected for knowledge of terrain or loyalty
>The Mahoney Experience

You decide that the best way to conduct the exploration of Gila Bend would be using a strong force capable of handling any threat from rogue bikers or aggressive locals or whatever may come. While you could just send a standard platoon of crusaders, you opt to include some locals from Mobile to add in their knowledge of the local terrain. In fact, you grant these members of Mobile authority over your men to maximize this advantage and make it clear that the folk of Mobile are full fledged members of your faction. You pray this will ease any growing pains.

After you gather the men and dispense the proper pre-expedition blessings, you inform them that a cardinal will not be leading this. Instead, you ask the group to elect somebody from Mobile as the acting leader, who is to carry authority as if you were there yourself. It is an unorthodox decision, to be sure, but you have your reasons. In addition to helping the transition, you know this mission can be dangerous given the report from earlier, and losing a cardinal so early in the endeavor would be a disaster for morale.

The group, crusaders and Mobile Infantry alike, convene and cast their votes. Their final selection is, to put it mildly, unexpected. With a strong majority of the vote from the crusaders, one Nicholas "Nick" Mahoney has been selected. The eccentric, loudmouthed contrarian known for spending the first months of the Civil War in a nuclear bunker is best known for his strange beliefs regarding the paranormal. Having been the purveyor of an "independent print media" business that has likely seen most of its use in bird cage lining, he seems to have little in the way of useful skills, but you allow for this decision nonetheless. Perhaps he was selected because he was one of the first people in Mobile to not just take the Faith seriously, but actively embrace it. Maybe they figured his experience looking out for UFOs and paranormal activities would lend itself to scouting. Maybe they just think he's some idiot they can puppet and use to effectively lead themselves. You don't care as long as they get results...

[1/3]

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>>4598459

[2/3]

>POV SHIFT TO ELECTED LOW LEVEL LEADER:
>NICK MAHONEY?!?!

Holy shit! You actually did it! You were nervous they weren't quite receptive to your ideas in the first half, you're not going to lie. But the election results also don't lie, you've won! Finally, you're reaching through to the people (promoted from sheeple,) and it's a good feeling. While the NWO is rapidly ascending and the Lizard People are coming out of hiding, there is hope yet as those around you are starting to take samples from your packets of red tablets! When you're selected to lead the Gila Scouting Expedition, you can hardly contain yourself.

"Thank you, thank you! I swear by God and His Messenger, we're going to get this done!" you tell to the few dozen strong group you now lead. Of course, you're not a tyrant (like those bastards from the moon) so you take into account everyone's advice and try to keep everyone tuned to the same frequency.

After a quick inspection of things like numbers, engines, weaponry, and the like, you all head out along the 238.

"Actually, let's avoid the 238, don't want to be watched by the you-know-whos," you order. The idea actually came from a fellow member of the Mobile Infantry, which you're fine with. You've done it yourself back when you were worried the Lunarians could be watching (they still might be), and having cover on both sides of the road in the form of trees can only help. Part of the way through, you all move to the abandoned train tracks that go along near the 238. You get the benefits of travelling on something like a road with some level of concealment in case something happens.

"Slow down, we're getting close," you order in your somewhat nasally voice. You should be pretty close to Gila Bend, close enough to observe it. You've done some observation yourself around these parts, mostly looking for hidden painted rocks probably left behind by the Natives. The Natives were onto something with their petroglyphs, you've observed too many to doubt their powers.

Stopping the vehicle, you get out and lay prone between the trees, examining the area with your binoculars. By 'your binoculars,' you're being literal, as you have collected a decent set of various observation gear over the years. Peering out, you can observe the town of Gila Bend...

>>4598463

[3/3]

With the magnification, you can make out a lot. You see some kind of defenses set up along the 238, along with guys manning them. They look pretty tough, but anyone with big muscles kind of does to you. Behind them is some sort of large lot with a bunch of trucks and motorcycles lined up. Also, there's the airport pretty close to you guys, but you don't see planes outside. Maybe they're in the hangars? Checking out some of the buildings, you notice a lot of stuff in varying states of damage. Windows are boarded up with wood and there's evidence something nasty happened here. It could be anything though, from an attack to riots during the war to Lizard People COINTELPRO agents doing their thing.

The others are soon also observing. There's quite a group facing every direction it seems, and you hope you don't get spotted. You keep your eyes on the guards and look out for any movements. As an expert in seeing all sorts of signs, you will be able to tell when they know of your presence and start watching you...

>Determining enemy detection...
>Result: Undetected?

No, they can't tell, you're sure of it. This is a great sign!

"Yo, guys! I think we're in the clear. What do you guys think on what we should do?"

"Hmm," one of the Mobile Infantry, Jess, thinks. "I don't know about this place. Let's drive south and swing around them, getting a look from the other side and maybe checking out if there's anything going on in the farms out in Theba."

"Nah, fuck that, let's drive up to these guys and see what they have to say. Not like they'll try to fuck with us, we got actual armor and good weapons and shit," one of the crusaders comments.

"You mean just mosey up to these guys, guns held high and try to have a polite chat?" Jess asks, just a little incredulous.

"What do you guys say? Something about armed polite societies? Hey, Nick, what do you think?"

That's a good question. What do you actually think? As the leader, it is ultimately your call as to how the group goes about this:

>"The crusader's right. We should knock on their front door and introduce ourselves. They won't fire on us with the amount of guys and heat we're packing, right?"
>"I'm with Jess. We're here to scout, so might as well go south and to the west and see things from that side. Maybe they'll mistake who we are if spotted."
>"If we're going to go in some other direction, why not north? They got farms out there and a prison. That could be good to explore, so let's do that."
>"There's a gas station south, at the very edge. We should go back, loop around to there, and check that place out. These guys look kinda scary."
>[Write-In]

>>4598350
Well if thats the case a battle nun shouldn't be on the table for cardinal either.

>>4598469
>>"If we're going to go in some other direction, why not north? They got farms out there and a prison. That could be good to explore, so let's do that."

>>4598469
>>[Write-In]
>Use our charm and charisma to let us get in.

>>4598350
Yea, you hit my sentiments exactly. And yea, I'm down for him being a lower level character. I like the idea of him, but I just don't think he'd be practical in most situations, beyond the Redfeild experience.

>>4598469
>"If we're going to go in some other direction, why not north? They got farms out there and a prison. That could be good to explore, so let's do that."

>>4598640
That's a fair opinion. I will argue that she would be more practical candidate for the position then Mahoney though.

>>4598640
We'll cross that bridge when we get there, as the saying goes. I was/am hesitant about having too many minor characters below a certain level, since that could potentially bog things down. But if that's the general desire, it's hard to say that such a concern is founded. The solution was to have a limited number of high level leaders and shift PoV around them, but it's not hard and fast.

>>4599114
Aye, I share the same concerns as well. We'll either pace ourselves or burn/cross that bridge when we come to it.

So how about a pastebin with characters, skills, relations, resources etc?

>>4598469
>>"I'm with Jess. We're here to scout, so might as well go south and to the west and see things from that side. Maybe they'll mistake who we are if spotted."

>>4599554
I don't like the pastebin format out of habit, but I'm not opposed to having a spreadsheet or character/faction info page for us.

>>4598694
>>4598838

OPTION SELECTED:
>"If we're going to go in some other direction, why not north? They got farms out there and a prison. That could be good to explore, so let's do that."

"North?" Jess says. "We'd have to go back far enough to not get spotted and then go slow off roads and on side paths for a bit."

"I'm pretty sure the Messenger told us to explore Gila Bend, not the prison area."

"Eh, it's fine," you tell them. "We can just come back later if we need to. Who knows, maybe the prison dudes'll help out!"

>Authority over scouting force lessened due to unorthodox decision

Always the contrarian, you stay firm against the rest of the scouting expedition and get them to go north to the prison area. As your group doubles back, still apparently unobserved, you think about how that Lewis prison complex had all sorts of crazy things going on. You've uncovered evidence that the 2004 prisoner uprising was really a front for secret experiments being conducted by the New World Order. You first suspected that it was extraterrestrial entities, but an in depth investigation involving a secret agent of yours (the unknowing world believes him to be some regular homeless man) and the use of a modified baseball pitching machine proved that no UFOs were present.

"Alright, we should be far enough out to go back to normal roads," one of the Mobile Infantry says before making the turn and getting on the Route 85 that lead to the prison complex. You were kind of spacing out and would have said 'yes' anyway, so it probably doesn't matter much.

Driving north along the 85, you see many of the sights any one would expect in these parts of rural Arizona. You pass by neat rows of crops surrounded by desert shrubs and the occasional dairy farm building. That is, until you spot some kind of strange figure you can't quite make out and pull out your binoculars...

[1/2]

>>4601327

[2/2]

"Oh fuck!" you exclaim. "That's farmer Hebel, God damn!" You weren't sure you'd see Hebel after that one time you investigated crop circle activities. You wouldn't have expected in a million years to see his mutilated body hanging at the entrance of his farm.

"What are you talking about?" one of the scouts asks, taking a look for himself. "Shit, keep a look out guys, guns out!" he radios over to the others. "We might have some raider types around here."

You probably shouldn't let your underlings issue orders like that, but you let it slide. You're busy taking in the details. There are multiple corpses 'hanging around' and there's evidence of looting. You wonder just what kind of people did this. You don't wonder for long, though.

After a bit of travel along the road, you see a group of cars drive out from behind some hills and approach. Without waiting for orders, the scouts you ostensibly lead slow down and end up taking positions at a highway intersection. Shots are fired into the air, and soon enough the approaching vehicles have stopped, forming their own line at maybe hundred meters away, you think.

Now closer, you can see these guys in much better detail. They seem to be wearing pieces of metal welded together to form armor. They look to be carrying ARs or shotguns with knives or pistols on the side. Also, they look really fucking crazy with strange customizations made to their armor, guns, or clothes underneath. That, and weird hairstyles, for some reason. You're guessing it's the triazines they're putting in the water, especially around these farms.

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU GUYS?" a voice booms out. Apparently, they have one those speaker systems police use and don't know how to set it up.

As the leader, it is up to you to decide how this proceeds. You order the scouting force to:

>Slowly drive to them as a group with guns at the ready. Attempt to speak to them and figure out who these guys are and what they want.
>Open fire and subdue them. Violence is probably the only language they speak.
>Fall back off road and get out of here. This probably won't end well.
>Step out of the door and walk up to them by yourself, unarmed, to talk. This is a good idea, you can take 'em!
>[Write-In]

Ah, sorry about the delays. Some unforeseen stuff, as usual.

>>4599554
My problem with a 'bin is that I would have to upload a new one with each turn update, which isn't much of an improvement over putting it in a 4chan post.

>>4601339
>>Slowly drive to them as a group with guns at the ready. Attempt to speak to them and figure out who these guys are and what they want.

>>4601339
>Step out of the door and walk up to them by yourself, unarmed, to talk. This is a good idea, you can take 'em!

Ever the contrarian. Plus, we can work with these fine folks. And by that, I mean sell them loads of meth and preach our faith to this new flock!

If this is wise, I don't know, but I'm starting to get into the contrarian mindset.

>>4601339
>Open fire and subdue them. Violence is probably the only language they speak.
They killed all the farmers.

>>4601339
>>Step out of the door and walk up to them by yourself, unarmed, to talk. This is a good idea, you can take 'em!
if they shot on us like this it gives us all the reason in the world to take this town.

no worries on the delay QM hope all is well.

>>4601549
I'll change my vote to this

>>4601339
>>Step out of the door and walk up to them by yourself, unarmed, to talk. This is a good idea, you can take 'em!
lets butter em up, mahoney's up for the task

>>4601339
>>Step out of the door and walk up to them by yourself, unarmed, to talk. This is a good idea, you can take 'em!
Customers spotted.

>>4601549
>>4601726
>>4601928
>>4602180
>>4602419

OPTION SELECTED:
>Step out of the door and walk up to them by yourself, unarmed, to talk. This is a good idea, you can take 'em!

"Don't worry guys, I got this!" you tell the others. To their surprise, you step out of the car door and casually stroll towards the raider group.

"YO WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU GUYS?!" the very loud voice from the speaker asks.

As you walk up, you put your hand in the air with a finger extended out and then do a little 'walking' motion. You also turn your back to the scouts and give them a double thumbs up with a big smile. They scouts look confused and surprised, which you don't understand. You explicitly told them you 'got this,' and as the leader you get to make the decisions! Besides, there's nothing these guys can do to you that you haven't had to experience a thousand times over in your battles against the Lizards in the dimensions you can access in your dreams.

>Rolling to determine if this gambit will work...
>Seriously, this could really go belly up...
>Result: Excellent Roll!
>Effect boosted by newly revealed trait:
>Consummate Contrarian: Receive a bonus when committing to actions that go against the grain, such as disagreeing with both sides of an argument or acting on fringe theories. Just be careful not to do something too stupid!

The raiders look to one another in confusion, seemingly having no plan for this situation. Instead of doing anything to you, they just argue among each other for a bit before essentially pushing a few of their number towards you. Adjusting your tie, you extend your hand to them in total blissful ignorance of the potential consequences...

[1/2]

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>>4602896

[2/2]

"How do you do, fellow raiders? I am representing the Sun Belt Crusaders and would love to be introduced to you fine ladies and gentlemen!"

A large, well muscled mohawked gentlemen of African heritage shakes your hand. "Ay, yo, this ain't a joke is it?" You shake your head and give him a thumbs up. "Man, you guys got some fuckin' balls. We're from the Lewis Correctional Protectorate. What are you guys doing here?"

"Oh, you know, we're just visiting our neighbors. The Gila Bend people looked a bit, you know, crabby. We were thinking of going north and just checking things out. I noticed some of the farmers were hanging over there, I mean, literally, from the neck! Do you know what's going on?"

"Yeah," he says. "We did that. The farms are our turf now, and we had to make a few examples. Gila Bend is ours too, we took it." The farm stuff was kind of obvious, but you wouldn't have thought that these prisoners took the town. "Where are you guys from exactly, you said Sun City or something?"

"Our name is the Sun Belt Crusaders. You know, this whole area is called the Sun Belt, the southern states that get a lot of sun. And we're all good followers of God and his Church and Messenger. We do a lot of things, from keeping people safe to helping people grow their spiritual life to selling meth to fighting off the lizard peop-"

"Slow. The fuck. Down. You talk way too fast," he says before pausing. "Wait a second, did you say meth?"

"Ay," one of his raider buddies, a slightly shorter Hispanic looking man interjects. "Did this fool just say lizard people?"

They're too busy trying to figure out what you're talking about to start thinking about how to kill or extort you, which is a good sign. You don't entirely trust this faction, since it seems like they're possibly NWO types, and Hebel was a good dude, even if he did kick you out of his farm that one time. Even so, you won't pass up this opportunity.

Select up to two of the following:

>"So, tell me about your faction, as in who leads it, what territories you got, that sort of thing."
>"Do you guys have anything you're selling?"
>"You want to buy some meth?"
>"Are you guys filtering your water to ensure peak male performance?
>"Have you observed any shadowy figures roaming through the lands with suspicious intent?"
>"What's going on in the areas up north of you guys, around Buckeye north of the Gila?"
>"Yeah, I'm good here, I'm going to go now. See ya!"
>[Write-In]

>players took the seeming "trap" option, but not the actual trap option
Well played

>>4602899
>"Ay," one of his raider buddies, a slightly shorter Hispanic looking man interjects. "Did this fool just say lizard people?"
kek
picking
>"You want to buy some meth?"
>"Are you guys filtering your water to ensure peak male performance?

>>4602907
These

>>4602899
Kek

>>4602907
I'll back that

>>4602899
>Try and sell him meth along with water filters.

>>4602907
Sure, I'll support this. Just remember to get information and our right to preach to them, and we're good.

>>4603068
>>4602907
Support.
Don't let them turn you gay.

>>4602899
>>"Are you guys filtering your water to ensure peak male performance?
>"So, tell me about your faction, as in who leads it, what territories you got, that sort of thing."

>>4603256
Maybe if we get lucky, they'll take us to their leader!

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>>4602907
>>4602917
>>4602922
>>4603068
>>4603088
>>4603132
>>4603256

OPTION SELECTED:
>"You want to buy some meth?"

The two raiders up front look confused and start to chuckle.

"Meth?" the more melanated of the gentlemen repeats. "You for real?"

"Absolutely! Our product is high quality and guaranteed to be of a level of purity unmatched by anything else on the now open markets!" He's rolling his eyes, but you aren't easily discouraged. "We're able to produce as much as you're willing to pay for, whether that be in supplies, services, labor, or assorted resources of value! Our true blue product, color of the liz-"

His eyes widen. The Hispanic fellow butts in. "Hold up, did you just say-"

"Yeah, I'mma need you to clarify yourself." You momentarily consider if you went too far in preparing to reference the Lizardfolk-Lunarian War (you haven't ruled out the possibility they're secret agents.) "Did you say you sellin' blue meth? Like the stuff they had from California?"

Oh, thank God, they're not double-agents. "Yes, the product is clear sky blue. It was quite popular in Hollywood and Southern California before, well, you know."

"Well I'll be damned," he says. "One of my cellies wouldn't shut up about that shit. Ayo, gimme a second." He proceeds to have a short, private meeting with his colleagues in a huddle before returning to you. "We're interested, but we're gonna have to meet at your place. You said you were at Mobile, right?"

"Uh, I don't think I did. How did you know that? Have you been watching us?" You're starting to suspect that he may actually be a double-agent, or maybe even a triple-agent.

There's a bit of a pause. "Yeah, we might have sent a few guys in that direction. When we saw those defenses on the highway, we decided we'd just wait and keep on the Gila, ya get what I'm sayin'?"

Nope, false alarm on him being an agent. "Sure. Some time in the next day or two take the trip east along the 238. Probably just send over one vehicle so the gunners don't get spooked. We got a guy who'll do the dealing, maybe the Messenger himself will do it!"

"Yeah, don't worry. We'll be real low key, that's for sure."

>Meth deal event secured...?

"Oh, and I also have something important to ask."

>"Are you guys filtering your water to ensure peak male performance?

"..."

"No, seriously! Improperly filtered water can introduce all sorts of chemicals into your system. Did you know that chemical pesticides used to combat broadleaf weeds in agriculture has been known to cause all sorts of crazy effects! Amphibians have been known to undergo processes that involve changes in gender dimorphism, and that's only what the megacorporations are allowing us to know! It's basically a trans-bomb! As we know from the lizard-"

[1/2]

>>4604321

[2/2]

The man is burying his face in his hands. "Mother fucking lizards? Again?! I'm telling you, I-"

"Foo', let him go on!" the other raider says. "I've heard about them fucking with the water supply on the Internet. And the lizards? Hey man, we're in some civil war ass shit with all sorts of crazy shit. Remember that one dead looking mofo who sold us those weapons? All I'm sayin' is, I'm willing to hear out anything!"

"Motherfucker, you serious? He saying the water is some kind of bomb that's gonna turn me into some trans shit, like that Tim Curry movie." He strikes a bicep pose. "If that was true, how come I got these gains?!" They're getting progressively louder and the rest of the raiders are gathering around to watch the show.

"Foo', you're shit's all fucked up, AND you talkin' like a fag! You think we all forgot about what happened in Bachman Unit?"

The black raider, clearly wounded in honor, physically shoves his nominal ally back. "You wanna throw hands? 'cause if you keep runnin' your mouth we gonna throw hands! I ain't down with that homo shit!"

The two keep escalating, both of them likely having long forgotten why they began arguing in the first place. The raiders are now in a circle around the two mentally less-than-stable individuals and seem to be taking bets on who will win.

"Hey Mahoney," you hear. Turning around, you see one of the crusaders. The group from the prison seems too preoccupied with this impromptu donnybrook to notice any of this. "We're seeing some guys moving from the south up here. They look to be armed and are probably looking for trouble. We've decided we're gonna head out off-road and then loop around Gila Bend from the west side to finish the scouting."

You weren't expecting your scouting force to just decide on what to do without you. Still, if some bad dudes are coming from the south, maybe you should take the smart decision and steer clear of that. Or, perhaps you could decide to do something totally out of left field?

What do you tell him?

>"Sounds good. I already got a business deal sorted out, so let's go back to the mission as usual." [Respect the scouts' decision]
>"Nah, we're fine here. Go back and wait until I'm done here. I got some stuff to sort out with these guys." [Select up to two options from the previous prompt, including Write-In options] [Pray things don't go wrong on neither your scouts' end nor the raiders']
>"Bad dudes from the south? Let's drive down there and strike them first." [Battle?]
>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]
>"Actually..." [Write-In]

>>4604324
>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]

Because I'm insane. A decent alternative is to respect the decision of our men, but try and talk to the this southern party as well. You never know what sorts of people (or lizards) God will wash up on your doorstep, and this may be an opportunity of a lifetime!

We should approach the southerners from a direction that isn't North though, wouldn't want to be mistaken for their quarry and I don't want to get rapped up in the North/South holdover bullshit from the previous Civil War.

>>4604324
>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]

>>4604324
fuck it, lets risk it.
>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]
big risk, big reward.

>>4604324
>>"Sounds good. I already got a business deal sorted out, so let's go back to the mission as usual." [Respect the scouts' decision]

>>4604324
>>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]

>>4604365
>>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]

>>4604324
>>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]

ded quest?

>>4609477
*Cursed

>>4609477
i guess lol

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>>4604365
>>4604587
>>4604718
>>4605327
>>4606686
>>4607533

OPTION SELECTED:
>"Why bug out from the east? Let's slip into the farms and see what's going on there while these guys are distracted." [???]

"You want us to go west, really?" You nod your head in response. "Yeah, sure, let's fucking go," he says, keeping his eyes on the raiders. The motley armored crew is currently utterly transfixed by the fight, watching with intent as the two recidivists land blows on one another. They are horribly undisciplined and don't even notice as you and the crusader get back to the vehicle. By this, you know they are not Lunarians.

You get in the passenger seat and your companion radios over to the rest of the scouts. From the passenger side view you watch as the scouts reverse and change direction.

>Rolling for leadership...
>Result: Failure

They all begin to go off road and head out of here. With binoculars you can vaguely see the fight progress. It looks like the two of them both get good blows on one another, but they seem to stop after a bit. After what appear to be ostentatious displays of raising fists and chest beating (must be painful against that metal armor) they get into a boxer's hug, you think.

"Wait a second," you say as you notice you're driving through hilly desert. "These aren't the farms. Aren't we supposed to be going west?"

"West?" the driver asks. "Oh, my bad, I thought you said 'est.' Ah well, we're already committed to this, so it's too late to change course."

It's pretty obvious the scouts are just finding excuses to do what they want to anyway. Your authority has seemed to deteriorate to the point where you're no longer able to effectively issue commands. Still, they're at least giving some deference, and you did get to do some stuff you wanted. Hopefully, the deal you made goes through and the Messenger recognizes your great decision making!

>Authority over scouting force insufficient to continue effective leadership
>Auto-resolving...

The rest of the scouting goes uneventfully. The scouts go a good distance east, enough to avoid the sight of whoever was coming from the south. Taking a long path around the south over both the 238 and the I-8, the group keeps out of sight of potential lookouts from Gila Bend.

During this, you near the Gila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Airport. You know quite a lot about this place, enough to know this is one of the spots they're keeping leftover equipment from the Apollo-17 Invasion. The place seems to be abandoned. There are no signs of aircraft or military personnel or any guards...

[1/???]

>>4610726

[2/???]

Travelling further north, your scouts get a view of Gila Bend from the south and to the west, essentially the opposite view from before. It appears that defenses have been set up somewhere around a few bridges at some point in the town. The paper mill to the south of the town's outskirts also seems damaged. There's definitely some kind of conflict going on. The power stations seem to be in decent enough shape for now, although you can't be sure the raiders won't do something rash or desperate and target them too.

>Scouts deciding on how to proceed...
>Option Selected: Course of Caution

The scouts decide that it's too late in the day to try to make contact or do anything other than just observe. The general verdict is that Gila Bend is at the least preoccupied and no threat to the Sun Belt Crusaders.

The group eventually goes back to Mobile and you are tasked with reporting back to the Messenger. He appears to be cautiously optimistic about the deal with the raiders and is satisfied with the update on what's going on in Gila Bend, or so you think. It's really hard to read the guy, sometimes, but you're in good cheer. It's always nice to be appreciated!

>END OF POV SWITCH TO NICK MAHONEY

>>4610729

[3/???]

While the scouting force was at work west, cardinal Mueller was allowed to do his work east of Mobile at the Reservation adjacent to Maricopa. After the conflict with the M.M.P. and the later arrest of a council member, you understand that there is a breaking down in trust and safety. Everyone is apparently expecting something big to go down and everyone is also reacting accordingly by carrying firearms and travelling in groups. Based on what you know, they're largely justified in doing so.

A local law enforcement member, apparently a friend of Mueller's, got a captured radical to sell out his boss. This caused one of their ruling thirteen council members to be arrested, a move apparently highly advised against by Mueller's friend. The government has totally ceased normal function as outrage, paranoia, and total uncertainty has wracked the normally tight knit community. By some unknown means, it has become public that there is a plot to essentially "sell out" the Reservation to the POZ in the event of an invasion (which is becoming increasingly more likely) and that the plot goes all the way up. Some are openly outraged, some are ideologically supportive, and many are just desperate for things to become normal again.

Much of the information was corroborated by documents recently processed/accessed from the raid, as well as collaborators among the prisoners. One of the prisoners seemed to make a radical flip from hardcore adherent of Revolution to fanatical cultist, and her help was a major factor. If it weren't for the positive results, you would have been extremely suspicious, but you know that miracles do happen. It's good that they do, since having a secret fifth column during the meeting between the POZ and Maricopa could have been disastrous. And disastrous it still might be, depending on how Mueller handles the events to come...

>>4610731

[4/???]

>POV SWITCH TO CARDINAL RICHARD MUELLER

You're sat at a wooden table with a mess of documents splayed out in front of you. When you decided to make the unorthodox decision to preach at this Reservation, you wouldn't have seen it ending up with you playing detective and trying to root out secret infiltrators like you were in the FBI or something, but here you are doing just that.

"What do you think about Etsiddy? You think he might be in on it?" you ask Sheriff Dolores between cigarette drags.

"He's probably fine," Dolores says while taking a sip of some low quality instant coffee, something you know will become a delicacy if trade doesn't begin to open up again . "The guy's like eighty something and mostly cares about the casino. Too traditional minded to get on the conspiracy is my hunch."

You have in front of you information on the council members. Generally, they can be broken up into three "blocks," with five members acting as proxies for casino and business interests, three individuals based in agriculture and rural interests, and five career bureaucrats working in transportation or education or other such positions.

"Well, we could ask him about the other members, see if we can get some leads. He's still holed up in the casino with that b-s 'back problems' excuse, right?" The mustachioed sheriff nods. With all of the chaos and rumors abound, the council has been totally out of action. The lower level workers keep the government 'functioning' as well as can be by clocking in and doing what they can, but it's not sustainable. Everyone is watching over law enforcement like a hawk for anything from mass arrests to more outlandish possibilities like assassinations or coups. The funny thing about governing is that once enough people believe something to be possible, it can suddenly become so.

"You might be able to," he tells you. "I've got too much suspicion on me being an el-e-oh. Casino guard probably wouldn't let me in unless I bring the big guns, and then they'd shut up like a clam. And that's if things go well. You remember what happened to the police chief..."

>>4610733

[5/???]

"I do. It's the only thing weirder than having both a sheriff's and a police station for this reservation. Seriously, did he think that just arresting a fellow council member wouldn't cause waves?"

Dolores shrugs. "Beats me. At least that rules him out as one of the four infiltrators. Well, probably!"

Technically, you don't even know if there are four compromised council members. It's based on a lead from one of the prisoners. The Messenger seems to find her credible, so you trust that it's true, but you never know. Hell, you don't even know if identifying or getting rid of them will actually have a positive result, but you're probably the person in the best position to do something about this. It's not just about the danger of having a fifth column essentially within Maricopa in light of the encounter with the POZ in a week. It's also about rising up to the occasion. You've made the mistake of not doing the right thing before as an active marine, and you feel like you have the chance to do the right thing now as a Christian. Just as God gave Paul an opportunity to make up for his past mistakes, He has also given you one.

"You listening to me?" Dolores asks. You had spaced out.

"Sorry, was just lost in thought."

"Anyway, before we proceed, we have to be sure on the general endgame here and the moves we're gonna make to get there..."

>>4610736

[6/6]

The two of you had talked about this at length in private. As you see it, the best option is to:

[SELECT THE DESIRED END AND CORRESPONDING MEANS]

So one of the single meme arrow prompts along with one of the double meme arrow prompts below it. Couldn't think of a particularly good way to format this...

ENDS:

>Find the last and main traitor safehouse to eliminate it and anyone there. Hope that it will be enough of a blow to neutralize the radicals as a threat.
MEANS:
>>Do some enhanced interrogation on a lower level guy in detention and brute force this. Dolores will make sure his guards turn a blind eye.
>>Have you and the deputies split up and look for places with suspiciously high levels of traffic. If there's any time a safehouse would be abnormally active, it'd be now.
>>Get a trusted person to try and infiltrate them and get the location. The traitors are probably getting an influx of new blood in this chaos, so go undercover.
>>[Write-In the means by which to locate the last safehouse for a final raid]

>Figure out who the three remaining traitors on the council are and deal with the threat from the top down. Cut off the head and the rest will sort itself out.
MEANS:
>>Go to the casino and discuss it with their representatives on the council. Get more information from them you can use to find out if there are others that are suspicious, or if there are likely traitors among them.
>>Same as above, but focus instead on trying to get in contact with the rural block members. You think one of Musella's friends might have an in.
>>Same as above, but focus instead on the bureaucrat types. The arrested member (and the police head) were both from this block, so there's definitely smoke and fire.
>>Talk to the imprisoned council member, find out his motivations, and convince him to give up their identities in exchange for clemency. Maybe playing nice is playing smart after all?
>>Same as above, but use enhanced interrogation techniques (i.e. torture). There's no playing nice here.
>>Same as above, but kill him and the rest of them publicly if he gives up the information. Make an example of them.
>>[Write-In the means by which to find and eliminate the leaders]

>Organize a coup and have the sheriff take over the government to just end this.
MEANS:
>>Ask for the M.M.P. to send in their men and have the sheriff act as their figurehead. The Reservation is in some ways already like a district of Maricopa, so just make it more official.
>>Have the sheriff and company simply take over the building with armed men and start issuing decrees. Why overcomplicate things?
>>The same as above, but send in a platoon of crusaders to help out. The extra guns will make success more likely at the cost of worsened PR.
>>[Write-In the means by which to forcefully take over]

>[Write-In an alternative goal]
>>[Write-In means to achieve said goal]

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Kept you waiting, huh? The above is basically two large updates in one since Mahoney took basically every contrarian option possible and then fucked up a leadership roll hard enough to have his force go full no-confidence on him. The overall effort was probably a significant success, since you guys will probably get a nice meth deal going if you don't fuck it up. Also, I had much of it done a while ago, but I sat on it and tried to rewrite and let it sit. I'm still not 100% satisfied with the final result, but it's not like I can just sit on it further. If there are questions about what is going on exactly, do ask. I didn't want to write too much and just vomit text out there so some things are vague or to be inferred. The short version is that things at the Native Reservation accelerated past schedule, which grants an opportunity to quash things before it can be really, really damaging (i.e. Maricopa-POZ encounter in a week~). This is the fairly major choice of how Mueller is going to deal with it.

Also, I had a horrible tech issue where I thought my computer's was about to "go commit die" as the kids say, but the QM curse can't get me, not yet at least!

>>4609477
>>4609494
>>4610279
2nd US Civil War is dead. Long live 2nd US Civil War!

>>4610737
>>Figure out who the three remaining traitors on the council are and deal with the threat from the top down. Cut off the head and the rest will sort itself out.

>>>Talk to the imprisoned council member, find out his motivations, and convince him to give up their identities in exchange for clemency. Maybe playing nice is playing smart after all?

>>4610737
>Figure out who the three remaining traitors on the council are and deal with the threat from the top down. Cut off the head and the rest will sort itself out.
>>Talk to the imprisoned council member, find out his motivations, and convince him to give up their identities in exchange for clemency. Maybe playing nice is playing smart after all?

Taking off the head means less trouble and bloodshed when dealing with the body.

I imagine it's mostly the bureaucrat types that are the majority of the problem, and that the other council members would be more than willing to help, if only to try and preserve their own political interests, but we may have a opportunity here. If we manage to flip the imprisoned member, not only do we have access to information for other potential raids, but organizational trust will start to degrade, and it may encourage other members to come forward willingly in response to our leniency. A lack of trust and leadership will kill their organization without us having to lose more manpower in mop-up operations, as well as becoming a PR coup for the Crusaders.

>>4610741
It's good to see you alive and well, you almost had me worried there for a minute!

>>4610737
>Find the last and main traitor safehouse to eliminate it and anyone there. Hope that it will be enough of a blow to neutralize the radicals as a threat.

>>Do some enhanced interrogation on a lower level guy in detention and brute force this. Dolores will make sure his guards turn a blind eye.
>>Have you and the deputies split up and look for places with suspiciously high levels of traffic. If there's any time a safehouse would be abnormally active, it'd be now.
>>Get a trusted person to try and infiltrate them and get the location. The traitors are probably getting an influx of new blood in this chaos, so go undercover.
>>[Write-In the means by which to locate the last safehouse for a final raid]
DO all 3 to cross reference where it likely is with high probablity. We take out the bottom legs of this infiltration it will either make the top guys have to be more active and obvious and eventually we'll get someone who knows someone else higher up.
Also check out and follow some of the people who seemed to be "pro" POZ during the outrage.

>>4610945
+1

I was also thinking that our meth deal with the prisoners would be a good test subject for the meth subversion we're thinking of doing on the POZ, to see if it would work/how effective it is and straighten out the details

>>4612384
That, anon, is a brilliant idea! It'll make for a good testing ground for 'conversions'.

>>4610945
supporting this

>>4610933
>>4610945
>>4612384
>>4613165

OPTION SELECTED:

"We're already gone over this," you tell him. "Take out the guys on top, which has to be the council members in on this, and they'll be left scattered and disorganized."

The sheriff finishes drinking his coffee and nods his head. "That's right. They're the ones with the power here. And you're positive that you want to try and just talk this out, right?"

"Uh huh. They wouldn't be doing this all without a reason, and I think I might be able to get through to the guy. If I can figure out Endo's motives, reason with him, throw in clemency and some other benefits, he might flip. I don't think anyone wants the chaos we got now."

"Yeah, I for one never thought it'd get so bad my basement would be the safest place to do some investigating." In the corner you can see some sort of game system. Apparently his son Anon was about to hit it big by spending hours playing some licensed movie video game from the 90's professionally. You were not aware of (and are still skeptical about) such a thing, but it's another dream that will have to be put on ice or crushed entirely.

"Eh I can take care of myself. Anyway, you stay safe now."

"Will do," he says with his hands on his large, high caliber revolver.

You head out to the jailhouse with a couple of priests alongside you. As you walk the streets, you can see most people are obviously armed and travelling in groups. There's a politeness that comes with having everyone be armed and ready, but it's certainly not sustainable (especially for you, with the risk of assassination and all). With God's help, you will help resolve this...

[1/2]

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>>4613349

[2/2]

QUEST STARTED:

[Crime Squad Clash]

Objective:
>Ferret out the high leadership of the radicals
>Capture them, be it dead or alive

Acceptance Bonus:
>???

Completion Bonus:
>End to the chaos at the Reservation
>Better Crusader relations with the Reservation and Maricopa
>Prevent disaster at the meeting
>???
>???

Stretch Goals:
>Find and expropriate supplies used by the radicals
>Collect information regarding similar actors in Maricopa proper
>???

Complication:
>Time Crunch: One week

The jailhouse is a quaint building, like something straight out of the wild west times. In fact, you're pretty sure it wouldn't meet building standards or fit regulations if it weren't in a sovereign territory with lots of leeway. The guard lets you in with a nod (Dolores put in a word) and you walk to the cell of the captured member, one Tate Endo. He served a career in transportation, doing work with roads and buses and cooperating with Maricopa on various issues. Over the past days of investigation, you and Dolores concluded that he was in communication with the group that would become the POZ during the very early days of the Civil War. Being smart, they cut off contact and operated as an independent group with shared goals and a large infusion of supplies to kick start things. Unfortunately, the man was arrested almost immediately after this information was shared, causing the panic and evidence to be destroyed.

You adjust your priest's cassock and think about the approach you will take. You have all the time in the world, but you know that the wrong approach could mean this guy shuts up like a clam. You decide that the best way to chat/interrogate is:

>The Standard: Tell him you know what he did, and that you can provide him with total clemency in exchange for useful information.
>Divine Redemption: Offer him the chance to confess to God, firmly rebuking him with threats of fire and brimstone should he refuse.
>Mind Games: Play some kind of mind game with him, pretending you know more than you do in an attempt to trick him into giving it up.
>Chummy Commie: Pretend to be a fellow radical, since he might not know that you're working with law enforcement and see if you can't make a fast friend (with some whiskey to help things out).
>[Write-In]

Again, there are some delays (professional bs). I'll try to get back to daily~ updates, but that might not happen for about a week (50/50 odds).

>>4613351
>Chummy Commie: Pretend to be a fellow radical, since he might not know that you're working with law enforcement and see if you can't make a fast friend (with some whiskey to help things out).
>The Standard: Tell him you know what he did, and that you can provide him with total clemency in exchange for useful information.

A mix of chum and clemency, as I have no clue what may work with him. Respect and whiskey can work miracles though. We can approach his Divine Redemption when it's appropriately buttered. Who knows? He may even have an addiction.

>>4613351
>>Mind Games: Play some kind of mind game with him, pretending you know more than you do in an attempt to trick him into giving it up

I think we should go for this angle with the implication that the MMP are going to crack down hard on the natives fearing a fifth column, which would result in the rez getting fucked hard before any help from the POZ shows up. Appeal to the greater good and all that.

>>4613351
>Chummy Commie: Pretend to be a fellow radical, since he might not know that you're working with law enforcement and see if you can't make a fast friend (with some whiskey to help things out).
Read some commie books like the commie manofesto and other stuff by marx and whatever people on the poz preach and teach before talking to him. We can play a more direct hand if this fails.

>>4613351
>>Chummy Commie: Pretend to be a fellow radical, since he might not know that you're working with law enforcement and see if you can't make a fast friend (with some whiskey to help things out).
>>4613351
>The Standard: Tell him you know what he did, and that you can provide him with total clemency in exchange for useful information.

Jesus had some Commie hot takes, we could use that as a base to build a connection. we could benefit from using this on a large scale for propaganda in the POZ.

>>4614029
>>4613406
>>4613603
yeah no, a man that has been constantly preaching the word would probably be known well enough that him secretly being communist would be hardly believable.
>>4613351
>Mind Games: Play some kind of mind game with him, pretending you know more than you do in an attempt to trick him into giving it up
If this doesnt work, then:
>[Write-In] Threaten to kill his family.

>>4615008
We're trying to turn him, not intimidate him. We can protect his family from harm by moving them to Mobile.

>>4615008
>priests secretly being communist
You'd be surprised at how much church's donate to certain organizations.

>>4615008
>>4615502
I'm telling you guys, the current irl pope is from a communist sect. It's the reason why the Papacy refuses to talk about Christian prosecution in China, despite the CCP reneging on their deal to stop exactly that. Shit's fucked mate.

QM here, just (phone)posting to say that I indeed am not dead and that an update will come, probably soonish (so people don't think I died like last time). I'll leave commenting on discussion until the next update (might give some stuff away). And do feel free to vote or switch support or discuss or whatever else until then.

>>4615914
Thanks for keeping us in the loop

>>4615975
+1

>>4615975
This. Appreciate the heads up, OP.
>>4613406
>>4614029
+1

>>4615914
bless, hope you are well.

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>>4613406
>>4613603
>>4614029

OPTION SELECTED:
>Chummy Commie: Pretend to be a fellow radical, since he might not know that you're working with law enforcement and see if you can't make a fast friend (with some whiskey to help things out).

You're going to pretend like you're actually on his side. It's a risky plan, but you think you might pull it off. You are not particularly well read on Marxist theory, hell, you probably can't even spell dialectical materialism. You are, however, aware of some of the basic talking points and know that there is a surprising amount of communist sympathizers within Catholicism. Many even speculated the False Pope to be one himself before the Lagos incident made it all but official.

"Hi Tate," you say to the prisoner.

"You're that priest that's been running around town. What do you want?"

"Well, I heard about what happened with you getting arrested for trying to bring the Revolution about. I was hoping to talk about it over a nice drink," you say, pulling out a flask of whiskey. "You're fighting the good fight, and I want to join."

There's a pause. This is the moment of truth...

[1/2]

>>4622541

[2/2]

>Determining Outcome...
>Result: Blunder!

"AHAHAHAHAHA," he erupts in laughter. "AHAHAHA! Oh man, this is rich!"

"Excuse me?"

He continues laughing a bit more until he coughs and composes himself. "The cops must have set you up for this. That or you're trying to play some kind of joke. Maybe both. One of our guys was tailing you before he got arrested, no way you're a friend."

"You guys could've saved yourself the trouble and just asked me directly," you say, carefully choosing your words to not lie. It's technically true, in that you would have probably done a citizen's arrest or something. "And hey, if this is all some sort of joke, at least I made you laugh."

"I can't argue against entertainment. I get bored, sitting on the cold jailhouse floor, waiting for the Revolution to reach here and sort this all out for me." He glances at you with a wry smile. "By the way, is the whiskey still on the table? Not that I believe you or anything."

"Sure," you tell him as you pop off the cap of the flask to reveal a few small metal cups. You pour a mini-shot into one of them and hand it off before pouring one for yourself. "I guess it means you trust me a little bit, right?"

"Oh, hell no I don't," he says before he takes the shot. He swishes the liquid around in his mouth, savoring the flavor. "You're a Christian, your God means you won't do shit to me. Also, mid shelf?"

"It's a local one."

So, Tate the traitor has already confidently pegged you as likely working with law enforcement and thinks very, very little of you. He seems to have no fear of you and is confident that his side will win this conflict, no doubt freeing him. He has also divulged no information. You didn't expect it to be this bad, but he is talking. That's worth something, at least.

How do you choose to proceed?

>Drop the Act: Formally reveal that you're working with law enforcement and offer him a chance to rat out the others.
>Objection: Challenge a specific point or presumption he made [Write-In]
>Fuck It: Drop trying to be nice and peaceful. Threaten to kill him and his loved ones if he doesn't just give you what you want. [???]
>Double Down: Insist that you really are a diehard Communist and that you really are his friend.
>[Write-In]

Good news: Major professional project got done on my end.
Bad news: Took longer than expected and we're on page 7 already...

Yeah, it's not great. I should be a lot more free for a couple of months,) so I'll make the effort to be a more frequent than before. It's not much, but it's all I can really do. That, and writing the updates BEFORE listening to a 30 hour+ WH40K lore playlist (something I may or may not be planning on doing soon...)

>>4622543
>>Objection: Challenge a specific point or presumption he made [Write-In]
tell him every one has a part to play and you are only buying time. tell him that you may even see a future with the commie crusaders.

>>4622543
>[Write-In]
express socalist sympathies and point out communistic similarities in Christian doctrine, stressing Christianity and communisms isn't so separate. Claim Jesus could be seen as a proto commie.

>>4622543
>Objection: Challenge a specific point or presumption he made

Use the Lagos incident to our advantage. Plus, Jesus was the OG commie, fighting for the Revolution of his time against the Roman Empire. Where do you think the idea of all men being equal comes from?

>>4622606
That's actually what I think Latin Christian preach. If I remember correctly, it was turning Jesus into a revolutionary against authority that made communist revolutionaries popular among the Latin communities in South America.

>>4622748
wink* wink* nudge* nudge*

just fucking threaten his family or whatever. you guys did not listen when i said it would not work for exactly the same reasons that now OP just outlined.

>>4622606
this+1
point out what we have done in mobile and ask him how he feels about that if they are really following us then the know that we helped out that town

>>4623421
Same

>>4623421
That's the fallback plan. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

>>4624003
It's a waste of time

These are kind of unclear selections, so I'm interpreting this as a "keep pretending to be a red" using the strategy of specifically pointing out areas of overlap between Christianity and some strains of Socialism (so basically Double Down with a specific execution). In fact, I already partially wrote up the update using:

OPTION SELECTED:
>Double Down: Insist that you really are a diehard Communist and that you really are his friend.
>[Write-In]: Do so via heavy emphasis of Christian Communism and portraying the Sun Belt Crusaders as being in line with that ideology to this guy

However, I'm thinking this might be a controversial move that might not represent what you guys actually want to do, given we have some disagreement. I'll have an extended voting window or "snap confirmation" on the above and give you guys a chance to clarify things or take a different approach.

Going against the grain is always allowed, and in fact encouraged. The nice thing about being the opposition is that it allows you to ridicule and mock everyone else with impunity. It's a position I've found myself in for many a quest

>>4624201
Crucify that wild injun

>>4624111
You never know until you try.

>>4624201
I'd like to attempt it, see if we can turn that false bravo on its head. We can always resort to other options of it fails. If anything, we can claim he fucked up and put the Revolution in jeopardy, turn the accusations back on him for being the spy in their midst.

>>4622560
>>4622606
>>4622748
>>4623561
>>4624201
>>4624920 <- Interpreting this as a "go ahead"

OPTION SELECTED:
>Double Down: Insist that you really are a diehard Communist and that you really are his friend.
>[Write-In]: Do so via heavy emphasis of Christian Communism and portraying the Sun Belt Crusaders as being in line with that ideology

"Look, you might have some preconceived notions about my faith or faction," you start, "but I can assure you that I am genuine when I say I'm a friend."

"Oh yeah?" He looks incredulous.

"Of course. Our Lord Jesus very heavily stressed the principles that underpin Communism. Have you ever heard of Liberation Theology? Our Church, the Catholic Church, was instrumental in helping to liberate Nicaragua. Christ himself promoted not only common ownership, but also the violent overthrow of the wealthy. What was the cleansing of the moneychangers from the Temple was, if not a type of prophecy?" You don't feel entirely comfortable lying about this subject, but there are lives on the line.

He look curious, or perhaps just confused, as you pour him another mini shot. You may just be convincing him.

"Your Church? I thought the Pope officially declared-"

[1/2]

>>4625158

[2/2]

"The previous Pope has forsaken the Papal Throne!" you emphatically interrupt him. "In declaring the oneness of all of the world's religions and the passing of the Office of Peter onto the whole of humanity, while explicitly speaking ex cathedra no less, he has effectively shattered the Church! But it is not broken. The Gates of Hell can not overcome it, and in this chaos the true Pope, the Messenger, will unite the masses and usher in a new world!" In your impassioned speech, you recall the scandal many said destroyed the faith. "While some commentators tried to futilely downplay the fiasco, and some lost their faith, the Messenger began the process of picking up the pieces and putting them back together stronger than ever. Already in Mobile, we have turned a small village fearing for its existence to a safe, prospering community where each contributes according to his ability, and each receives according to his needs."

"And this 'new world' you mentioned earlier means the overthrow of global finance capital and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat?"

"Yes. Let the Faithful of the World Unite."

"I see. That was a pretty good speech, I'll give you that. Maybe you're not entirely lying, but I'm not nearly convinced either." He requests a little more alcohol. At about a third of a shot per cup, you're not going to get him drunk, but you can get him to keep talking.

"Well, why not?"

"Number one: What little we've heard about you guys before sounded pretty fucking far right. Number two: You haven't proven to me you aren't working for law enforcement. Number three: You're asking for a lot here."

"Reasonable concerns, so how about this..."

>"Go fuck yourself. I'll see you, your parents, and your boyfriend hanging on the gallows once we're done here. Maybe if you save me the time and spit it out right now, I'll show some lenience." [Reveal]
>"I can't stay here forever, but I'll give you further the needed proof over the next few days. You've got to come through on your end, though." [End Mueller's D.A., continue working "off screen," and lock in a similar action next half week]
>"I'm going to break you out. If I could get whiskey in here, I might have something else up my sleeve." [Jailbreak attempt?!?]
>[Write-In]

>>4625160
>>"I'm going to break you out. If I could get whiskey in here, I might have something else up my sleeve." [Jailbreak attempt?!?]
Cuz fuck it

>>4625160
>[Write-In]
Valid concerns, but I am trying to find common ground between us, and I may be your last shot chance of getting out of here. I am also willing to take your final confession if you'd like.

probably didn't need to lie.... but we'd have probably had to do more research or better write ins for that

>>4625160
>>"Go fuck yourself. I'll see you, your parents, and your boyfriend hanging on the gallows once we're done here. Maybe if you save me the time and spit it out right now, I'll show some lenience." [Reveal]

>>4625160
The jailbreak attempt could make us fast friends, and given that high plus whiskey (and other assorted substance) I'd bet he'd spill the beans.

We could just slowly build our relationship with him up, and talk with the other council members in the meantime.

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>players have been making insane choices from the very start of the diplo-action/thread/quest
>decided to play secret agent with a communist infiltrator
>now players might be retarded enough to break him out of jail, escalating the violence and making this thread into a bad Nic Cage action movie for no reason other than 'fuck it'
>mfw
I keep writing these meme options not expecting anyone to pick them, but if $GME and shitcoins have taught me anything, it's to never underestimate the collective willingness of people to act retarded for fun and profit. Of course, don't let that discouraging you from voicing your discontent and voting against such perilous plans of action or supporting them...

>>4625160
>>"Go fuck yourself. I'll see you, your parents, and your boyfriend hanging on the gallows once we're done here. Maybe if you save me the time and spit it out right now, I'll show some lenience." [Reveal]
>>4625943
people are fucking stupid honestly. im actually surprised we havent been punished for making stupid choices so far.

>>4626302
For the record, I have quite a lot of fun with the retarded prompts and am more than fine with doing cheesy B-movie action once in a while. I did let you guys turn an insane conspiracy theorist into a PoV character and enjoyed writing him. I also had fun with the outcome of you guys deciding to immediately break him out of jail, which isn't/wasn't ineffective at all, but came with side effects (going from pro-leo to violent jailbreak does that!) which will be dealt with, you could say. I actually have the update written, but will not post it if it gets voted against from its current position of a tie (didn't see this post before I started writing).

Also for the record, I was fully planning on railing you guys for splitting up your forces to get lots of loot at the defense at Maricopa, as well as having the Mobile Infantry and possibly Trkulja getting captured by the insane convicts if it weren't for very good rolls both times. Instead of Crusaders not fucking up the rout and M.I. acing the stealth rolls, those could have been a major loss/blunder. I even posted a "9000 hours in ms-paint" for the occasion! I do actually make use of a lot of "off-screen" dice rolls, even when not explicitly doing a
>Determining Outcome...

>>4625160
>"I can't stay here forever, but I'll give you further the needed proof over the next few days. You've got to come through on your end, though." [End Mueller's D.A., continue working "off screen," and lock in a similar action next half week]
Or +1 to whatever the prevailing "build relationship to get him to spill the beans" vote is
Not jailbreak

>>4626654
+1

>>4625943
I see $GME as a Joker move, burning the piles of cash to the horror of the Hedge Funds. After all, if the Hedge Funds can manipulate the market and get the government to bail them out, why can't people fuck with them?

>>4626654
I'll change my vote to this

>>4626954
>>4625422

>>4626654
+1

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>>4626654
>>4626855
>>4626954
>>4626975

To use some Catholicism appropriate butchered Latin, habemus votum! I was going to post the Nic Cage action movie update (may or may not have included going full pic related), but the will of the people will be respected. The update will be posted when ready, since it has to be written (unless we get another surprise change in votes?!)

>>4626855
As somebody who may or may not have a foot in the world of finance, all I can say is that it's hilarious that people talk so much about fat tails and black swan events, but lose their shit when it actually happens. The best part is that it's practically a /biz/ level pump and dump type of thing. As can be the case with sports, a team executing a pants-on-head retarded plan as one unit can be remarkably effective, to use a crude analogy.

As far as the upcoming POZ battle goes, who else thinks it would be a prime time to break out our mortars? The defense of Maricopa would be greatly bolstered by them I feel. For that matter, why don't we just fly that Russian up to Vegas?

>>4627103
i was thinking the same thing. i knew that the minute we got ahold of the mortars, they would be used to take over maricopa. since then things have changed, and we are now in an alliance with them. Still, i think they will be pleasantly surprised when we bring them up.

>>4626654
>>4626855
>>4626954
>>4626975
>>4627069

OPTION SELECTED:
>"I can't stay here forever, but I'll give you further proof over the next few days. You've got to come through on your end, though." [End Mueller's D.A., continue working "off screen," and lock in a similar action next half week]
[I'm not sure how I don't notice gigantic glaring errors like not deleting the previous words when I reword something in the moment. Actually, that's a lie, it's because I am incapable of proofreading/editing. In any case, forgive me for my transgressions against the English language!!]

"Alright," he says, squinting and taking a last swig to get any drops left.

You leave the ramshackle jailhouse and its few guards uneventfully. As you leave, you think about ways you could fake your faction's real allegiance. Apparently one of the guys from Mobile owned a print company. Maybe you could convince the Messenger to put resources into that and manufacture the necessary propaganda?

>Construction Option Unlocked:
>Media Center Level 1: Retool existing print media to produce propaganda for the Crusaders. - 50 W.P. [unknown upkeep]

A standard approach might also work. Who knows, maybe the place will break out into open conflict before it matters. You'll be spending another few days trying to sort things out here with Dolores. You can only do your best and pray that God does the rest.

>POV SWITCH TO CARDINAL MUELLER OVER

>PROCESSING END OF HALF-WEEK AS NORMAL...

[1/???]

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>>4628042

[2/???]

>Determining prisoner outcome at the Sierra Estrella
>Neutral

You get word that there was some kind of conspiracy brewing among the prisoners at the black site to start a prisoner revolt. Fortunately, one of the collaborators caught wind of this and informed the guards of exactly who to beat into submission. It was crude, but the problem was nipped in the bud (this time at least.)

>EVENT: Raider Meth Deal

When the person elected to lead the scouting expedition informed you that a group of raiders from the Lewis Prison area expressed interest in buying your product, you were a bit skeptical. After all, the story involved strange elements such as him willingly walking towards a dangerous group of unstable psychopaths alone, two of them getting into a fight for essentially no reason, and something about the New World Order you didn't pay attention to. When the watchmen on the highway defenses reported a small group of highly modified vehicles straight out of a post apocalypse movie, however, your doubts were proven unfounded.

You, one of your cardinals, and Mahoney head over to the highway defenses facing west on the 238. The garrison there is ready for a fight with their guns ready and even a few attached bayonets for effect. "Let them approach, but keep your guard up," you tell the defenders.

The raiders get close, but do not leave their "metal boxes." Instead, they use a loudspeaker. "AYO YOU GOT THE METH OR WHAT?" Apparently the detail about them not knowing how to dial volume options is still the case. Since you are dealing with manifestly unstable individuals, you choose to-

Before you get a loudspeaker of your own and start communicating, Mahoney just casually strolls over to them unarmed in his common attire. He knocks on their window and has a short conversation you can't make out. A few imposing men get out and walk over to your position with Mahoney at their side.

"So, uh, yeah, this is Mobile! It's a pretty cozy place, if I do say so myself! Got any questions or things you-"

"Yeah, where's the meth?" asks a bald white man who looks like he has spent the last twenty years doing push-ups nonstop

"The product!" your cardinal calls out. "We have the highest grade, absolute crème de la crème of the alternative pharmaceutical merchandise! Baby blue and guaranteed to give YOU, the customer, only the-"

"Baby blue, right? That's the stuff the Cartel was fighting over, right?" a skinnier man with spiked armor and a freakish hairstyle asks. There were, in fact, some incidents with the Cartel in the early days, back when meth dealing was the primary focus of your group...

>>4628046

[3/3]

"Well," your cardinal says taking a breath. "We may have possibly had a, you know, an extended donnybrook regarding our product with some fine gentlemen of the Latin American persuasion, but if you're sympathetic to those sorts, I can assure you we have no-"

"Nah, fuck those Californian Cartel fucks. Can I get a sampler?"

"Of course, of course," he says, getting a bag of the meth out and handing it to the individual.

The raider takes the meth and gives it a try. "Yeah, YEAH! This is the GOOD shit! Fuck, you really are those guys from Cali! Yeah, we're definitely buying this shit!"

>Automatic Success: Combination of your faction's nature and their proclivities guarantees the deal

"Ayo, should we tell Bossman or offlo-"

"Shut your fucking mouth! I'm the one doing the talking!"

"Fellows, fellows, let's skip the fighting and go straight to the brass tacks!" your cardinal interjects with.

The conflict is brushed aside and the group begins talking details. It's mostly you and your cardinal doing the talking, with Mahoney occasionally making ill timed jokes(?) about him selling water filters or references to lizards. It is agreed on that they will buy two meth units and show up again next half-week. It's a quite large quantity for what is a sort of test run for them.

One issue does come up, which is payment. It's not that they aren't willing to pay, but that they're not sure how you want to be payed. Given the ongoing Civil War, standard trade practices have essentially gone out the window. Dollars aren't exactly in demand with the worries that whichever faction ends up winning might create a new currency, and things like cryptos are out of the question until somebody returns telecommunications to the Badlands. There are multiple different potential payment types you could ask for, but you settle on:

>Raw Resources: You can't go wrong with the standard "currency" of W.P.
>Food: They apparently have a large surplus of food they don't know what to do with, which you might find useful somehow.
>Mercenary Work: These raiders are willing to lend their services on the battlefield if need be, and you would rather they get potentially killed than your flock.
>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this...
>Preaching Rights: [UNAVAILABLE] They seem to be very adamant that you should not head over to the prison complex themselves and refuse any mention of preaching rights. [UNAVAILABLE]
>[Write-In]

>>4628049
>>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this...

buy the slaves, and set them free. Tell them they can leave or stay, and if they choose to stay give them some shit to do. this will increase our workforce, and give us more opportunities to do stuff. Though we probably will need new farms to feed them. There should be no moral opposition since we are buying the slave to set them free.

If this is actually what that choice meant of course.

>>4628049
>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this...
What the other guy said. Take their slaves/prisoners as payment and "save them" by converting them into loyal followers by immediately showing all those we save the kindness and hospitality of our faction. We will probably need new farms, but we have a massive surplus of food if I recall. If they don't appreciate that, well... we have a special place for them.

I would also like to say that now is the time to start thinking of how we're going to accomplish meth subversion (prototype strategy v0.0). It seems we're in the initial "getting them hooked" stage, and perhaps we start the actual subverison after they're addicted and would do anything for more?

>>4628049
>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this...

More bodies the better, we can put them to work and then integrate them with conversion.

>>4628208
You could probably come up with euphemisms to make it seem not so bad. I mean, every war has its prisoners, and coercive prisoner transfers with compensation really doesn't sound THAT bad, does it? Mental gymnastics for the sake of PR aside, yes, the option means using meth to buy slaves from raiders sourced from areas they raid/conquer.

>>4628049
>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this...
I immediately thought of the prison guards if they aren't all dead, ask for some of their former guards or if they have prisoners that they don't want, a sub faction that is trouble but they can't purge, etc.

If they ask, we just tell them we want prison guards to help set up our own prison and rehab center or something. They won't care too much about the details when we're throwing meth down their throats.

>>4628208
We should probably keep them "confined" to hospital beds to help them get better and earn some good will, that way we can preach and do missionary work and get a good chance to recruit or convert more of them.

>>4628565
>>4628562
as an outsider I would see the buying of slaves as a big no no. But if we were to only buy them to release them, than that would be an acceptable reason. Under no circumstances should we keep anyone as slaves, as we ourselves would become heretics.

I would support a mandatory confinement period to make sure they haven't accrued any mental illnesses, or contagious diseases that could be intentionally spread to them and unto us to wipe us out.

me Ranting

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>>4628049
>Mahoney occasionally making ill timed jokes(?)

>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this...

More people to till the Earth.

>>4628049
>>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this...

As long as it's permanent and we can free them, and if there are some prison guards still around it would be incredibly useful.

If we can't free them, I'd prefer the WP, as our projects hunger for them, and we can set up a side deal later on for Mercenary Work, as having more men on the battlefield is always a boon, especially when they're battle hardened and expendable.

>>4629505
As our movement grows we will need to bolster our internal policing, dare I say it? An inquisition?

>>4628049
>>Raw Resources: You can't go wrong with the standard "currency" of W.P.
>>Food: They apparently have a large surplus of food they don't know what to do with, which you might find useful somehow.

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>>4629537

>>4628208
>>4628246
>>4628315
>>4628565
>>4629310
>>4629505

OPTION SELECTED:
>Human Resources: They mention a large supply of "prisoners" they would be willing to send you a portion of, although it doesn't sound like they're talking about themselves. You have a bad feeling about this..

With the still small size of your faction, you value the extra bodies highly and ask for payment in "alternative human resources," as your cardinal puts it. To be blunt, it's slave trading, which is explicitly outlawed by the Church. That said, purchasing slaves to free them is considered an great act of mercy, and free them you will. Whether they willing accept membership into the flock or whether more forceful action will be needed remains to be seen.

As a show of good faith, you give them half of the payment, an entire M.U., up front with the promise that you'll give them the second half once they hand over the slaves. Apparently, they've had quite some success in raiding and a surplus of people they either don't have the resources or desire to deal with (they were vague and ambiguous about that.) At some point, Mahoney brought up a question about whether or not he could speak to one of the guards to see if what the prisons had regarding the New World Order (you presume he means if they have pre-War intelligence on domestic terrorists). The raiders made sure to very heavily stress the fact that you cannot ask for specific sorts of people, that you should under no circumstances visit the actual prison, and that all trade should be conducted by them visiting the 238 highway defenses . The insistence is strange, but it's a strange world.

Their group drives away long the desert road with a massive quantity of meth that would normally require care and concealment. Thankfully, there are no D.E.A. members to interfere with the trade. Even if they were, you doubt your faction would be their priority, of all things. Mahoney assures you they will uphold their end of the bargain and you have no reason to doubt him, even if he does play the fool.

>The event will resume soon
>Continuing with the turn...

[1/2]

>>4630274

[2/2]

In the mean-time, two construction projects about to finish up. The first one, the training fields, is a fairly minor affair. All it takes are some extensions to the current training area, mostly in the form of utilizing the large open desert spaces. Of note are some paths to train the motorists of the "mechanized" infantry in off-road and on road maneuvers. In addition, there are large areas marked with distances. In the event you decide to train some dedicated mortarists, you now have the necessary space.

The second construction project about to finish is the pharmaceutical workshop add-on to the factory. As a master of drug manufacturing, you know that many products ubiquitous in the medical profession are produced using chemical processes similar or identical to those used in your line of work. Sometimes it is only a few minor steps that make the difference between a schedule 1 substance and a common product available at pharmacies. While you are still limited in output and variety due to either a lack of necessary precursors, specialized equipment, or skilled men, you are still about to be able to produce a not-insignificant supply of medicines and first aid equipment. This is obviously not just beneficial to trade interests, but to military ones as well.

While the training fields and pharmaceutical workshop will have their uses no matter what, it is up to you to decide whether or not you will create dedicated military units using them. In the case of the training fields, you can form a dedicated mortar section (about half a platoon) using some of the equipment you have currently locked away in the armory. In the case of the pharmaceutical workshop, you can create a section of combat medics to provide healing and support on the field. While your supply of men is always limited, it is growing and the creation of new units might be warranted, even if your 3rd Crusader platoon is still reinforcing.

You choose to:
>Focus on reinforcing the existing crusader unit
>Form a dedicated combat medic section (small reduction in pharmaceutical income)
>Form a dedicated mortar section
>Form both in a full "support" company consisting of both sections
>[Write-In]

>>4629243
I did an Internet search on this, and found that (apparently) the Papacy has officially outlawed slavery, but has the ransom of slaves and other such individuals as an encouraged practice. While we are not 100% beholden to the decrees of the Catholic Church (we ARE the Church!!) the less heresy, the better. The raiders you're selling to probably won't care what you do with the "captives."

Last post was redone due to formatting fuckery

>>4630276
>Form both in a full "support" company consisting of both sections

>>4630276
>>Form both in a full "support" company consisting of both sections

>>4630276
>support company
I fucked up there, I meant to say platoon, like the other Crusader units and the Mobile Infantry. Sometimes I mess up with the military lingo, but it should make sense that we have nowhere near enough fighters to raise an entire new company yet and that two half platoons make a single one.

>>4630276
>>Form a dedicated mortar section

>>4630276
>Form a dedicated mortar section

We need more dakka

>>4630276
>>Form a dedicated mortar section

Call it Gods Holy Hellfire

>>4630276
>Form both in a full "support" company consisting of both sections

>>4630276
>Form both in a full "support" company consisting of both sections

If it comes down to the wire, I'd rather have combat medics than a mortar team, if only so we can save and recoup our manpower, along with the potential to give other faction medical assistance as a goodwill gesture.

>>4630458
I like calling the mortar section Hellfire though, it has a nice ring to it.

>>4630604
Well we do need to be ready for the upcoming battle with POZ, we really need to have some people at least somewhat ready to use them as our ace up the sleeve.

>>4630276
i guess both? then again i would also want for us to go back to pre-sierra estrella mountain raid numbers.

>>4630832
we need to have summer Church festivals as to start investing in a long term manpower pipeline. not the most effective method of growing a standing army quickly, but by far the most fun.

>>4630276
>Form both in a full "support" company consisting of both sections

Are we making a mixed company that puts medics next to mortars or are we making both units into company sized formations?

>>4631535
>Are we making a mixed company that puts medics next to mortars

Platoon, but thats what it sounds like, which sounds like its horribly optimized for either direction to me. Medics should be integrated into every platoon while we should have a dedicated mortar section with which to provide support to whichever element needs it. Considering we have an upcoming battle with a numerically superior foe having some trained mortarmen makes more sense than medics at the moment in anycase.

>>4631550
I'd argue that having medics makes more sense than mortars, but that point is entirely irrelevant. I think the general sentiment is to have both medical and mortar elements trained for combat rather than how these elements are organized and implemented into our mechanized forces.

>>4631570
Medics can't do dick if the lines get overran, having dedicated indirect fire assets are far more useful.

>>4630292
>>4630365
>>4630573
>>4630604
>>4630832

OPTION SELECTED:
>Form both in a full "support" platoon consisting of both sections

You decide that the extra support is worth the potential manpower strain. Up to now, most of your forces have either been men with rifles shooting people, or men with rifles shooting people on vehicles. Versatility is an essential aspect of any effective fighting force, even if dependable marksmanship and bold bayonet rushes are its core.

The units won't be joined at the hip, and you won't be so stupid as to force people to lug mortars around trying to escort combat medics as they get close up to dispense God's healing aided by medical supplies. For organizational and logistical purposes, you'll put them under the umbrella of "support," at least until your factions grows in size, God willing. You already have ambitious ideas about what you could do. Maybe you'll make the medics into a new Knights Hospitaller, or equip every mortar team with incendiary shells to put the fear of Hellfire into the hearts of your enemies. In due time. All in due time...

>First Support Platoon Formed
>Priority: Mortar Section [Per Votes]

[1/2]

>>4631736

[2/2]

During this time, you get word from Mayor Preis of Maricopa. He was pleased with your faction's performance in last week's task, which he confides helped shore up the shaky loyalties of his southern territory. He is once again asking for your military support. Or rather, he is asking for a large contingent of your forces to stay at Maricopa for a period of time under the authority of the M.M.P. It's argued that for the Crusaders to best defend against potential POZ aggression and the general dangers of the Badlands, they should be comfortable fighting jointly with Maricopa.

The head of the M.M.P., Brig. Gen. Greger, is adamant that he requires the bulk of your forces present and requires a full company worth at the very least. This is a substantial portion of your forces and will leave your territory less defended than ideal. While your neighbors seem relatively friendly (as friendly as raiders and terrorists can be), you never know what might occur. Also, it will obviously leave you unable to conduct any other diplomatic actions as you have already promised Mueller continued support in his undertaking.

>Accept: This is acceptable. Lock in the diplomatic action to through with the exercise. [No real cost or danger, but requires dedicating a full company, or the equivalent of three full strength platoons of Crusaders or Mobile Infantry]
>Refuse: Tell Preis you aren't following his orders and keep your diplomatic action. [Will have negative consequences]

In addition, Preis asks if you have any input regarding the POZ encounter. On paper, it's just a meeting between the two factions, but it's of course not so simple. They already attacked Maricopa and are a much more powerful faction with bigger priorities. You suspect that they would rather not have to spend the effort and resources needed to wipe out Maricopa, but rather just extract resources in some form. Then again, they might just be totally ideologically motivated and not acting reasonably. You can't be certain. And from Preis' perspective, he might want to bend the knee and potentially save his people from the horrors of war, or alternatively stand firm and try to fight them off. There are a lot of ways this could go, and you're ultimately not the one to decide this. All you can do is provide advice and comments.

What advice or comments do you tell him, if anything?

>[Write-In]

>>4631550
Hope the update cleared that up. No, we're not that stupid that we're going to have guys who have to get very close to do their thing literally running around next to people who want to stay very, very far away (preferably not even in line of sight). I just think it's probably easier at an abstract level than trying to micromanage squads.

>>4631738
>>Accept: This is acceptable. Lock in the diplomatic action to through with the exercise. [No real cost or danger, but requires dedicating a full company, or the equivalent of three full strength platoons of Crusaders or Mobile Infantry]

Fully subjecting ourselves to be under the command of the MMP seems questionable though. Integration is what it sounds like to me.

>>[Write-In

We should advise standing firm and refusing them outright, after all they'll only want more as time goes on if Maricopa shows weakness. We should suffer not the predations of heathen nor heretic!

Perhaps The Messenger himself should pay Maricopa a visit.

>>4631738
>>Accept: This is acceptable. Lock in the diplomatic action to through with the exercise. [No real cost or danger, but requires dedicating a full company, or the equivalent of three full strength platoons of Crusaders or Mobile Infantry]
Agree send Troops and suggest that in return they should send us a few doctors, nurses or pharmacists. investing in growing our Medical capabilities seems like a strong choice. getting access to a variety of doctors who can train a group of our citizens would be a good start. seems like a small sacrifice for the amount of manpower we will be giving up.

What advice or comments do you tell him, if anything?
>[Write-In]
>[Religious Rhetoric]
Point out too Mayor Preis the state of societal breakdown, America was founded on Christian principals and the people need faith now more than ever. Suggest that he brings his community together under God, they dont need too be nearly as religious as we are because a little faith goes along way, pointing out our citizens high moral and Zero crime rate. People are seeking the feeling of safety in communities and if Mayor Preis isn't careful people might turn too the POZ. Ask for permission let the troops we are sending openly try to convert people and hold mass in public spaces. point out the high moral of our citizens. Finally invite him to a sunday Mass is his own city.

>[Write-In]
>[Diplomacy Strats]
As far as the POZ meeting goes, Let Preis know that we have his back 100% no matter what the out come is. Ask him what his plan so far is. then tell him he should come to the table asking for peace with the POZ Possibly appealing to the "Tolerant Left" stating that more blood shed would only hurt the average joe. Lastly tell him that he should buy time in the form of setting up a 2ed meeting in the future with the POZ so we have more time to mobilize. Remind him that these meetings could give good information on the POZ.
Tell he should wait till the 2ed meeting before making any choices.

>[Write-In]
I like the "the umbrella of "support," " a lot as a temporary plan. Kind has the feel of a Football Special teams. in regards to the crusaders as a whole i think that we should prepare the crusaders to be liaisons of the Church. conducting themselves in such a manner that members of the M.M.P. begin wishing that they could become CRUSADERS. Maybe some sick uniforms. Converting M.M.P., Brig. Gen. Greger would be huge. showing clear support of our troops would go a long way.

Make sure one of the cops takes a mugshot of the prisoner and gives us a copy. I want to ask the injuns in time out if they recognize him later.

>>4631736
>Accept: This is acceptable. Lock in the diplomatic action to through with the exercise. [No real cost or danger, but requires dedicating a full company, or the equivalent of three full strength platoons of Crusaders or Mobile Infantry]

>[Write-In]
"Live and let live policy" Let them know that we will not give in to extorsion but if they insist on doing so we'll just divert to the right wing coalition. Maricopa will remain neutral in this conflict (for now at least).

>>4632131
This is good. I like this.

>>4632233
>"Live and let live policy"
This is also good.

>>4631738
>Accept: This is acceptable. Lock in the diplomatic action to through with the exercise. [No real cost or danger, but requires dedicating a full company, or the equivalent of three full strength platoons of Crusaders or Mobile Infantry]

Send a Cardinal to act in our interests then. I'd say Bob, as he has a relationship with the Mayor and MMP leadership, and has the most experience and knowledge with Maricopa than the others. Or the Messenger, as both an act of goodwill and to normalize our faction's presence within the township. We should look into get more educated or skilled labor into our faction as well, and from the sound of it, Maricopa may have underutilized reserves of it available for use.

Don't submit, instead point out that taking out Maricopa would divert valuable resources and manpower that may be better used elsewhere. A deal can be cut between our two sides, but if they want to take Maricopa by force, there will be Hell to pay, they'd have few if any qualified farmers to till the fields, and scorched earth is still on the table, if needed. Better to bide our time if we can.

>>4631637
Having a one trick pony is useful... until the ammunition runs out. Then the mortar team would be even more useless than the *combat* medics.

We're going to need a WP injection before we can build up our factory with the capacity to replace our mortar shells.

>>4632039
>>4632131
>>4632233
>>4632258
>>4632265

OPTION SELECTED:
>Accept: This is acceptable. Lock in the diplomatic action to through with the exercise. [No real cost or danger, but requires dedicating a full company, or the equivalent of three full strength platoons of Crusaders or Mobile Infantry]

Committing such a large number of forces would leave you vulnerable and unable to do much diplomatically these few days. That said, you are not in much of a position to refuse, and this may be of benefit. In the event of another battle in Maricopa, having the M.M.P. and the Crusaders able to fight jointly without interfering with each other's plans would be of use. Last time it wasn't necessary due to the unorthodox approach you took, but if the encounter between Maricopa and the POZ becomes violent that all changes.

OPTION SELECTED:
>Advice: Full Support; Stand Firm

On the topic of the POZ encounter, you inform the mayor of your faction's full support no matter what course of action he chooses. You know that he is the one who makes the final decision regarding his town, and you respect that. That said, you tell him that your personal view is that he should not back down and give into no demands. The POZ setting up a "meeting" after launching an attack is naked extortion that shouldn't be entertained. Ideally, they would be neutral in the conflict for Phoenix and the best way to achieve that is through strength and resilience.

You also give him an open invitation to a Sunday Mass service, which you highly recommend he to attend. You highly doubt he will actually be able to attend any time soon due to how busy he must be and how low of a priority attending his client's de-facto village must be. Still, it is worth a shot, and Lord willing, he might take you up on the offer at some point.

>Second Diplomatic Action Locked In
>Almost All Non-Garrison Troops Committed
>[????????]


[1/???]

>>4634691

[2/???]

The Lewis Raiders do end up returning to Mobile with the human cargo in tow. About a dozen people, all ragged looking fighting age males, are brought out at gunpoint. Many of them bear wounds or the scars of recent healing. The transaction goes by quickly, with the terms having been discussed beforehand. The raiders get their meth, you get your prisoners, and they leave. One of the Mobile Infantrymen manning the defenses recognizes them as the bikers who previously tried to extort Mobile, back before your faction moved in (the ones you thought would be potential buyers). It's a reminder of how quickly the tide turns.

As Catholic doctrine requires, you grant them their freedom. As common sense requires, you have to orient them and integrate them into your society. You wouldn't want to place every group of ragged ex-bikers you come across into the community still dealing with growing pains from the wave of Maricopan migrants and the original Mobile population. They are taken to the Sierra Estrella where they will be kept until they are properly acclimated.

Before they are hauled off for integration (which could either go very quickly or take a while depending on temperament), you ask them about where they are from and about their captors. They say that they were based in the outskirts of Gila Bend and conducted raids and extortion attempts in the power vacuum caused by the total failure of the U.S. to keep order in rural Arizona. When the Lewis Raiders came in with a large, organized, and viscous force the bikers were overwhelmed as much as Gila Bend was. Apparently there's still fighting there, but these guys really don't know much about the Raiders or Gila Bend, nor do they care. They are at least thankful they're not with the raiders...

>Slaves freed.
>Freed slaves taken to the Sierra Estrella for processing...

The strange terrorist group turned mercenaries to the north have given your faction an opportunity to fight alongside them in the ongoing conflict in Phoenix. They are assigned with an attack on a government building with a POZ garrison. The mission involves moving through some mountains nestled within Phoenix's massive sprawl and through a water treatment plant to strike unexpectedly. You're sure your underlings would love to go on such an adventure, but your faction is too busy at this time.

>Side Ops: Available this half-week

As the week is about to end, you make the finishing touches on the pharmaceutical workshop. Starting tomorrow, production of goods should begin and will be mostly handled by your underlings, specifically the ones with some experience with the chemistry meth production. With time, you could make a few specializations.

>Construction Option Unlocked:
Hallucinogen Manufacturing: Create a variety of mind altering substances. - 150 W.P. [Synergy: Oubliette]
Advanced Pharmaceutical Equipment: Allows for the production of advanced drugs. - 550 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]

>>4634702

[3/???]

[START OF WEEK 6, HALF 1]

>Ex-bikers added to prisoner count
>Artillerists now training
>About one week until the POZ comes knocking at Maricopa's door...

>Manpower:
2 full strength Mechanized Infantry Platoons [LOCKED UP IN TRAINING EXERCISE]
1 full strength Mobile Infantry Platoon [LOCKED UP IN TRAINING EXERCISE]

1 half strength Mechanized Infantry Platoon
1 quarter strength Support Platoon [Priority: Artillery Section]
Half Platoon Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mountain Base]
Half Platoon Garrisoned Mobile Light Infantry [Mobile]

~260 followers (non-combatants)
~115 prisoners

>Wealth:
195 Wealth Points
+55WP per half-week from followers
+10 WP per half-week from Maricopan patronage
210 Food Units
-36 Food from consumption per half week
+30 Food from 5 farms
+15 Food from Maricopan patronage
13 Meth Units
+7 M.U. per half-week

>ACTIONS AVAILABLE:
1 Construction Action
1 Diplomatic Action
1 Flexible Action

>Projects:

>Construction Actions Possible: Unless stated otherwise, assuming 1 week to complete.
Farm: Restore some abandoned farmland. Makes more food. - 35 W.P. [Takes only half a week]
Chemical Weapons Lab Level 1: Allows for the production of basic chemical weapons. - 400 W.P.
Machine Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic weapons and ammunition. - 300 W.P.
Explosives Workshop Level 1: Allows for the production of basic explosives. - 500 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]
Training Fields: Upgrade an existing firing range to allow for training with higher tier weaponry. - 50 W.P. [Takes only half a week]
Broadcast Tower: Sends messages far and wide to anyone with a car or receiver. Massive boost to propaganda. - 150 W.P.
Oubliette: Dungeon like room for basic interrogation/conversion. Unlocks conversion (brainwashing) oriented construction options. - 100 W.P.
Improved Housing: Continue improving housing to support a larger population - 40 W.P.
>Hallucinogen Manufacturing: Create a variety of mind altering substances. - 150 W.P. [Synergy: Oubliette]
>Advanced Pharmaceutical Workshop: Allows for the production of advanced drugs. - 550 W.P. [Requires Skilled Crew for Optimal Function]
>Media Center Level 1: Retool existing print media to produce propaganda for the Crusaders. - 50 W.P. [unknown upkeep] [Takes only half a week]
Nothing: Save the W.P. and forgo construction
[Write-in]

>Special: Can use a one time 50% discount on a factory upgrade if desired

>>4634705

[4/4]

>Toggles
Purchase advertising for Maricopa's radio to help with recruitment/outreach - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]
Send Cardinal Mueller out to the Reservation to preach. - 5 W.P. per end of the (full) week [UNAVAILIBLE]
Crudely "preach to" prisoners at the Sierra Estrella location (i.e. brainwash) - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]

>Diplomatic Actions Possible:
Envoy: Send a diplomatic envoy to a location to engage in trade, propagandize, or make agreements. Better at getting deals than scouts, but has no stealth and is worse if a fight breaks out. Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Maricopa, Goodyear, or a [Write-in] and note what you specifically want them to do.
Scouting: Have the group organize a scouting party and explore a location. Stealthy and decent at a fight, but not very good if diplomacy is needed. Select from the Gila Bend, Maricopa, or a [Write-in] and specify what you want them to do.
Raiding Party: Send forces out to a location and attack them for loot and dominance.
Missionary Outreach: Send missionaries to a location to recruit people into the totally legitimate religion. Could anger the locals if you don't have permission! Select from a location such as Gila Bend, Goodyear, or [write-in].
Side Ops: Do mercenary work [CURRENTLY AVAILABLE!]
Nothing: Forgo a diplomatic action.
[Write-in]

NOTE: TWO DIPLOMATIC ACTIONS {Envoy: Mueller Reservation Buddy Cop Investigation} {Training Exercise: Maricopa} ALREADY LOCKED IN

>Select a construction action, and zero diplomatic actions for this half-week (and optionally, toggle changes)

>Roll 2d100 for events

Pretty big update, but we're finally done for the turn. I'm hoping I didn't forget/fuck up anything, but I think it's all proper. I'll post if needed. And before you guys ask, yes, I was planning on having the Boogie Side Op adventure take place on this time before you guys locked in all of your diplo actions.

Rolled 17, 26 = 43 (2d100)

>>4634705
>>Media Center Level 1: Retool existing print media to produce propaganda for the Crusaders. - 50 W.P. [unknown upkeep] [Takes only half a week]

Let's get the propaganda machine online.

>>4634828
;_;

Rolled 92, 64 = 156 (2d100)

>>4634705
>Improved Housing: Continue improving housing to support a larger population - 40 W.P.


Can someone tell me all the information about Gila Bend before I decide on a Diplomacy action?

>>4634705
>>Media Center Level 1: Retool existing print media to produce propaganda for the Crusaders. - 50 W.P. [unknown upkeep] [Takes only half a week]

>12 slaves

Less than I was hoping

>>4634859
>dem rolls
;_;

Also, our Diplomacy actions are locked, so it's just our Construction action for the moment.

>>4635100
WP or Mercenary work would have been more preferable, but everyone decided on human capital. Funniest bit about this is that I'm not even sure supporting the slave trade is worth the MU.

Rolled 92, 52 = 144 (2d100)

>>4634711
>>Media Center Level 1: Retool existing print media to produce propaganda for the Crusaders. - 50 W.P. [unknown upkeep] [Takes only half a week]
I really think this is the way to go. id rather not focus our limited man power on brainwashing individuals and thats why ive always avoided Constructing the Oubliette. It seems like a very big Labor and Time Sink for something that seems so sinister even compared to our other actions.(the MK Ultra vibes freak me out). id rather have a Enlightened society(much more Holy) than a Brain Washed one. People just need small well worded reminders to Stay The Good Course. from what ive read 21% of Arizonans are Roman Catholic. why Brain Wash if already have such a untapped likeminded population?

1 Flexible Action. QM i dont fully understand what we can use this for. if we can use it for Construction than i say we go with:
Improved Housing: Continue improving housing to support a larger population - 40 W.P.
For all the new Catholics

>Toggles
Purchase advertising for Maricopa's radio to help with recruitment/outreach - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]
Send Cardinal Mueller out to the Reservation to preach. - 5 W.P. per end of the (full) week [UNAVAILIBLE]
Crudely "preach to" prisoners at the Sierra Estrella location (i.e. brainwash) - 5 W.P. per half week [CURRENTLY ON]
We should try to somehow lower our Prisoner/Population Ratio. Keep on preaching the good word i guess?


>>4634859
We dont have a Diplomacy action this turn. its already locked in.

>>4635122
Defiantly should demand W.P next time. maybe even raise the price once the start depending on the stuff.

>>4634705
>Nothing: Save the W.P. and forgo construction

>>4634705
Since we have a week from the "meeting" I think there might be some urgency on increasing combat capabilities, which makes me want to take the half-off bonus and construct chemical weapons or explosive workshops. BUT. We'll probably be ok without it, I think the chance of combat is low enough.
I want to build
>Media Center Level 1: Retool existing print media to produce propaganda for the Crusaders. - 50 W.P. [unknown upkeep] [Takes only half a week]
I was really excited when this was unlocked, because I had been wanting something like the Broadcast Tower without the obvious downsides that would be major promlems at our early stage of development.
We could even do airborne pamphlet drops with our airplane!

>>4635153
>double 92
Is God giving me a chance a redemption?

A Flexible Action can be used as either a Construction or Diplomacy Action. Unfortunately, our FA has been locked in by {Training Exercise: Maricopa}.

>>4635166
They could give us WP when they lack prisoners to send to us, but we should be contacting the other factions fighting over Gila Bend as well, see if they are just as receptive to us as the raiders.

>>4634859
Gila Bend is being fought over by the Lewis Raiders, former prisoners who took control of the prison and have been terrorizing the population since, and at least one other faction, probably the legitimate government or civilian militia. We're trading meth for people from the raiders.

>>4635200
>We could even do airborne pamphlet drops with our airplane!

Thats the spirit

>>4635153
>why Brain Wash if already have such a untapped likeminded population?
because we keep getting revolt rolls rolls every week? what are you going to do about it?

>>4634705
>Construction Action
>Oubliette: Dungeon like room for basic interrogation/conversion. Unlocks conversion (brainwashing) oriented construction options. - 100 W.P.
one third our population is composed of prisoners. we cant risk everything we've fought for just because we happen to roll a 1 on a dice one of these weeks.

>1 Flexible Action
Dig trenches.
Mobile needs reinforcement in case of a hypothetical attack. Even if it never happens, it can be used in the future. If OP needed us take such a decision, is because he is probably rolling on what happens to Mobile while we're gone.

>>4636168
Support, we need to prep for the attack, and we wasted last week doing nothing for it.

We should also do security more sweeps for infiltrators or sleepers. Keep track of any outgoing signals via triangulation and watch the coming and going of people into and out of town.

>>4636168
>>4636738

We can only do 1 construction action this turn

>>4636952
then lets make non visible defenses like dig potholes 20 meters away from the road on both sides, or get a bunch of vigicles rigged with propane and gas loaded with rubber tires to form roadblocks to box em in if they make it in the city. Anything to prep the incoming attack.
Heck start drilling milita.

>>4637087
We're are doing combined forces training with the MMP, anon. Plus, we already build some defensive structures from Mobile.

>>4636168
In all honesty, I was hopping of saving up WP for a half-off Explosive Factory addition, to help with the creation of more mortar ammunition before we build a Oubliette. This is also why I thought WP would have been a useful trade-off for our MU, as he nicer upgrades require a lot of WP to get.

>TFW you've been away from the thread for months
Life is a bitch, ain't it?

>OBSERVATIONS
>Slave Trading
Okay so interesting things to note: 1 Meth Unit = "about a dozen people" in buying power, lets say 10 just for the sake of rounding down. This means at our current weekly income of meth, we have a maximum slave-repatriation / freeing capacity of 70 people per week (roughly). That is equal to 26.9% of our current population.

>Construction
Nice, having a supply of medical goods makes us even more favourable as an ally, both for trade and military reasons. Next I'd advise we either get ourselves the Media Center, given its low cost to construct and potential to seriously augment our recruiting / diplomatic efforts. Also maybe the Improved Housing since our population is continuing to rapidly grow.

Alternatively we don't do any construction and save up to construct further workshops but I've my doubts that this is smart, investing in recruitment infrastructure accelerates the gain of new followers who in turn provide W.P production which accelerates construction (both by funding but also by providing additional actions to dedicate to it).

>Support Company
I'm 50/50 if going for the mortars before the medics was smart, given we're going to be fighting defensively over open terrain where saving manpower is going to be more useful than nailing the occasional hard target with a mortar, especially since Maricopa probably won't let us Broken Arrow positions or fire into their urban regions if the POZ attack pushes that far.

I also still say we should be concentrating our MGs into a support group to maximise their effectiveness rather than their current deployment (which I believe is still with the Garrison forces of the black site / Sierra Estrella)