Second Life Herald

Marine mech sub-division, railguns, fleet refit could lead to more immersive combat experience

by Metallicoe Dezno

The Alliance Navy mech being developed

I was contacted today by Alliance Navy officer luca Vasilopita, who asked if i would be interested in seeing and reporting on some new AN equipment. Of course, being a gadgets and technology fanatic, I couldn't decline his offer.

I was teleported into the AN research and development area, which many called the Motor Pool. On first glance, I could see various builds surrounding me, each very interesting and highly detailed. Here is a snippet of my chat with Officer Vasilopita;

Dezno: So Officer Vasilopita, what has the AN got in store for their members?
Vasilopita: Right, well there's quite a big forward surge recently in recruitment. For all of the problems in the world(s) (Digital and Real), we seem to be seeing a lot of advancements here in the Alliance Navy.

Dezno: Is that an AN mech?
Vasilopita: Yes, the re-designing of the Alliance Navy's armored projects is one of the new 'advancements' we're working on to bring the AN back up to scratch with the demand for high tech gash and fluff. Things that are already in service, such as the new fatigues are available for viewing all around us. The mech is still in the development stage, however there is a working model that the creation team are fiddling with animation wise.

"At least you weren't recording this or anything"

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk & Vegna Fouroux, military correspondent

Christoph Naumova - leader of the Vanguard Militia - has been frantically denying he was involved in a fur phone sex seduction posted to YouTube last week. At stake is Mr. Naumova’s reputation and leadership authority, now threatened by the emo yiffing documented on YouTube -- a gay fur scene that might undermine his authority as supreme leader of the Vanguard military.

Under the leadership of Mr. Naumova, the Vanguard military has developed a win-at-all-costs reputation which apparently led the Merczateers military to mount a counterattack via the newest weapon of mass reputation destruction - YouTube.

The YouTube video was apparently posted by Uildiar Kuhn - a prominent member the Merczateers. Herald reporter Vegna Fouroux contacted Mr. Kuhn for comment:

Vegna Fouroux: Many members have claimed it was a fake, in all honesty now, was it?
Uildiar Kuhn: no

The Vanguard Armed Forces, Stavka Coalition and Chthonic Syndicate attack Adeptus Minor, but encounter an entirely different defender.

by Caine Constantine

The forces of the Sovereign Regime military alliance invaded last week the home of Adeptus Minor, Seduction and Sin, and after setting for themselves a time limit of a one-hour attack, the fight soon began.

The headquarters of the tiny-only military group Adeptus Minor, Seduction and Sin had recently become a desert - barren, wide open, and marked only by a small town at the very edge of the region.

Getting there required navigating narrow passes, crossing large sand dunes and bounding barbed wire. Today of course, gunfire was an added hazard, but the invaders had no problem brazenly charging into the region, jumping into the air to take shots at the defenders.

Angry furs plot revenge - Stroker Serpentine ejects all users from SexGen Users Group - a Serpentine alliance with fur leader Nexxus Ambassador?

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Harsh words were barked, squeaked, meowed, and yowelled in furry community chat Monday, as angry supporters of Corsi Mousehold suggested taking the trademark battle for SexGen Sexbeds to Stroker Serpentine -- with suggestions of a nuclear showdown and organized abuse reports as possible avenues to defend Ms. Mousehold. While calmer heads in the anthropomorphic animal community suggested planning raids in group chat was not wise, the possibility remains that angry furs, or agent provocateurs pretending to be furs may detonate sim-crashing nukes in Mr. Serpentine's sim to retaliate for allegedly orchestrating a suspension of Ms. Mousehold over the weekend and assorted trademark enforcement actions.

While many will deplore resorting to sim crashing and mass abuse reports as retaliation, the fur community has an understandable concern for the stability of the flow of L$ spacebux from Ms. Mousehold’s SexGen store in Gar -- anything that might hurt business at the store could limit funding for tier payments in the Furnation sims. At least that is what appears to be is going on based on a chatlog relayed to the Herald offices late monday evening [chatlog after the jump].

Tension were high over the weekend and increased further as the news that Stroker had ejected all customers from the SexGen Users Group - cutting his estranged business partners Briggi Bard and Corsi Mousehold off from a potential repeat customer list which Serpentine, Bard, and Mousehold had jointly built up in happier days as part of the SexGen business. Mr. Serpentine told the Herald monday evening that around 80% of the former SexGen user group memebers had moved to an Eros user group for which Mousehold and Bard do not have adminstrative access

Even more surprising was the possibility of a Serpentine alliance with Nexxus Ambassador - a furry community leader and potential rival of Mousehold’s -- a possible case of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"? We cannot discount the possibility that this was purely a social call, but Mr. Serpentine told the Herald he was talking to Ambassador when we inquired about the decimation of the SexGen User's Group.

A must-read for potential recruits

by Vinzenz Fiertze

Army 1: Merczateers
Leader(s): Lurdan Huszar, Anthony Lehane
Background: Set in Post-Apoc Ukraine, hence the sim: Badnarik.
Current Members in Main Group (as of 9/3/08): 274
Rating: 9

Pros: I found the Merczateers to be one of the BEST armies the grid has EVER had. For a start, their leaders have both a sense of humor, while still maintaining a moderately strict attitude to keep his soldiers disciplined and aware. It could actually be said, that, perhaps the Merczateers are a mixture between Ordo, and an army of the Soveriegn Regime. Not ONLY are they of quality leaders and officers, but their recruiters are very good. They are not like Ordo, in the sense that they decline roughly 82% of their applicants, but they do not invite those minorities who know little to zero english. Aside from the soldiers, the armor is remarkable, and most unique. The huds and weapons are also very well created, and are professionally scripted (as most army weapons should be). The Merczateers are nothing short of professional, when it comes to battles, armor, or weapons.

Cons: I find few flaws within this army, and those that I noticed, were small at best. One of them was the minor drama that I noticed would occur from time to time. Although some of it, later on, I admit I started, there was from time to time many others who could not stand a drama-free army. Other than that, the rumors that are constantly passed about are false.

Suicidal rabbits and guns with no bullets stockpiled as W-Hat goons prepare for unconventional warfare with Alliance Navy?

by Metallicoe Gears, metaverse military reporter

Mall being demolished as goons move to a military footing

While doing my daily round of the bases, I came across the Mercz base once again, in Salamis. I walked up to the bridge and was greeted by the enlistees standing guard. I started a conversation with Merczateer Miko Finl about general war and things like that, then she mentioned that a new army was rumored to be starting. A military off-springing from the 'W-hat' group. I searched the group, then read their group charter. It said this:

'We aim to be a global organization that constantly stays a step ahead in dealing with change and creates new value, and contributes broadly to society'

Well, didn't sound much like an Army to me.

Miko told me they had a sim named 'what'. As I chuckled away at the utter randomness of the name, I was assured that Miko was serious. I pulled out my report’s notebook, opened the SL map, and searched for 'what', found it, then teleported.

I was greeted with the rather messy sight of a mall full of invisi-prims and random bits of buildings everywhere. I could see on my minimap that there was an inhabitant down below, so I flew down to take a look. Zoey Helguard.

Socrates Linden puts players in their place as concerns about new abuse report category's effect on military are voiced

by Caine Constantine

Second Life is – regardless of what sort of economic or social theories you put behind it in your justifications as to otherwise – still at least in part a game. And as a game, it attracts a lot of gamers, especially those interested in first-person shooters.

Combat in Second Life is a popular hobby.

The combat community in Second Life is unarguably one of its most dynamic. Whether it be fighting between individuals armed with freebie AK-47s, or between well-funded military forces armed with the latest weapons of mass destruction, the endless competitiveness of it all has created a community of the finest builders, scripters, managers and fighters on the grid.

But if the new plans Linden Labs has for its abuse reporting system are put into place, this community could soon be under siege from without and within. IntLibber Brautigan, CEO of BNT Financial, said that according to a new line of abuse report categories being formulated for testing on the beta grid, fighting on the battlefield could soon become a punishable offense. Or is this simply being misunderstood?

One of Second Life’s largest military forces -- from the perspectives of its members, its allies, and its enemies.

by Caine Constantine

When it comes to armed combat in Second Life, there may be no more recognized military force than the Merczateers.

They are massive, clocking in at 254 members as of the writing of this article. With four regions under their direct control – Badnarik, Salamis, Appledore and Amtor – they are the largest military force, in terms of both manpower and land ownership, on the grid today.

With those resources behind them, the Merczateers have created a military force that is, at least among the broad and ever-growing Second Life military community, envied, despised, feared, praised, or admired, depending on who you talk to.

The group has become one of the centers of the community, and almost everyone in the community has an opinion about the Merczateers. Even when its members leave the group, or are ejected from it, they often use their time and experience it to form their own military forces. 

When I first started writing articles for Herald and covered the Task Force Marines, they told me they were no different. Flamethrower Rives, a former Admiral in the Marines, explained.

Will Linden Lab allow Second Life Militaries to go extinct?

by Adrastos Fhang

During my time in Second Life, many Second Life residents have gone through harrowing journeys. Upgrade after upgrade, Second Life attempts to become the new ERA for PC Games. In all of these upgrades, many things seem to go right, and then starts to wane. This newer threat puts Second Life Military warfare at risk. Few people have discovered that the newest glitch could put Second Life halt warfare until further notice.

This newest mistake from Linden Labs allows any type of bullets to go through prims no matter if they are damage, phantom, training, etc. Many bases rely on their prims for cover such as the Merczateers in Salamis and many more. With this new impediment in the headlines, Many wonder what will be the turn out of these upcoming events. I searched around for some members of the military community to see their opinion on this situation.

Adrastos Fhang: What do you think of Second Life's latest glitch of any form of bullets going through solid prims easily?
Malcious Vuckovic facepalms
Malcious Vuckovic: i think of it being typical of LL

Former Admiral to pursue other interests, spend more time with family

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

Mr. Mahfouz studies his civilian options in an elaborate heads up display

As word spread of the ejection of former Admiral Nanao Mahfouz from the Alliance Navy last weekend, the big questions in the Second Life militia community went un-answered. What will Mr. Mahfouz do next? Is the Alliance navy's base in Dorien sim in danger of Mr. Mahfouz selling the land? What caused the disagreement?

Seeking answers, I made a visit to the AN base and managed to take one picture of Mr. Mahfouz before I was killed - but learned that Mr. Mahfouz was turfed out of the navy due to long standing disagreements on leadership direction.

Pixeleen Mistral: Was there some sort of change in AN command?
Nanao Mahfouz: And what about them? You've come groveling back here hoping for another story you can twist into some sensationalist scandal to attract more avid readers?
Dexhen Helios: holster

Pixeleen Mistral: well - I'm a reporter, and there are these rumors that you are out of the AN command Nanao - but the sources are all outside the AN
Nanao Mahfouz: No, I know who you are, reporter wouldn't be the appropriate title.

Merczateer operatives unmask and attack the EAF weapons smugglers, but Vanguard comes in to back up their new allies – resulting in the latest battle between two old foes.

By Caine Constantine, Herald War Correspondent

A sting operation conducted just a few days ago caught the leader of the Elite Armed Forces – a marvelously named group allied with the Merczateers up to this point – personally selling leaked and copybotted weapons designed and belonging to the Merczateers to an undercover agent from that same military.

Shown here, Commander Br1an Razor, leader of the EAF, was caught in the act of selling Merczateers equipment to a black market buyer by Proteus Hand, the Merczateers Light Operative who first uncovered information leading to the suspicion that the EAF was selling their ally’s equipment.

Worker's revolution also defeats the Alliance Navy, Sparta, Elite Armed Forces

by Caine Constantine

The Task Force Marines of Prize Delta may now be missing their would-be British overlords. On June 29th, an enemy far less humane came by to visit. The Red Guards, foot soldiers of the communist revolution, invaded Prize Delta and slaughtered the inhabitants with all of the terribly deadly efficiency of the army of the worker’s revolution.

Grey Nolder, one of the Red Guards, detailed some of the aftermath of the battle, telling the Herald: "Red Guards assaulted Prize Delta for over four hours, keeping Task Force Marines stuck within the deep confines of their base. Through EAF re-enforcements and the abuse of local teleports; as well as attempts to blacken the name of the Guards, our Comrades carried on, holding the base and a glorious red flag. Long live the Revolution!"

Why would we surrender, ol' bean? We're in your base, musketing your doods

by Caine Constantine

In June, the musket-wielding armies of British conquest fought a prolonged battle to claim Prize Delta and the Task Force Marines as the newest colony of the British Empire. The Marines, however, refused to be anyone’s subjects. And so, a day later, the British came back again to claim what they thought was theirs. This time, though, they planned to stay.

More conflict seemed inevitable, despite the previous epic battle, in which the Marines were gunning down the British by the dozens using their modern day machine guns, and the British retaliating through volley fire of their 18th century muskets. Despite the mismatch, the British forces – mostly composed of Ordo Imperialis, with some volunteers from other groups like the Alliance Navy – had been victorious. Facing even the “metal birds†and “witch magic†that British flagman Water Halbert pointed out, the King’s men had carried the day.. Now they even went so far as to claim that they were the owners of Prize Delta. British General Ruin Nefarious made this clear, saying "TFM is actually the Colony of Lamestein - we are reconquering it for the Crown".

Caine Constantine: So the new rulers of Prize Delta and the Task Force Marines, which you are calling now the people of the Colony of Lamestein, are the British Empire?
Ruin Nefarious: Exactly.
Intus Infinity: They had a temporary uprising. We crushed them
Rei Kuhr: They will be heavily taxed, as a reward.
Aelus Janus: FOR COUNTRY, FOR THRONE.
Ruin Nefarious shouts: Fuck representation!

Musket fire downs marine aircraft, silences machine guns - Redcoats rally round the Confederate flag, force Marines off base with superior numbers -- next step: possible taxation without representation, Earl Grey tea, crumpets?

by Caine Constantine

On the morning of Thursday, June 11th 2008, the Merczateers pulled their forces out of Prize Delta after a victory over the Task Force Marines -- Marines who had just started rebuilding their home in the sim. But as the last Merczateers left for home to celebrate their definitive conquest, a new threat gathered on the horizon, as what first appeared to be role playing redcoats began appearing in the hub.

Roughly 20 invaders – all wearing tags naming them as “British Rifleman,†were assembling. They were not here for anything less than war. And an epic war is what would transpire on the war-torn lands of the Marines. The Royal Army was out for blood. And tea. And taxes. And the King and Queen, of course.

British muskets rule, ok?

When the British first arrived, the Marines could not believe they were for real, with their muskets and their calls for the Queen’s tea. The picture above shows the Brtish army decked for war, holding a position they captured halfway through the battle. But at first sight, their intentions were not so clear.

A desperate battle against Merczateers air power - hawt, sexii recruits - Task Force Marine resorts to griefing tactics - destroying the base to save it with suicidal sim-killing missile attacks - a short lived peace broken by musket wielding British Redcoats

by Caine Constantine

Prize Delta

On the night of Wednesday, June 11th 2008, the Task Force Marines received their true baptism of fire. Fellon Mile, a Merczateers S-Enlisted tipped me off on the fight as it began, “Merczateers are going to TFM! This is gonna be goodâ€. The Merczateers invaded the Marines’ sim in force, and the whole area was quickly overrun with bombing and gunfire.

The Marines were recently the subject of an in-depth series of articles detailing this up-and-coming armed force. Since that time, the Marines secured new members, new uniforms and a new sim – Prize Delta.

Barely a week old, their new home in Prize Delta – still showing signs of recent construction, but looking pretty good – was now experiencing its first major assault. The sirens of war wailed in the background high in the mountains of the region.

Nazi alts, neopotism in the marine leadership, attack of the Cookie Monster

by Caine Constantine

[the Herald correspondent returns to the Task Force Marine base and is given a warm welcome]

Caine Constantine shouts: Hey guys, how's it going? Is bennyboy Ball in?
toccovender Waco shouts: caine, go away.

This taccovender Waco, another soldier in the Marines, was not happy to see me. But I didn’t care; I was on a mission. The leader, bennyboy Ball, was indeed online – on another account and named jaws Ashby. He came out to greet me and told me he was in financial troubles.

by Caine Constantine

Coverage of the Second Life military scene is traditionally dominated by information on the largest groups – the Merczateers, Alliance Navy, Ordo Imperialis, and the like. But while these may be the most visible face of the scene, there are countless other militaries rising to prominence of their own.

In this two-part Herald exclusive, I took a trip to the snows of Ocean Estate 10 to visit the Task Force Marines in their base. The sound of practice fire and scattered explosions was my welcome, but I found the Marines to be a colorful lot.

Ocean Estate 10, is snowy and rocky, dotted with seemingly out-of-place foliage and divided half between them and half between their German allies, who have a massive cannon pointed at the Marine’s base. Their own half is divided into two quarters, with a mall in one and a dividing wall where they stand guard, protecting the base in the other quarter.

DAY ONE:

I showed up on the first day to check out the place to meet Flamethrower Rives, a soldier in the Marines and one of the founders, who explained that the group is based on a futuristic version of one of the finest fighting forces in the world, the United States Marines. He talked to me while designing a new P90 submachine gun for the troops. The scene around him was interesting – almost nobody had any semblance of a uniform on. In fact, commanding Admiral Mayra Roffo, highest ranked on site at that time, was wearing something very un-militaristic indeed.

ex-Admiral's Nanao Mahfouz's double tool leads to chatspy trouble

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk

If the whispered rumors are true - and the over-the-top chatlog is real - the position the Alliance Navy leadership finds itself in must be excruciating. Former Admiral Nanao Mahfouz was allegedly involved in roleplaying incest ageplay with Jezabeth Poutine when a bullet with a scripted chatspy bug was fired into the home where the couple was enjoying some interactive creative writing. The bugged bullet relayed the chatlogs out of the love nest, and the drama began.

Jezabeth has had some wild adventures with Nanao

Cyber sex is as common as lag in Second Life - but certain conventions are generally observed. Cyber in open chat is frowned upon as an invitation to trouble, and Linden Lab takes an extremely dim view of anything that appears to encompass sexual ageplay. But when the improvisational literary lust is rising, some residents are known to shortcut safe-cyber as their muses invent, and then engage in some rather sordid scenes. The virtual sex chat narrative is dutifully logged by Linden Lab as it is relayed between participants, and other residents with the right sorts of virtual spyware can share in the fun - then pass the logs on. And this brings us to the story of a certain Admiral in the Alliance Navy.

The logs of the Mahfouz-Poutine encounter include detailed descriptions of Nanao’s impressive physique - with a penis, a second penis, and a tail. Also impressive was the consistent use of plurals in descriptions of Nanao’s twin tools - staying in character is the first rule of roleplay - though what sort of soldiers the Alliance Navy has been recruiting could be a subject of speculation.

[WARNING: If you are (i) at work or (ii) under 18 or (iii) easily offended by things like incest ageplay STOP READING NOW!]

by Vegna Fouroux

The last time the Second Life Herald covered The Ordo Imperialis was when Novus Ordo Imperialis disbanded. That's all ancient history now. The Ordo Imperialis are now one of the Big Three in SL combat alongside their allies Merczateers and their enemies the Alliance Navy. I got talking their officer cadre after they graciously permitted me entry (usually a member of an enemy group is shot on sight in Titan be they armed or no) about the groups sucess, their leader and The Ordo in general:

Vegna Fouroux: How's ordo at the moment?
Intus Infinity: Strong, and growing.
Kristian Kit: well ordo is expanding rapidly and well just to give you an impression AN is only 20 members bigger than our Terra (ground) division so you pretty much have a picture

Vegna Fouroux: Why do you think this is, what do you guys have to offer? over lets say the AN?
Kristian Kit: well from what i've heard from the cadet i recruited that came from the other armies we offer the best tech , training , we don't let every morron join and above all others we have an healthy atmosphere in which we respect each other something several armies on this grid seem to lack having
Kristian Kit: we are not pricks to each other and people that come here for the RP and the fun like that it's why we manage to keep the members that other militaries lost

Vegna Fouroux: Well several other armies have accused you of an atmosphere of oppression i.e not letting enemies onto base, summary executions of visitors without explanation and restriction of your members on visits to other military sims, why is this?
Kristian Kit: yes that is correct well for the official reason you might want to contact aryte but ordo is resolved around discipline we don't just go anywhere and be all buddy buddy with people we take this community serious and well a lot of people out there are jealous or hate is in another way so to avoid drama and fights we are very strict about those regulations we think it is odd that you shoot someone in the first place and that he will allowed to come over when he drops his weapons we don't allow them here so we rarely go to other people's bases as well
Intus Infinity: It would be hypocritical of us to not allow enemies onto base yet go to their sims.

Vegna Fouroux: Well if you dont let members go to other militaries out of uniform and untagged, then when are they allowed time to themselves to explore?
Kristian Kit: SL is so much bigger than only the military community if you join ordo youve chosen to devote yourself to the ordo INSIDE the military community not in SL as a whole ah I see, but does this ever lead to a breakdown in communcation with other military groups and therfore resentment?
Intus Infinity: No.

by Vegna Fouroux

Overlord LawrenceJoseph Roffo says SL war community would be better off with more combat and less politics

Deadlock. I think that pretty much sums up SL combat at the moment. Noob armies are the only forces that are fighting the more established armies (the later shunning each other with claims of cheating, unfairness etc. on both sides). I got talking to LawrenceJoseph Roffo a well-known member in the SL military "community." He has planned out and executed the formation of a new military - Remnant Imperium. Taking months to carefully put together a base,weapons and a platform to recruit on Lawrence will be launching this new army shortly and I must say that I await its launch with great anticipation.

He took the time to show me around the base, took a few pictures and he agreed to be interviewed:

Vegna Fouroux: So where did the idea for Remnant Imperium come from?
LawrenceJoseph Roffo: The mind of me.

Vegna Fouroux: So are there any influences like other groups: Russian? Greek?
LawrenceJoseph Roffo: Our ranks and rank structure is based upon Norweigan military ranks.
LawrenceJoseph Roffo: Other than that, we're pretty much original.

Vegna Fouroux: So who are you going to ally with (if anyone) and why?
LawrenceJoseph Roffo: Right now, I'm planning on allying with the Ascendant Initiative. For one thing, I'm not going to join the Iron Symphony and become a sitting duck. Maybe Marshal Huszar and Artye will wake up and cease their ban lines. I'd enjoy fighting alongside the Alliance Navy, Sparta, and 39th...against the Iron Symphony. But I guess we'll have to wait and see. Hopefully they'll all realize that the SecondLife war community would be better off with more combat and less politics.

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.

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 :

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.