Second Life Herald

SL Military : Divided

by Proteus Hand, war correspondent

Proteus Hand

For those of you who don't keep up with their events, there exist two treaties, the Ascendant Initiative, and the Iron Symphony. Most people will argue against this claim, but from what everyone seems to understand, the initial catalyst started when the Merczateers scripted together a riot shield. Upon testing it in the Alliance Navy headquarters, Dorien, without really any warning, the Alliance Navy considered it a shield, and sent a notice to the Mercz labeling them as a griefer military, and they had cleared tactics otherwise considered cheap and deplorable to be used against them.

Vehemently outraged by the insult, the Ordo Imperialis, Militant Collective, and Merczateers convened to collectively ban every member of the Alliance Navy, and let them fight either their allies, or smaller, less organized groups. Their intention was simply to never have to deal with the Alliance Navy's pomp and circumstance, and overwhelming firepower, but as a plus, many of them hope that the AN will atrophy into disarray and die.

Yet the Iron Symphony was countered by a similar move, hoping to solidify the current treaty which had been written by Alliance Navy personnel, STABLE, which was made in response to the failed Merczateer treaty, MOSCOW. (Past references from last year may be found on the Herald.) Flanking the Alliance Navy in friendship are the 39th and Sparta, among other small military groups who come and go.

I fumbled my trusty pen as my communicator flashed, and the shadowy face of Jim Herbst's gas-mask appeared before me. The wall behind him was a sandy brown, with caramel trim about the ceiling, floor, and his hair, a similar color, smoothly lined his well groomed head from underneath his cap of Admiralty. He nodded to me, tested his voice, which sounded oddly clear from behind a mask, and my interview with the Admiral began.

Second Life Sky Navy Sinking Fast

Fox Mainline destroys main SLSN group - Ethan Schuman currently sole leader of the resurrected SLSN
by Proteus Hand - War Correspondant

Mere fortnights ago, the Second Life Sky Navy met a disaster of proportions not seen in military scandals before. I logged on one morning, with an invitation to serve as OWNER of the SLSN, and was later notified that the leader, Steve319 Cao, had his account hacked, and his group destroyed before his very eyes. Many who found themselves calling this military home, as soldiers often do, watched in unfathomable horror as their exclusive equipment was wantonly distributed among the masses, by their gleefully saboteurs.

I was able to establish contact with a very old cohort of mine, Ethan Schuman, who seemed to be deeply involved with the SLSN cataclysm. It went rather well, interview is as follows :

Second Life’s Military Has One Epic Party

Militias turn off damage, perform Russian dances

by Vegna Fouroux, war correspondent

The epic begins with dancing to "In the Navy"

On one bright Sunday morning I was wandering round an empty Dismal Plunge, bored. I got a mysterious tp from a friend of mine, Darakon. He proclaimed that LawrenceJoseph Roffo was steadily building a massive russian dance-off. Now many of you may know LJ from his time in the Alliance Navy, the Merczateers or Vanguard armed forces. I accepted the tp for the sheer randomness of it all. When I arrived there was 5 guys kneeling down performing Russian dances to music coming from Lawrence's mic. After a while I left, a good time had by all.

About 4 hours later Sasuke Undercity a fellow soldier in the Militant Collective begin tp-ing us into a party. The same Russian dance. Lawrence and the fellow host Jumanji Hatfield had taken over 2142's base. LordBob Boa and James Benedek had been kind enough to turn off damage for the party. What had started as 3 guys messing around in some island (Xyekep, Lawrence Joseph and Jumanji) had developed into an epic military function; with AN, Mercz,The Fabled of Arkhein, MC, 2142 and even a few spartans were present. TP's were offered to Jim Herbst admiral of the Alliance Navy but they were declined.

At one point there must have been at least 40-50 people in Metropole Extreme North (videos of the party courtesy of Darakon Kayvon and eye korobasa).

Arkhein -- SL Combat's Breath Of Fresh Air

Darakon Kayvon not fighting A.I and Iron "Axis of Emo" Symphony factions - yet

by Vegna Fouroux, war correspondent

Arkhein's Xyekep Richez and Proteus Hand

For several months now combat in Second Life has been at a deadlock, with the militaries of the Iron Symphony slowly phasing out their fights with the militaries of Ascendant Initiative. Its been all very boring and sluggish with little fighting or as Christoph Naumova put it "leaders hiding behind their banlines."

Recently a friend of mine, Proteus Hand decided he was going to start his own military, The Fabled of Arkhein. A Norse-themed group, Arkhein has been growing steadily over the past month. I decided to stop by their sim Prometheus and talk to the lads who started it all.

I first talked with Darakon Kayvon, the man who used to head up arkhein's heavy support division; Biorn and now oversees Arkhein's general operation when Proteus or Avil Creegan (the other leader in the group, a former top man in the Alliance Navy and known sandwich enthusiast) aren't online.

Vegna Fouroux: So, firstly; why did you decide to join Arkhein?
Darakon Kayvon: Well, it was the time when i had joined forces with the Sky Raider's with Trazen Vendetta, and was crucified by Aduro Nightfire AKA Jasyn Shepherd. Proteus came into the Sky Raider's as a personnel as well as a big assistant. He told me of his Plans for the Arkhein, which matched my ideals very much. Proteus made me an Arkhein member since near enough the beginning of the re-creation of the Sky Raiders, now known as Hyperius Tactical Forces.

Vegna Fouroux: Ah yes, Trazen is banned now i believe, after hacking SLSN leader Steve319 Cao's account. I believe you've chosen to ally yourself with Vanguard Armed Forces. Now many would regard Vanguard with distaste to say the least. Can I ask you why you have done this?
Darakon Kayvon: Proteus presented the alliance to Christoph first. But what we do know is that Christoph has lived up to the Alliance as well as the rest of Vanguard. We find them as skilled fighters, led by a nutter of a leader thus they make good ally's rather than enemies. Vanguard have one of the best obstacle course's i've ever seen.

The Alliance Navy - Banished & Forgotten?

Merczateer accuses AN of spawnkilling, sithacking in response to riot shield testing in Dorien

by Fox Mulgrave, Military Correspondent

I have seen many strange things in my time in the Second Life military community, personal vendettas, operations such as Crucifix and Crucifix II and of course the infamous Emit Time scandal, however, they all seemed to have sense in them, a purpose and reason. What you are about to read however, is quite the opposite.

Militant Collective Commander Raideur Ng refuses to bow down

Wednesday night and I was trawling through my friends list looking for someone who may have a story to tell, I found hope from a friend in the Ordo Imperialis (formerly the Venuma Coalition and The Alliance Navy II). It turns out that some kind of joint operation between the Merczateers, Militant Collective, and the Ordo has taken place; Tuesday night, all three militaries began the long process of banning all members from the Alliance Navy group, intending to cut them out of the loop completely. Some may see this as a surrender, others, like Raideur Ng (Head of Militant Collective) insists that the move was made due to AN’s ‘overactive’ use of homing kill-scripts.

Those who refused to bow down: Raideur Ng, Lurdan Huszar, Anthony Lehane, Aryte Vesperia.

Intent on finding the truth, I visited Dorien, and began to question the AN, who actually didn’t seem too bothered by the banning, in fact they seemed quite amused.

Rebuilt New German Army A Growing Threat

Better uniforms, multi-prong strategy, and Mercanzeteer alliance

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Early in 2007, a series of violent pro- and anti- Front National (FN) protests sparked by Jean-Marie Le Pen supports’ in-world presence ended up on the doorstep of the Modern German Army in SL - creating what the German Army referred to as ‘unbearable French lag’ at their base in Porcupine sim.

Since those dark days in January, the New German Army has been adapting and refining its uniforms, weapons, and tactics to become a formidable foe for those who might try to reign in its expansion. While it is reported that the Mercanzeteer militia has taken a policy of appeasement toward the Germans - is this really a wise course? More importantly, what is the secret to the German’s success? Tristan Mineff recently took a time for an exclusive interview with the Herald. What I learned may give other armies pause - can anyone stop the German army's expansion? What will this growing threat do to the shaky balance of power between SL militias?

Tristan Mineff: Hai thar, Frau Mistral.
Pixeleen Mistral: Hi Tristan - what's new?

Tristan Mineff: the German Army. we Rebuilt.
Pixeleen Mistral: really? how is that going?
Tristan Mineff: we are now a potential counterweight to AN and mercz power.
Pixeleen Mistral: seriously?
Tristan Mineff: indeed.

Tristan Mineff: In fact, we defeated AN's old ally.
Tristan Mineff: AM. SLSN. and DAE. even got new uniforms.

Sabotage in Badnarik Sim - Avalanche!!!

Badnarik sim pwned! Who is to blame for man-made disaster? Merczateer officers? South South African security staff?

by Ace Graveling - war correspondent

Searching for survivors of the Badnarik avalanche

I stood upon the frozen ground and surveyed the landscape, my trusty photographer Llama Mike at my side. I had been assigned to cover this story, and it would be a story that would forever change my perspective of war, of life, of love, and of mortality. Upon first laying eyes on the damage, only one thought passed through my mind. It is a powerful thought, maybe a feeling more than a thought, maybe both at the same time. Whatever it is, it is something that I have found myself unable to pass through parted lips, and something that I have not spoken of amongst my colleagues. It is something I can only express at a typewriter.

I think it's awe.

In the darkest hours of the night, some person or persons had intentionally caused an avalanche from the tall mountain ranges of Badnarik sim, located just south of the southernmost part of South Africa. The entire complex had been wiped out, and only bits and pieces of it remained visible above the void created by the snow. The snow was a dirty grey, covered as it were in speckles of a brilliant crimson, and - except smelling of fuel, decay, and the bitter cold.