Grey Skies (Orders due by July 10th!)

[sparkletwist]

[ic=Message to Mr. Angelus]As Lady Regent, it is my aim to make sure our city's economy function adequately. I understand you had some concerns. Perhaps you'd care to share them with me, and perhaps suggest how I might remedy them? I am always ready and willing to listen to the concerns of our city's businessmen, as they are the engine driving progress, after all. Do keep in mind that we are in something of a fiscal crunch at this point...
[/ic]

[ooc=Orders]
- Enact the "Fiat Currency" plan as laid out above. Any assets spent from the government's funds, including automatic expenditures, should follow this plan.
- Use my contacts in less savory elements of society, both the prostitution and the corruption end of it, to gather as much intelligence about the shady activities of the Syndicalists as possible. Have it sent to me, and also forward anything useful (except anything blatantly incriminating of me) to the Lady Militant Marle Lourdes Izar. If needed, spend the government's 1 surplus asset in this operation to hire investigators and pay off informants.
- Dispatch my security forces to the boroughs that are in my pocket and use them to attempt to maintain order, as written in my note to Leeward Green. The primary objective is to secure "turf," secondary is to relieve some of the burden on the Gendarmery.
- If and when the opportunity presents itself, replace Regency staff members with people personally loyal to me.
- Continue seeking opportunities to use the the office of the Regency for my own personal benefit.
- Spend 1 asset on upkeep for my security forces.
- Spend 4 assets enhancing my own production.
[/ooc]

[Polycarp]

My orders are largely contingent upon Sarisa's reply to me... If it's alright with you TMG, I'll hold off until tomorrow, and if I still don't have a reply then I'll come up with something anyway.

[Mason]

[ic=Message to Phinean Trennan]

Sir Phin,
   Go ahead with your plans. Use every contact you have in the media and make sure all networks have their eyes on you. I don't need any unwanted media attention on Forge in the next couple of days. Good luck in Absalon Sir Phin, if all goes well I will be joining you shortly.

L.M. Marle Lourdes Izar
[/ic]

[ic=Message to Lady Regent Ciara Romanova]

Lady Regent,
    Some of my informants have told me of Syndicalist sympathizers in our criminal underworld. I am forwarding information regarding the Black Rose Triad, and one "Stilleto" character we are yet to identify. Do you have any contacts in this area? Any information you could share would be helpful in eliminating the Syndicate threat.

L. M. Marle Lourdes Izar
[/ic]

[ooc=Orders]

5 in favor of Lady Regents economic measures.

Spend 1 asset in continued investigation/infiltration of the Black Rose Triad. Any information on Syndicalist activities should be a priority.  Forward any relevant information to Lady Regent Ciara Romanova

Spend 3 assets arming/mobilizing any volunteer knights to march into Forge. Open full scale attack on Syndicalist resistance. Orders are to NOT pillage and burn, but take prisoners where possible. 

Spend 2 assets increasing my production

[/ooc]

[Polycarp]

[ic=At the Trennan Estate]Phineo Trennan stared down into his glass and swished the clear spirit around.  "Syrus, do you suppose it's gone to my head, this Council business?"
"It... doesn't seem your style, sir."
"Nobody else will do it.  Maybe nobody else can."
"The reluctant hero, sir?"
"Definitely reluctant."  Phineo chuckled.  "We'll see about the 'hero' part.  Might yet prove to be one big delusion, but there's a difference between fame and... well, admiration.  Being known not just for doing, but... I don't know, accomplishing."
"I think I understand, sir."
"Then you're a step ahead of me, Syrus."

Phineo Trennan set his drink aside, untouched, and stood up from his chair.

"The real shame is, Syrus, that if you want to be a war hero, you actually have to go to war!"[/ic]

[ooc=Orders]
3 votes against the Act of Expropriation.

The Operation

Phineo Trennan is going to lead a relief expedition to Absolon.  The expedition will consist of him, his retainers, and a small portion of the militia.  With clearance from the Lady Militant, he will assemble a hand-picked group of militiamen – preferably volunteers, and ideally some of those whom he served with in Forge who already know and respect him.

Phineo's predator is supposedly good at outmaneuvering and delaying stronger enemy forces, so his strategy will be based around that.  The plan for the attack is to make fast, opportunistic strikes on the besieging army and then withdraw before a counterattack can be mounted, so a small and mobile force is essential.  Phineo and his retainers will make up the assault team; the militia will not be used as an attack force, but to scout out targets, establish avenues of retreat, provide advance warning when the enemy tries to retaliate, and otherwise act as a recon, support, and communications team (that can fight if needed to cover a retreat).

Our objectives are, in order of importance:
1. Stay alive.  No huge risks will be taken; Phineo's death or capture would be a huge loss for Phineo's image. (It wouldn't be great for the city either.)
2. Make life difficult for the besieging enemy.  Do anything possible to make their siege harder to maintain, to aggravate their commanders, and to demoralize their men.  Avoid their strong points and hit soft targets – supplies, communications, rear-echelon units, and so on.  At the very least, our attacks will hopefully force the enemy to pull forces from the siege in order to guard their flanks against us.
3. Get this recorded!  If the operation actually goes well you can better believe it's going to be plastered it all over the airwaves.  If Phineo has a "favorite reporter" or anything, someone who can be relied on (or bribed) to report everything in a favorable and generally heroic light, bring him/her along as long as the reporting doesn't get in the way of results.  Leak stories, interviews, and video back to the Tiriol news networks, but make it conditional upon their treatment of the government's activity in Forge this segment – if they play ball with us, they get breaking news from Absolon; if they don't, they get jack.

Spend up to as many assets as I have (8 including this turn's income?) on the operation, whether that means encouraging good militiamen to volunteer, buying the militiamen or my retainers new equipment, securing transportation to Absolon, or whatever is necessary for the operation.  Of course, I don't want to waste money, but if in doubt I'd rather spend too much than too little.[/ooc]