LSF Operational Guide

[CO. Slate]

Liberty Security Force
Department of War Operations Planning
OPERATIONAL GUIDE - OF FOREIGN POWERS

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Foreign powers are smart and want to live just as much as you do. We'll give you a brief run-down on them, and go into detail later.

Don't even try to exploit them.

The Nomads are individual colonies of organisms akin to the Earth's Portuguese Man O' War commanded by a brain-like entity. They are opportunistic and predatory, but their real danger comes from within. It is theorized that their "incubus" organisms are how they infiltrate and destroy civilizations they believe to encroach upon "their" territory. Their attempt in 801 A.S. failed, and the remnants continue to carry it out. They are the most foreign of all, but one can find their nonexistent thumbs in places they may not expect...
General tips:
Nomads offer the short-sighted power, but it's hollow: Any bargain with them will be Faustian in nature, and the end goal for them is the annihilation of the human race. Once the human is no longer useful, they will be cast aside and killed unceremoniously, or the Nomad parasite within them stops even entertaining their delusions of control.
Nomads are reactive: The Nomads are forced to shepherd their limited resources and so any actions undertaken by a Nomad organism is likely in reaction to human activity.
Nomad human servitors range between very human and Nomad drones.
Nomad organisms only negotiate as a delaying tactic.
When Questioning:
This only applies to potential human servitors; Nomad organisms are likely to attack on sight.
Anyone talking about "the light" and whatnot is likely not being too subtle.
Psychic phenomena are usually an indicator of Nomad presence.
Don't let them near you.

All further information on these aliens is either classified or redundant for this guide, and if you are cleared to know, you have already seen the relevant materials related to them.

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The Kingdom of Bretonia is a broken shell of what it once was. It maintains a fleet of mothballed warships and is plagued by secessionist movements that have for the most part succeeded.
They maintain solid diplomatic relations with us, Rheinland and the Crayter Republic. Planetform, Inc. is currently engaging in contracts within Gallia, so relations between them may improve, although what the Royal Navy did to Leeds will be a black mark until the end of human history.
General tips:
Bretonians are aristocratic: You all know good kids from good families. Most of you are said good kids from good families. Multiply that by about a hundred. That's Bretonia.
The BAF is stretched thin: Bretonia's industrial base is in shambles, and is expected to continue to be for the foreseeable future; the loss of Leeds saw the total industrial output in the entire Sirius Sector reduced by an approximate 15%.
Large numbers of Bretonian refugees have settled in Liberty:^[1] The Gallic War saw billions of Bretonians displaced. Most of them re-settled on Cambridge, Carlisle, and Sprague, but a sizeable amount ended up on California Minor and Erie.
When Questioning:
Most high-class Bretonians are courteous, whereas the working class are crass. Know what kind of Bretonian you're talking to before trying to pump them.
Bretonian national pride is the hook into their heart.
Offers of smokes and real food are likely to open doors.
[1] There are large amounts of Bretonian war brides in Liberty. Our sources show that in most cases, children of such unions are being raised Libertonian.

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The Gallic Union is an amalgamation of the Gallic breakaway states having re-formed after the Gallic War and subsequent Kusari surprise attack.
They are currently building relations with Imperial Rheinland and mending relations with the Empire of Kusari.
General tips:
Gallia is Liberty's indirect competitor: Citizens of Liberty are advised not to linger too long within Gallia. Agents of the LSF are to have a strong cover identity before even considering operations in the area.
EFL is a priority target: EFL represents competition to Ageira and Interspace's control of the Gates and Lanes.
Gallia is wounded but unbroken: Gallia's economy is expected to recover rapidly. The loss of centuries of military buildup in ten years has for the most part shut down their dreams of ruling over all of humanity.
When Questioning:
Former Council personnel may be the best building blocks to getting an ear in.
The Nobility still hold power: For all their talk of being more equal, the nobility within Gallia still hold enough power to get their way. The nouveau-riche will likely implode soon enough.
The Union Corse holds more sway than they let on: The Corse are a criminal organization akin to the Junkers and Hogosha, organized along family lines. Lean on them to get dirt on other criminals.

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The Empire of Kusari is a proud and prosperous nation, with close ties to the Gas Miners Guild.
They are currently maintaining excellent relations with Imperial Rheinland, mending relations with the Gallic Confederacy, and are once more leaning into the Bretonian markets. They may also be building relations with the Corsair Empire, but Corsairs are still occasionally seen raiding within Kusari.
They currently have tense relations with the Crayter Republic. Junkers are treated as even worse dirty unwashed foreigners.
General tips:
The Kusari place large emphasis upon respect: This respect is mostly the same as Libertonian ideals of respect, with a few odd customs. Personal space is more prized for the individual, for example, and bowing takes the place of handshakes.
The Emperor is the spiritual head of the Kusari people: The Emperor is a distant figure to most, but is still the font of wisdom and legitimacy. He exists better as a distant spiritual ideal, so the Samura corporate-backed Shogun can command his armies and wield de facto power.
The Kusari are, in general, xenophobic: Imagine if everyone was a Xeno. That's Kusari. Foreigners are barely tolerated, and even then, they pretty much have to be sugar daddies (that is, spending money in Kusari).
When Questioning:
Never demand, always request: Kusari place a larger emphasis on networking. See guanxi for details.
The Kusari place a larger emphasis on face: Be gracious and let them save face.
Never impugn the Emperor: The lowest of the low, the most base outlaw, the most honorless pig, if they are Kusarian, will try to gut you if you disparage the Emperor. Any political quarrel would be between the Shogun, the supreme military leader, and the rest of Sirius. The Emperor is sacrosanct.

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The Empire of Rheinland was wracked by civil war and Nomad infestations, but we don't say the second half out loud.
They are currently maintaining excellent relations with Imperial Kusari, building up relations with the Gallic Confederacy, and have at least decent relations with Bretonia.
General tips:
Rheinlanders may seem cold: Rheinlanders are to a fault hierarchical and authoritarian.
There is little bad blood over the war: Everyone's wanted to move on for fifteen years. Don't bring it up.
Rheinland's brass are secretive: Information is actually kept under decent lock and key. It's likely that most people interviewed genuinely know nothing.
When Questioning:
Lager opens doors.
Social activities revolve around bars, or "beer halls": Privacy is not guaranteed in person.
Nomad Infection runs rampant: A Rheinland HVT is most likely to have a Nomad parasite near them. Efforts to contain them are underway by their intelligence services, but until they bear fruit, operations within Rheinland are severely curtailed.