#United Planets Militia Academy

[jasposeyblog]

My commission of Gravity Kid and Power Boy sketch cover by Chris Batista

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Rallying Speeches

The fall of New Haven to the Scumull was the greatest defeat humanity had experienced since the war had begun. New Haven had been the first colony established by humanity outside their origin solar system some hundred years ago and had since then become a shinning beacon of human achievement and a nexus point connecting newly established territories to Earth.  Scumull forces launched a series of surprise attacks all along their galactic border with humanity and had wiped out several dozen colonies before word even reached Earth. By the time the fleet had gathered to retaliate the Scumull had already swept aside the orbital defenses surrounding New Haven and had begun landing a massive invasion force to secure the planet.  New Haven had a sizable defense force already on planet that fought tooth and nail for every inch of ground to halt the invaders, but the sheer size of the enemy eventually began overwhelming the human defenders until the final bastion at the governmental building in the capital city fell to the enemy.  Humanity had now been pushed back to their home system and now gathered for the final battles to come. As the Scumull fleets neared the Sol system they began intercepting transmissions from humanity. It was decided that these transmissions would be played for the invasion force to show them how feeble their foe had become.

“Sons and daughters of humanity...It goes without exaggeration that we face our greatest struggle for survival in our entire species history in the coming days.  I will not lie to you in this darkest hour. Our enemies number in the hundreds of thousands. When their soldiers march they shake the mountains with their boot falls. When their ships take to the sky they blot out the sun in their shadows.When they call out their war cries the very air itself seems to stand still. Our final bastion outside of our home system fell before we could even mount a proper response and only now are reports of what happened on that world coming in. There are those among us that say that there is no point in fighting against such odds now with our backs against the wall. I do not blame those who share this view, nor do I consider them cowards. To those out there who may feel like this I wish to read you some accounts of those that stood on New Haven.  Sergeant Markus Holland. Sergeant Holland was part of an adhoc militia unit formed in the final days of battle of New Haven. After the capital city was breached Holland found his unit cut off and surrounded by enemy forces and fell back into an indoor mall complex. For the next seven days Sergeant Holland and his unit held off repeated waves of enemy soldiers as they attempted to storm the mall and wipe them out. By the seventh day the bodies of enemy dead piled so high that it was impossible to enter the mall as every entrance was blocked. By the end of the 8th day the enemy commander had decided the fight was no longer worth an honorable struggle and leveled the entire complex with massed heavy weapon fire.  Elan Tollan. Ms. Tollan was a school nurse for New Haven Academy. Once the invasion went full swing the New Haven Academy was converted into a military hospital and the students evacuated on the first shuttle off world. Rather than join her students, Ms. Tollan volunteered to stay behind and help with the medical needs of the injured being treated at the converted hospital. When the Scumull forces stormed the hospital it was Ms. Tollan who stood in their path, unarmed and unafraid, and demanded they leave at once. This act of defiance would cost Ms. Tollan her life as the Scumull warriors she was baring through her aside and fractured her skull.  Amber Nowak. Amber Nowak was a girl of a mere thirteen years who lost her family in the opening days of the invasion. Taking her father’s hunting rifle she stalked the woods of New Haven hunting Scumull forces with her tally was 98 confirmed kills including the original Scumull invasion leader as they toured the front lines. The people of New Haven came to know her as Cień Lasu which means “Shadow of the Forest”. From what we have gathered the Scumull have claimed several times to have slain Amber Nowak, but they have yet to produce any evidence supporting the claim leading us to believe she still lives and hunts those who have wronged her family even now.  And these names are just a few of the heroes who have stood their ground against the alien menace.  Harper Lindel, a corporal who flung himself on a scatter bomb to save his fellow comrades.  Katie Pastel, a butcher that drove her clever into the Scumull soldier that tossed her child through a window after making fun of their “slug face”.  Pepper Kell, Morgan Yalton, and Qwint Felling who crewed the tank Angeles Bounty alone on the only bridge into the capital against a full two companies of enemy armor for five hours.  There are countless accounts here with me telling countless tales of sacrifice, bravery, heroism, and courage in the face of impossible odds. 

Across the stars are countless heroes that have fallen to bring us the sunrise of a brighter future;  and countless more that are fighting on to keep the flame of humanity lit as the dark void of the galaxy closes in to snuff it out.  Worlds can be taken from us, cities reduced to ash, ships left as cold broken husks floating in the void; but the human spirit to continue the fight is something that has never been broken. Not by the ravages of a universe that finds us unacceptable, not by the likes of an alien fiend, not even by our fellow man in ages long since past.  We have survived for so long not by the grace of some otherworldly being, but because we have dug our teeth and nails into the universe and refuse to let go!  So I say to those who are afraid of the coming storm to cast aside your doubts and take heart in those around you! Raise your fists to the sky and raise your voices even higher! Let our enemies know that humanity backs away from nothing! We fear nothing! Stand with me and we will remind all the enemies of man that even when we are beaten, we will never give up the fight!”

[afraidofchange]

Hm, so apparently since I added Bang to my roster, they changed her bio on her page from: 

Born into a military family where she, her parents, and her four older brothers all served in the IMC Armed Forces, Anita Williams (Callsign: Bangalore) has been an exceptional soldier since she was young. She was top of her class at the IMC Military Academy and the only cadet who could take apart a Peacekeeper, equip it with a Precision Choke hop-up, and put it back together in under twenty seconds – blindfolded.

Three years ago, Anita and her brother Jackson were ordered to retrieve a mercenary fleet from the Outlands to aid in the IMC’s fight against the Militia. However, their unit lost contact with IMC HQ and were ambushed on arrival. The squad scattered, but Jackson stayed behind to give his sister time to escape. Alone and with no way home, Anita put her training, extensive weapon knowledge, and competitive spirit to work by joining the Apex Games. Now, she fights to raise money for passage back to the IMC home base, where she hopes to reunite with what remains of her family.

To: 

Born into a military family where she, her parents, and her four older brothers all served with the IMC, Bangalore has been an exceptional soldier her whole life. Dedicated to the IMC cause, she was top of her class at the IMC Military Academy and the only cadet who could take apart a Peacekeeper, equip it with a Precision Choke hop-up, and put it back together in under twenty seconds – blindfolded.

In the months following the Battle at Gridiron, the IMS Hestia, with Anita and brother Jackson on board, was attacked by unknown assailants. A bomb on the outer hull blew out a chunk of the ship… but not before Jackson shielded her, sacrificing his own life to save hers. Anita watched helplessly, as Jackson was sucked out into the vacuum of space. After crashing on a Syndicate planet, Anita looked for both work, and the brother she refused to believe had died, so they could begin the decades-long trip back home. Now, she fights to raise money in the Apex Games, in the hopes of finding a pilot willing to take the epic trip back home to reunite with what remains of her family.

What is the truth, Respawn???

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 3/25

We love you. We’re here for you. Never forget that. 

Cat Shit Vol 1 #1 - Motofumi Kobayashi

In this semi-fictionalized rendition of the Vietnam War, Sergeants Perky, Rats and Botasky comprise the special forces unit named Cat Shit One, risking their lives daily in recon patrol, jungle ambushes, tactical assaults, rescue operations and more.  These soldiers may look soft, but their combat tales hit hard!

Giant-Sized X-Men: Nightcrawler #1 -  Jonathan Hickman & Alan Davis

When the X-Men lose contact with the Greymalkin Habitat, it falls to  Nightcrawler to lead a mission into the unknown! 

Grumble Memphis & Beyond The Infinite #1 (of 5) - Rafer Roberts & Mike Norton

Eddie, the small-time crook stuck in a pug's body, and Tala, Eddie's estranged (and part-demon) daughter, are going on their most bizarre, action-packed, and emotional adventure yet! Across the stars, and beyond the edges of reality, Tala's mother is held captive by the evil S'Taera. Joined on the rescue mission by Tala's ex-pro-wrester uncles and their armed militia of inter-dimensional mutants, Eddie and Tala will need to atone for the sins of their pasts and start working together (for once) or they may find themselves lost... beyond the infinite!

Hellions #1 - Zeb Wells & Stephen Segovia

When Krakoa opened their doors to all mutants and forgave all past crimes, they might have known they'd have to accept some of their worst foes into the fold... but they didn't plan for what to do with them. Not to worry-Mister Sinister knows what to do with the troublemakers. Meet his new Hellions: Scalphunter, Wild Child, Empath, Nanny, Orphanmaker, Psylocke...and Havok?! Under Sinister's direction, they are sure to become productive members of mutant society.

Judge Dredd: False Witness #1 - Brandon M. Easton & Kei Zama

Justice Academy drop-out Mathias Lincoln has built a comfortable life working as a courier for Mega-City One's most elite citizens. But after he uncovers a horrific conspiracy stretching from the Cursed Earth to the city's seats of power, Mathias also finds himself pursued by legendary lawman Judge Dredd!

No One’s Rose #1 - Emily Horn, Zac Thompson & Alberto Jimenez-Alburquerque

Centuries after the fall of the Anthropocene, the last vestiges of human civilization are housed in a massive domed city powered by renewable energy, known as The Green Zone. Inside lives teenager Tenn Gavrilo, a brilliant bio-engineer who could rebuild the planet. But there's one problem: her resentful brother Seren is eager to dismantle the precarious Utopia.

Super Duck #1 (of 4) - Frank Tieri, Ian Flynn & Ryan Jampole

Super Duck is the greatest hero of Ducktropolis. Brash, arrogant and virtually unbeatable, he's defeated all threats to the city and routinely foils the schemes of his greatest rival, criminal genius and corporate billionaire Dapper Duck. But now, three years later, Super Duck has fallen on hard times. Down on his luck and with his superheroing days a distant memory, he is reduced to appearing at comic conventions for measly appearance fees. So when he's approached by a rival of Dapper to be his personal bodyguard/accompany him on his many adventures, Supe has to decide if he's ready to don his cape once more in this series for mature readers!

Whatcha ordering this week, Fantomites? 

[whittlebaggett8]

What Is the US Coast Guard’s Role in the Indo-Pacific Strategy?

The involvement of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy is remarkably producing headlines. For the initially time, the USCG cutter Bertholf joined a U.S. Navy destroyer in crossing the Taiwan Strait previous March to demonstrate U.S. motivation for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Relatedly, the same USCG vessel also done a maritime work out with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal last thirty day period. Yet another vessel, USCGC Stratton, which is also of the exact same dimensions and ability, is now deployed with the 7th Fleet primarily based in Yokosuka, Japan.

A lot of maritime safety students have attempted to describe why U.S. white hulls are now acquiring their way together the seas and shores of Southeast Asia. The most considerable argument is that Washington has to distribute its operations with other branches of its army assistance, the U.S. coast guard provided. Other individuals have described this in the context of proficiently countering the 3 sea forces of China — the navy, the coastline guard, and the maritime militia. Furthermore, U.S. Coastline Guard Pacific Spot Commander Vice Admiral Linda Fagan claimed that Washington intends to actively guidance the location via “law enforcement and potential-making in the fisheries enforcement realm.”

In analyzing every single rationalization to comprehend the character of the USCG’s deployment in the Pacific, it can be argued that these answers do not thoroughly capture the essence why the United States is now employing its white hulls. The idea of the distribution of procedure amongst its other navy services like the coast guard does not feel to benefit the id of the stated establishment, but rather oversimplify what it is necessary for. It is also important to spotlight that it is not just the U.S. Navy that carries the stress on your own in asserting freedom of navigation in the South China Sea many nations have by now despatched their navy ships and patrolled the stated waters as properly. Furthermore, to declare that the USCG will be made use of for maritime regulation enforcement is not a resounding inform-all rationale, due to the fact even in advance of China turned assertive, the location experienced been plagued with nontraditional security threats like piracy, armed theft, illegal fishing, and even drug trafficking, but the USCG ships did not make a daring and considerable contribution to addressing such threats.

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That’s why, the question that needs to be answered is why Washington is bringing the USCG into the South China Sea, even with its current powerful naval capacity and the strong help of Western nations to its initiative of guaranteeing cost-free and open Indo-Pacific?

Japan’s Coastline Guard Model

As a backgrounder, it is worthy of noting that the exterior help for the advancement of coastline guards in the region is not a thing new. Thanks to Japan’s pacifist structure and imperialist earlier, it had been modern in using the Japan Coastline Guard (JCG) in developing maritime cooperation in Southeast Asia for much more than 5 decades now. Notably, considering that the JCG was to start with projected as a maritime company focused on security and environmental security, Tokyo had been prosperous in setting up secure maritime cooperation with littoral states along wherever its sea trade routes move. Notably, most of its projects did not just support the pursuits of Japan, but also benefited the region extra broadly. Likewise, in the context of maritime regulation enforcement, the JCG supported the establishment of coast guards in the region via ability creating steps, sponsoring ASEAN coast guards for training and seminars in Japan, and deploying JCG gurus in Southeast Asia. Last but not least, in reaction to China’s rise and intense conduct, Japan used white ships in the disputed Senkakus to illustrate that militarization in a territorial row would exacerbate the scenario and not be a remedy. This strategy has the moment once more set the normal for the claimant states in the South China Sea in making use of white ships as a substitute (other than for the Philippines in 2012 through the Scarborough Shoal stand-off).

It is in this context that Japan demonstrates how a coastline guard corporation — very low-vital but pertinent, effective in policing however not aggressive, and lightly armed but not provocative — can perform a protection part but remain open for cooperation. Thanks to this influence, individuals nations around the world found along Tokyo’s sea trade routes recognized the worth of white hulls and the very important part they can participate in in establishing maritime buy. Southeast Asian nations regarded that a coast guard’s functions are limited in guaranteeing protection, guarding trade routes against nontraditional security threats, shielding the marine setting, and preserving the maritime purchase.

The U.S. Naval Technique and ASEAN’s Reaction

In the circumstance of the United States, considering that it does not have the similar handicap as Japan, the Americans have embraced Mahan’s doctrine of the value of getting a powerful navy. The United States usually takes satisfaction in having the most formidable naval fleet in the total environment. Therefore, their cooperation with Southeast Asian nations around the world, especially with allies, is always tied to naval routines that mostly contain the United States Navy, like Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Teaching (Work out CARAT) and the Rim of the Pacific Exercising (RIMPAC).

Offered the U.S. position as the victor of Planet War II and the ruling hegemon following the conclude of the Cold War, the the vast majority of international locations in the area have been supportive of these naval war game titles. Having said that, because of to the increase of China economically and militarily, most of the Southeast Asian countries experienced been hesitant to pursue the very same degree of support for these pursuits. In 2016, Philippine President Rodgridgo Duterte even warned the United States that the Philippine-U.S. war video games that calendar year would be the previous, considering that it was dragging Manila into conflict with Beijing.  

As expected, when Washington began conducting much more frequent flexibility of navigation functions (FONOPs) in the region, ASEAN customers expressed misgivings. These countries are worried that FONOPs could guide to an armed conflict with China. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in certain expressed his unease with the existence of warships in the South China Sea he has usually underlined that slight error at sea could lead to war. In the scenario of the Philippines, irrespective of the frequent existence of China’s paramilitary forces in its occupied Thitu Island and its spot as Washington’s oldest ally, Manila right up until now has not expressed its entire help to the FONOPs.

With these responses from the leaders of the claimant states in the South China Sea, it can be perceived that the thought of FONOPs is tough for them to settle for because they have interpreted it as a direct realignment with the U.S. desire. Also, any routines that involve military companies are a little something these nations around the world fear could offend their important investing associate and huge expense spender, China. A 2nd possible factor is that the sovereignty sensitive countries of Southeast Asia really do not essentially have faith in the intentions of the Us residents however. In 2003, the U.S.-led method Regional Maritime Protection Initiative (RMSI) to safeguard the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) strait was criticized by Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore because of to the concern of sovereignty and hesitation to enable Washington to have the freedom to patrols and police their backyard.

Adopting Japan’s Coastline Guard Diplomacy Template

Understanding from Japan’s coastline guard diplomacy, the United States is now replicating what Tokyo has carried out. The USCG by now started off developing maritime cooperation with Southeast Asian coast guards, even ahead of its cutters ended up deployed this yr. In the circumstance of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia, their coast guard officers and enlisted personnel in latest years experienced been taking part in quick teaching classes in U.S. Coast Guard education facilities. What’s more, the United States Coastline Guard Academy accommodated cadets from the Philippines and Malaysia to sign up for its corps in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

In the Philippines alone, since Duterte came into office, there was a great upsurge of the quantity of coast guard personnel becoming sent to the United States to participate in coast guard linked teaching. According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) records, the typical selection of PCG personnel who have been funded by the United States for foreign instruction is roughly 60 in the previous three a long time. This is a significant jump from 2015, when only six PCG officers went to the U.S. for coast guard courses. Additionally, yet another bit of staggering information is that Washington, via its U.S. Protection Danger Reduction Agency and the Joint United States Military services Aid Group, was equipped to train far more than 1,500 PCG staff in diverse places in the Philippines given that 2016. USCG personnel taught and trained the PCG in different programs relevant to their roles as sailors in different capacities, as legislation enforcers, and even as crisis supervisors. Relatedly, it is also value noting that PCG just not too long ago inaugurated a $3 million legislation enforcement schooling facility funded by the U.S. govt.

Summary

Washington’s litmus exam for its borrowed coastline guard diplomacy was the maritime exercising concerning the PCG and USCG. By the mere reality that it was not disapproved of or criticized by the Duterte govt, it can be presumed that the white hulls and coastline guard functions are both equally acknowledged as a significantly much better option in courting the approval and support of other Southeast Asian leaders. The willingness of Southeast Asian countries to take this kind of cooperation has very long been built by the JCG and is now becoming extended to USCG as nicely.

Nonetheless, it is crucial to spotlight that in spite of the entrenched perception of the region with regards to coastline guards, these types of heat acceptance and have confidence in to the USCG would not be extended if Washington did not cautiously adapt Japan’s technique. The United States warrants to be counseled given that they did not just considerably assimilate the white hull method it took them yrs to crack the barrier of suspicion and eventually get believe in. And lastly, the most powerful motive for the cordial welcome to USCG vessels in the region is for the reason that Southeast Asian leaders have occur to take the idea proven by Japan that a white hull has additional leeway for beneficial cooperation that can’t be equated to aggression.

Jay Tristan Tarriela is a commissioned officer of the Philippine Coast Guard with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and is currently a Ph.D. prospect and a Japan Global Cooperation Agency (JICA) scholar at the Countrywide Graduate Institute for Plan Scientific tests (GRIPS) underneath the GRIPS World Governance (G-cube) Method in Tokyo, Japan. He is also a Younger Chief with Pacific Forum, Honolulu.

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