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Bonn sat in the dark, watching TV at 3 in the morning sitting on a small stool beside Camila's bed. He’d been sitting there since sometime yesterday. Bonn had taken on a secondary duty as Camila’s caretaker on certain nights. Ever since she came back from the Keychain Islands, Camila had changed in fairly strange ways, the most obvious was the burn mark on her back, it was subtle and it grew subtler as time went off. That and Camila's dresses seemed to change over time. Even with her new position as the Empress of the Domain- the dress no longer contained sigils from the Domains religion or its spiritual beliefs. It seemed more “astrological” in nature. Though the former two could be excused as “torture” and changing attire- something Bonn figured was a 'shock response', at least what Mitt told him.

It was the third change that had everyone in the Palace shook up. The night terrors. Ever since she came back from the Keychains she regularly experienced nightmares and visions. The Palace staff had become secondary caretakers, Bonn included became an impromptu caretaker. And right now at 3:15 in the morning, Bonn was watching the news on late night TV. Riots, protests, the “Gaddies” the self-proclaimed freedom fighters of the Bombpire had been out and about causing trouble for a few months. Granted they’d been doing what they were supposed to at first. Offing and ridding the Bombpire of officials he couldn’t give a wick for or those he just didn’t like. But then they started spiraling into city-eating hive minds. Bonn sighed as he watched another fight between Bombperial “Urbapol” and the rioters.

He tilted himself to look at the bed. Camila had been peacefully asleep for the last few nights. Her night terrors had been decreasing, though they seemed to be “worse”- trading quantity for quality. Visions of worlds of flesh and eyes continued to haunt her, and they got more and more visceral. Bonn grew tired of listening to it faster than he grew disgusted. Mental images of the countryside being disgusting purple flesh filled with creepy eyes and horrifying orifices could only be creatively described in horrifying detail either by Camila or by the aides that helped care for her so many times.

He had Mitt assign a special catering of scientists to find out whatever the fuck was wrong with her, as fleshbag psychology was something Mitt wasn’t the best at. Something that would take more time. Something that would have to be waited on. Waiting. Something he was currently doing right now scrolling through the 3:30 channels watching more news about riots, more soaps, more boring sleep-catching programs of the odd hours of the day.

Bonn hated it. Sitting there couped up in the dark bedroom, unable to do nothing. Sure- he could go back to his office, he could discard the watch, get ripped to shreds by the press for “abandoning his wife in the midst of a mental breakdown”, the damnable news was able to eek out enough information from a snitch in the Palace that Camila had suffered a serious mental snap somewhere between being captured and being found. And Bonn feared that the news would rip him apart even more than it was right now. Fear. Fear. Bonn hated fear, it forced him to sit in a dark room doing nothing most of the night- fear of the press. Fear for her and the lack of consistent mental stability. And Bonn knew it was fear that made the riots. It was his fear of others, fear of being subverted and double-crossed by his underlings. Bonn flipped through the channels on late night TV annoyed and peeved.

If the rebels didn’t remove that golden stepford smiler he’d do it himself he thought as he flipped through the 40th Smile Group owned channel. After that. Eliminating fear from most avenues of his life. If he was going to rebuild the Bombpire his own way- he needed to be respected and feared. Not to fear his own nation. He'd made the first steps in getting the underlings and goons to kowtow. But as Bonn look upon the riots on the news and extensive maps of protests- he figured now came the step of making the people fear him.

If there was one word from the old world Bonn loved above all else- it was 'tyrant'. And now its time he showed how much a tyrant he could be.

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-=Expanding the Swamp=-
Obviously, one cannot rule by simple terror from the upper crust alone, this "New Umer Imperium" has shown a prime example of such elitist-only terror. If the Bombpire is going to be built under my sway and my direction, the swamp not only must be reinforced, it must expand outwards. From the great halls of the Grand Palace and aristocratic private communities- to even the lowliest slums and dingiest shacks one must revere my name. While I've shown my mug and plastered it everywhere, the people associate me with living, but they do not seem to associate me with the law or the land.
That changes now.
(The proverbial swamp must grow, it is not enough I am everywhere in my citizens lives passively. I must be there actively. Three choices.)

Pledge Allegiance to Me!- What if every morning- say at schools and at work- one had to pledge allegiance to the Bombpire (and to an extent, yours truly), every day save for maybe holidays and weekends. Set a timer, standardize it, and let the cacophony of allegiance sound itself throughout the Bombpire to have the first thoughts of your day not be yours or your loved ones, but of me!
(Now repeat after me! "I pledge to uphold the authority of the Bombperor and his law across the nation, his will inscrutable and his authority just, one nation, under the Bombperor with equality and order for all." A Bombperial pledge will be made mandatory in every school, office, court, what be it so!)

Mandatory Service- The military is made of patriots and lowlifes looking to get a quick buck. The patriots are fine, but they're small in numbers. The lowlifes make the numbers swell, but they're there for a safe money and run when danger presents itself. To fix this, we should add mandatory conscription- say 1-2 years. Depends on what you want to go for ya grunt.
(Bombperial conscription will become a feature to bulk up the army's numbers. We'll also include extra 'command troops'/'regulation officers' to make sure said conscripts don't decide to abandon thier mandatory service.)

A Surveillance State- With Mitt rebuilding the Bombperial digital infrastructure, would it not be wise to monitor the ever-loving fuse out of it? CCTV cameras on every city bloc, spy gadgets in every personal electronic, face scanners in every checkpoint- from airports and train terminals to shop entrances. Don't worry peoples of the Bombpire, it's for your own safety. . .
(The Bombpire will rebuild its digital real estate with a shit-ton of "peeping software" and other spy-gear. Even those without phones or computers will still fall under the mighty gaze of the Bombperor!)

Weekly Announcements- A simple announcement to the people updating them on the status of the Bombpire. Growth, tariffs, heck maybe even advertising some new shows and programs. Introducing the people to the Bombperor's more "personable side", to appear as less a bombastic ass and more a "human".
(Maybe we can turn it into a radio or TV program- "Thursday Tea with the Tyrant" or something, if I'm going to be busting my wick reading out the post-it notes version of how the country's doing every week, it better be able to make money through cheap marketing and sales too. I don't work for free, and working extra costs a lot more- especially if its with stepford smiler Mr. Smile.)

The State Means Business- We've made a big mistake allowing a semi-free market dictate the Bombperial economy. While we've had limited control of the economy, it clearly wasn't enough. The elites of the New Umer Imperium have shown that if we don't corral thier dreams and aspirations, they'll seek to overthrow and destroy the Bombpire.
(Next episode will add a category dedicated to either improving current state-owned businesses and corporations, or building new ones that serve Mitt, Greens, or Adams. A new corporate empire will be built along with a digital empire.)

Proper Monuments- Statues of my gloriousness adorn major parks and urban centers- sure. But thats simple triumph. Arches, aqueducts, bridges, tombs, so on and so on. The Bombpire will be made into a cultural mainstay. You will venerate and awe the grounds you walk on and work in. The Bombpire will be more than some flags and distant politicians, it will be art incarnate.
(Let the Bombpire embrace the arts! We'll make even the rustiest city or dingiest town shine for our Bombperor. We'll even start thinking of our own "Bombperial Standard" architecture. Gone will be the gray and depressing apartments, soon will be the marble and limestone apartment blocs with increased rent.)

Shifting the Blame- See, the problem is, the people should not only fear me, but they should see the source of my woes as the people around me. Not Mitt, Greens, and Adams (on most days anyway); no, no, no you plebes. My problems come from the nameless politicians and Zone schmoes around me trying to make a quick buck off our labors!
(The blame for most woes will be shifted to the middlemen of the Bombpire. This can range from mayors, to Zone governors, officers, whoever hits my Shit-List this month. Keep the people and the elite bickering amongst themselves and competing for my affection.)

Exemptions for Bootlickers- Buying Bombperial goods or goods produced in states closely affiliated with the Bombpire such as 'Mittsylvania' or 'Greensmarch' will allow you less tax if not no tax on said goods purchased. Shop local! Shop Bombperial! Or else.
(Bombperial goods will be cheaper and of the same quality as those fiendish foreign goods. Plus seeing those who excessively spend on foreign goods- Dynastic electronics, Adventist lava lamps, Castronian cigars, and more could lead us to more 'subversive' or 'rebellious' agents of society.)

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Bonn continued to sit in the dark, flipping through channels, stewing and plotting with that thought about fear in the back of his mind. Fear, fear, fear. Fear. Flipping through the channels, the riots, the wars, economic lows, worry after worry that plagued his mind turned into anger. He had feared losing control of the Bombpire, he had feared losing the respect of the people, it was some damn piece of him, something he'd always had in the back of his head as far as he could remember that he always feared. That little niggling fear in the back of his head ever since he became a politician, that little fear he had even before that. Before he could remember anything at all.

Fear was something one earned, it was a horrid little currency. You buy and sell it through life as you go through and shape life and the lives of others. Punching some shitwack Senator in the face? He fears you, the establishment feared you. Overthrowing the government and installing your own? The people feared you! You were unstoppable! Lose the faith and will of the people- have them revolt. You feared them. As much as you felt invincible, the power you had came from the people. Those people could at any moment rise up and overthrow you. Bonn didn’t fear death, he boldly and fairly assumed he couldn’t die. Being shot, drowned, hit with bricks and shanked. Bonn didn’t fear death cause he couldn’t die. Or at least nothing seemed to hurt him. It was the fear of losing power.

Bonn had clawed drawn tooth and gloved nail to the top. Loafers, ties, and suits had been lost and thrown out over the years, but Bonn continued to trudge forward. At the end of the day it was appearances and respect that garnered fear. Now with Camila however, the Bombpire appeared sick, Bonn had to help. The Bombpire stagnated and bled across the continent. Bonn had to pick up the slack. The Bombpire had to grow and expand, Bonn led the faceless horde of criminals and lowlifes, it was Bonn who whipped them into shape. It was why he initially made the Bombpire so ‘rudimentary’ so ‘crass’, because an empire of criminals and lunks could easily be controlled- so he thought. One as it turns out cannot take the scum out of a criminal, just train it like a lion-tamer. Bonn looked at the TV channel he stopped on. Showing a city bloc burning- red flags adorned with white diagonal crosses.

But maybe the problem was that he didn’t show the lion what was the punishment for not playing along.

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-=New World, New Wars, New Toys=-
The Bombpire has had to rely on old world designs, equipment, and salvage. This has made it cost-effective, but in general it has proven less-than-effective. Overwhelming numbers and specialized uses of rare old world technology and designs has allowed the Bombperial Army and Navy to take victories in wars- and even then it hasn't always been guaranteed. The worst example is the Airforce and the Missile Command, rebuilding and dusting off what are antiques to fight or be manufactured is abysmal. For too long fat industrialists have stood in my way, holding my factories hostage and threatening to strike out. Now that they've played thier bluff and have chosen treason, we can work a better army into the production queue.
We should punish these traitors with better and bigger weaponry.

-Bombperial Ground Forces-
Three shiny new toys should enter the field.

Mittsylvanian Robotics- Officially called either "Automated Infantry" or 'WATbots'. (Weaponized Automaton Trooper(s)) is the more militaristic project of Mitt and his laboratory in Fort Knocks. What started out as a way to boost security concerns around the base and continue peak research efficiency in the form of the "MIT" Program now seems to be sprouting extremities into military applications.
(WATbots will enter into the Bombperial Army at a serious and industrial scale- at first filling in the numbers, little more than robotic grunts who can hold and shoot guns or are modified to have guns attached. If we don't select this project to go through, WATbots will instead be relegated more to an 'occupation' or 'security' force.)

Armored Infantry Corps- While heavier and more expensive, giving our troops the same level of protection riot officers and Urbapol grunts have would boost thier survival on the battlefield. We can't exactly be the feared 'evil empire of doom' if we our grunts get downed by a single lucky shot or some foagie farmers in the sticks now can we?
(The infantry will become heavier and sluggish, but this means any position a force of infantry takes or stands on will be harder to dislodge given the heavier armor and shields Shrapnel, bullets, debris, the infantryman no longer will fear such trivial measures.)

Hovering Armored Vehicles- Or 'H.A.V.' has been a project for a new generation of Bombperial armored fighting vehicles- primarily tanks, has been a constant on-and-off project of Greens for a while. Enamored with this project, Greens claims the 'hover tanks' would in theory be able to pack just as much firepower as a tank, and outrun- and in some cases- outrange tanks 'stuck' on the ground.
(H.A.V.s will begin production- exiting thier 'trial phase' and be quickly made part of the Bombperial armored formations as better medium and light tanks. Early success will drive H.A.V. production into other vehicles such as trucks, self-propelled artillery, and even military tractors. Failure to pick this option renders H.A.V.s nothing more than extremely specialized vehicles seeing heavily limited production.)

The Bombswagen- What we need is a new everything. Take what made the old world good and we'll make it greater. Perhaps by first inventing say- a new car, which means new engine, new chassis, all that- we can use that as a basis to make newer and better vehicles for our army in the future. Progress takes a while, besides we can fund new research and expansion of the 'Bombswagen' by marketing it as a civilian vehicle.
(Bombswagens will enter production as simple civilian and logistics vehicles. Further 'field testing' and encouraging modifications on the go should help us realize what our vehicles should specialize into and fix in the long-term.)

The 'Glass Cannon'- Found by some of Adams scavengers in the valleys leading to the Adventists in an old world base, this mortar appears to utilize nuclear payloads as opposed to simple explosive shells or kinetic rounds. The name 'Glass Cannon' comes from wherever it strikes- it leaves behind a small amount of the same radioactive glass that permeates the Ash Wastes just east of the Dynasty.
(Going through with the 'Glass Cannon' mortar will see other 'casual' nuclear weapons inducted into Bombperial service such as tactical nuclear warheads and radioactive chemical warfare. Adams dosen't care if we don't adopt this en masse, saying he'll still use it- albeit in a more limited defensive stance.)

'Goliath' Project- Hovering, tracked, or wheeled, adding to our arsenal unmanned and remote weapons of war would be even more cost-effective for military expenditures. Strapping a machine gun to wheels is practically the same as a machine gun to a truck bed- minus the truck and minus the people. Maybe a small flying bomb to detonate above the enemies heads. The possibilities are limitless.

(Drones of all shapes and sizes will be produced by our factories and slaves, from mobile machine gun emplacements, 'bomb delivery', and other surveillance purposes. The Bombpire will see every enemy and watch them fear the unending horde of steel.)

-Bombperial Naval Forces-
Two shiny new toys should swim.

The 'Tadpole Carrier'- The one problem with submarines is while they're mostly invisible- the big problem is that they're still required to surface, and will eventually have to go back to specialized port for repairs and rearmament. Two big problems that hinder submarines true potential. But with the "tadpole carrier", a mobile base capable of rearmament and repairing submarines out at sea- those two negatives go away in the flick of a fuse.
(A specialized aircraft carrier hull will be modified to work with submersible craft- it is the same basic premise just 'reverse', acting as a floating submarine base. We'll make sure to put as much stealth tech on it as possible, a submarine base is no good if its seen by every motherfucker with a radar.)

"Landships"- Submarines are great, but the Anchovynes are a different terrible beast. Submarines to them are but frigates and destroyers. Their real power lay at the bottom of the ocean floor, untouchable all save for big ordinance explosives or specifically manufactured missiles. To compete with the Anchovynes- one should imitate them- including their underwater mobile fortresses.
(The first truly undersea ventures will be made, building small tank-sized crafts to roam the bottom of the ocean. Thankfully we have some friendly fish to help school us on how to build similar 'landships' like they have.)

Gyrocopter Cruisers- Aircraft carriers are a nice idea, but they're bulky and large, limited to special ports able to host and fit them. Expensive and large, the loss of an aircraft carrier is limited only to being in the back of the fleet. A smaller more 'portable' carrier could be made out of a cruiser, equipping certain larger cruisers with the ability to host gyrocopters would make a cheaper and more forward carrier platform.
(Several cruisers will be modified to host flight decks of gyrocopters. Lightly armed aircraft that are best suited for local patrol and local harassment of ships and aircraft. Less effective than a true cruiser in some ways, the "gyrocruiser" makes up for it by being faster and better able to support its flying complement more directly.)

A 'Dreaded' Ship- The old world speaks of a great class of warship- seemingly so large and so massive it only fought in one war and was retired out of every empires service afterwards- fearful of a great naval arms race. This class of ship- this "Dreadnaught" was impenetrable to even battleship armaments. Able to withstand a submarines volley and keep firing! It must be mine!
(Ahab's going to love this one, the first ever Bombperial 'Dreadnaught' will be constructed in 2 years. A behemoth of iron and steel, an unsinkable ship. A perpetual naval titan that will defy all who dare test the Bombperial Navy.)

-Bombperial Aerial Forces-
Two shiny new toys should fly.

The Aero-Fortress- A floating vessel bigger than any bomber we have currently, likened almost to a ship in the sky. A mobile command center from which to oversee any war, skirmish, or conflict. A vessel of intimidation and sheer unyielding power to blot out the sun itself! Yes. Such glorious power. It must be made- to project the Bombpire's power over land, sea, and air.
(A grand aerial fortress will be constructed- able to take command of the skies from its sheer firepower and sheer size will be built- likely taking 6-7 years, such a vessel however would be akin to a mobile Grand Palace. Able to govern through one method or another anywhere in the air.)

Bombperial Zeppelins- Slow, lumbering, and at first glance not useful in an age of zippy fighters and bombers. But a zeppelin has its place. Less fuel costs beyond the initial hydrogen for one. But also plenty of room for cargo, troops, supplies. Zeppelins may seem like an idiots choice, but one simply has to see it for what it is, an opportunity to get the best of both worlds. Flying high and flying large.
(Zeppelins will be added to the Bombperial air force, sticking out like ugly thumbs among the speedy fighters and tanky bombers, but these zeppelins will serve a multitude of purposes for the Air Force as a nice cost-effective logistics craft and strategic bomber.)

Low Orbital Flyer- Mitt and Greens have been toying with an idea- even getting giddy over it. A low-orbital flying machine. Touching the bare edges of space itself. Being such a high-flyer it'd be able to avoid anti-air batteries and radar for a significant portion of its journey. Quite literally attacking from the heavens and striking down our enemies.
(Mitt and Greens are going to jump for joy, the Low Orbital Flyer- otherwise known as the "Kessler" will enter a trial period and begin experimentation- flying around the world. A world I intend to conquer. . .)

The 'Sound Jumper'- An aircraft thats got some "turbo" to it. While some aircraft already break the sound barrier, those are flyin' trick ponies. Rich idiots who want a new record and do it for the gig money. I was thinkin' a new kinda fighter- something that constantly breaks the sound barrier. A supersonic jet fighter that'll blow apart every other fighter on the continent.
(Mainly suggested by Adams of all blockheads, but he claims its cause of files he found in something called the "Shy Mountain Complex". If we build it, he's promised to let us fly the first one from his personal airstrip and take a small jaunt over Dynastic airspace.)

-Bombperial Missile Command-
One shiny new toy must light up the night sky.

SLAMming New Ideas- Old world technological schematics show a missile that flies at low altitude real fast. Now while this doesn't sound like a huge innovation- or a good one. This thing in theory avoids every anti-air defense by virtue of it flying close to the ground rather than it being in the air. Modifying and rebuilding Missile Command with "SLAMs" we could get a shit-tonne more bang for our buck.
(We also better get some bang for our buck because this would be expensive to retool or rebuild our missiles as this fancy new technology and would also considerably shrink our total missiles- likely down anywhere between 1/3 to 1/2 of the previous amount of missiles- which currently stands at around some 980 operational [pre-revolt numbers obviously].)

Nasty Dirty Warheads- A few of our missiles are something called "dirty bombs", first of all- us bombs aren't all 'dirty'. Second- as opposed to the more expensive nuclear weapons, dirty bombs do a similar job for cheaper. Shove some radioactive material or easily activated chemicals and suddenly you have pawn store nukes in every missile silo.
(Every conventional missile will be adapted into a dirty bomb. Every 'simple missile' will also be made into a dirty missile. No matter what we hit our enemies with, they'll always be face first into the dirt and eating poisons and toxins for breakfast.)

The "Moon Boom"- A missile that grazes the heavens and then rides gravity down and strikes the target. Almost like a rod fired straight from the heavens. Letting gravity do most of the work as we climb high into the sky would significantly cheapen fuel costs- paying for only half the journey's worth of fuel should make missiles cheaper and better boomin'.
(The 'Moon Boom' program will see missiles shoot to the stars and then fall back to the earth below. The missile will be little more than a hunk of metal with wings and engines. The kinetic force of going from low orbit to the ground should put a good-sized crater into anyone's day.)

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Sitting in the dark room with little else to do other than watch news broadcasts that did little to anger Bonn, all he could do throughout the night was tilt and look at Camila. Sleeping mostly peacefully save for a few times where she tossed and turned in the night. It seemed this night wouldn’t be one of the visceral night terrors. Bonn wanted so fuse-damn desperately to leave the stool. To get back to his office, to be at the helm of the decaying nation he saw on TV. To save it and make it once again fear him. To corral the masses loyal or disloyal to his name into fearing him.

Bonn could do little other than toss the remote in the dark. Every channel relevant showed the same fuse-damn thing. Riots. Protests. Loss of control. The Bombpire sloughing itself away like a leper. A city bloc here, a factory complex there, a village over yonder. If he wasn’t losing land at home through the New Imperium or the Autonomous Zones in rebellions and secession, it was the associates of the Bombpire who rendered further disappointment. Anchovyne naval forces continued to battle over the endless ocean. The Domain’s forces are like gelatin, press down somewhere and they pop up elsewhere. It drove Bonn mad. But it also just reinforced the idea that the Bombpire had to be rebuilt in his- and his colleagues' image. To take back control of the empire he had made!

Of course he couldn’t do that. Not now. For now Bonn had to sit next to his spouse who laid in bed, none the wiser to the brewing and plotting Bonn had. So fast asleep she appeared peaceful in bed, the night terrors weren’t going to be apparent this night it seemed. Though it was only 4 in the morning- there was still 2-3 hours left to her sleep and any number of awful sudden shocks would turn the night into a horror show. While there were signs Bonn knew beforehand they could quickly and unexpectedly spiral. Bonn stood up and paced around the bed, doing a light patrol. Nothing at all in the room, nothing amiss about Camila save for the ugly mark on her back. Bonn winced. Everyone said it was from the fish-mongers. Everyone believed it. Bonn however studied those filthy fish-mongers. He hated them. He despised them, but even he knew the Anchovynes weren’t into what Camila said was 'astrology'. Not even the weirder sects of the Imperium. At least none that were public or even the less secretive ones. And that symbol looked way too different than the runes they loved carving everywhere.

Bonn finished his patrol, putting the sigil back into his subconscious as nothing else out of the ordinary seemed to appear. And he sat back down on the stool. The TV providing limited light to the room as riots engulfed more and more of the city it was broadcasting from. Bonn simmered as he cooled off. The day would be starting soon. Or at least the Sun would be coming up and the Palaces inner workings could begin chugging for the day. To once again take the reigns of the empire. To think running the empire was only half his job nowadays. He couldn’t wait to be off the stool and back in the office. Back in the seat to crush the enemies at his gate. Back in the seat to tame the criminals he let run his empire for a decade and a half.

It's time to take out the trash. Get rid of these rebels and return the Bombpire to its glory!

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-=Knocking Down the Door=-
The Bombpire is currently being attacked from both ends of the spectrum. On one end are the usual suspects, low-class impoverished plebeians who claim the system is oppressive, and thus have risen up against it. The Gaddies are at it again and are taking down and out large swathes of the Bombpires urban areas and turning them into 'Autonomous Zones', claiming to fight the good fight and all that "freedom" bullshit. On the other end is the band of traitors I should've skinned, tarred, and feathered a long time ago. Rowdy elites, tricky dealers, and other high-society jackbags who've done nothing but leech my time, my resources, and my patience. The New Umer Imperium- noble and grand it may seem is all but a vehicle for thier lecherous ways.
Let these rebels revolt in Hell.
(You have 4 choices to choose from- you can put these 4 options in any category. Putting all 4 options you have in a single category will remove that rebel faction as a threat- though be careful, its not wise to put all your eggs in one basket.)

-The Autonomous Zones-
Time to clamp down on thier freedoms.

Send in the Army- Its clear Urbapol and other metropolitan police forces aren't able to cut down and stop these protestors wholesale- or else we wouldn't have this problem. Sending in the army- particuarly the more mentally unstable bits of it to clean up the rioters and protestors.
(The banners of yellow, blue, and black will fall before the might of the red, black, and white. Letting the Army- especially some of the more psychotic parts should trim and break the more opportunistic and turn-tail traitors of the Gaddies and thier Autonomous Zones.)

Bust thier Unions- Composed of the lower classes and spread through various workers unions and groups- official or unofficial, breaking these little cooperative groups can lead to breaking the backs of any future reinforcements and communications. Disbanding these organizations will provide short-term ammo for them, but a longer-term benefit for us in the end.
(Disbanding these unions and snooping around for 'illegal electronics' or secret passages in the cities should stunt any future Zone growth and rebel spread. Future Gaddie revolts will be more decentralized, though thanks to this, they'll also probably be more radical.)

Chaos in Chik-ango- The main core of Gaddie resistance is in the industrial heart of Chik-ango. A city half on the polluted waters of the Great Lakes and half on the dirty gravel shores. A large and ugly urban sprawl hidden under fog. AKA, plucky freedom fighter central. Re-taking the city will not only retake a crucial industrial center, but also deprive the Gaddies of a critical recruitment center.
(Taking back the city is dangerous and treacherous, but it is worth it to take back the key industrial center that is Chik-ango and pulling out an important fulcrum to any potential Gaddie manuevers in this rebellion of theres is crucial.)

The Battle of 'the Wall'- 'Wall Street' as it was known in the old world- now simply 'the Wall', a large collection of tightly packed skyscrapers that host the most of the Bombpire's trades and 'digital economy'. A common place it seems for the plebes to congregate and riot in both the new and old world is in front of the Wall- and right now the street in front of it is a decisive battleground.
(Letting these 'freedom fighters' take over the Wall itself would damage and paralyze the Bombperial economy, not to mention such a symbolic victory would give the Gaddies more legitimacy than they already have or deserve.)

-New Umer Imperium-
Business can be conducted at the good end of a gun.

Tell Off the Airforce- The N.U.I. has a strange but unusual beef with the Air Force. Its mainly over contracts awarded to other factories and beef with some of the higher-ups such as "Commander Condor" over some of the most trivial shit. Thanks to these past incidents the N.U.I. has been focusing on crippling the Air Force's assets such as radar and radio.
(Hooking up the Air Force with some better and new-Sumerian-inspired communications systems [only slightly untested] would allow the Air Force to scramble itself into action and blow up the damn N.U.I.)

Tank Their Wealth- A lot of the N.U.I.s wealth comes from factory complexes and resource deposits- oil derricks, aluminum mines, lumber mills, and plenty more. While in the long-run it'd cripple the Bombpire, we don't exactly have a long-term if the Bombpire collapses or worse. Acting fast and acting hard against any action taken against us should be our strategy.
(Specially bombing and destroying the factories and mines they own would endear us to the locally occupied people and bust thier ability to wage serious war. Without oil you can't drive. Without ore you can't make bullets or armor. Without even wood you can't house the smallest mouse. Enjoy the cold in the middle of your burning cityscape.)

Raid Gores Island- In the center of the Great Lake is a small island known as 'Gores Island', a spa resort for the uber-wealthy. Domed off from the toxic lake around it, Gores Island is an isolated place, almost being used as a 'neutral ground' between the elite for more "extra-legal" deals. It's likely home to a temporary "capitol" for the N.U.I. Let's take it down.
(The Bombperial Guard will raid Gores Island and storm the spa complex-turned-neutral ground. A tough fight it'll be, but taking out one of "thier" places should greatly dishearten and demoralize the New Imperium.)

Destroying Vandals Mountain- Vandals Mountain is the site of a rumored stockpile of missiles. While we've been good in keeping them out of the hands of the N.U.I.- destroying them or moving them elsewhere, Vandals Mountain isn't an official Bombperial site, but whatever's in there, the N.U.I. seems desperate to grab it. Blocking them from taking it and stealing it ourselves should put them down a peg or two.
(Either by stealing it or blowing it up, Vandals Mountain will not fall to the New Imperium and the Bombpire will stand great and mighty over the hills and all the mountains! Even the ones we don't seem to own.)

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The sun had come up a while before as Bonn sat in the office without lights- save for the glowing orange of a new sunny day. Another night gotten through, at first Camila waking up somewhere before 6 in the morning was cause for alarm, but concern quickly dissipated once she signed she wanted some ‘sweet rosebud tea’, at least to Bonn it seemed like it was perfectly fine. Wake up, grab a favored drink of the morning, and get to work. Personally he was more of a liquidized sulfur kinda guy, but each their own for morning brew.

Shoes on the desk, Bonn cracked his gloved hands, and sipped a mug of sulfur. Another day of crushing the shitheels who tried to take down his empire. Another day of- Camila looking fucking awful. Maybe Bonn just didn’t notice it at first because ‘hey a night without night terrors, great!’ but Camila looked downright awful like she had been plagued by them all night. Her hair was a mess, the usual facepaint she donned every morning had been a rush job. She was still in her sleep-dress. The tea seemed to be spilling over her cheek and over her shoulder, whatever Camila was, she was not oh-kay in the slightest sense.

She stumbled into the office, trying to make it to the desk while Bonn sat back, repeatedly pressing a button on the desk and trying not to fumble the phone at his desk. Camila made it to the desk, slumped over on one arm before trying to stand up.

Wobbly she was, but with both hands free, Camila signed one message before collapsing on the floor.

“They’re no longer night terrors.”

Bonn looked disturbed as the Palace’s staff rushed into the office, shocked but diligent and carried her away to a more ‘hospitable wing’ of the Palace.

The last thing he noticed was the sigil on her back. It almost seemed to invisibly glow. Were it not for the lack of light save for the sunlight- Bonn was sure he’d have never noticed.

Whatever torture she had in that missing year it wasn’t the Anchovynes, and whatever that sigil was, Bonn knew it wasn’t from those fish-mongers. As the Palace staff retreated out of sight, Bonn decided to get up and take a stroll to his personal library. Hopefully a lead would be had there as to whatever Camila seemed to be ill with. Disease or *otherwise*.

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Sorry for the wait. And sorry for the long episode. A lot needs to be sorted out here and in reality.
I do hope you enjoy. Any questions or ideas are welcomed.
Voting ends August 17th.
Glory be to the Bombperor! Down with the traitors!

Description

Bonn sat in the dark, watching TV at 3 in the morning sitting on a small stool beside Camila's bed. He’d been sitting there since sometime yesterday. Bonn had taken on a secondary duty as Camila’s caretaker on certain nights. Ever since she came back from the Keychain Islands, Camila had changed in fairly strange ways, the most obvious was the burn mark on her back, it was subtle and it grew subtler as time went off. That and Camila's dresses seemed to change over time. Even with her new position as the Empress of the Domain- the dress no longer contained sigils from the Domains religion or its spiritual beliefs. It seemed more “astrological” in nature. Though the former two could be excused as “torture” and changing attire- something Bonn figured was a 'shock response', at least what Mitt told him.

It was the third change that had everyone in the Palace shook up. The night terrors. Ever since she came back from the Keychains she regularly experienced nightmares and visions. The Palace staff had become secondary caretakers, Bonn included became an impromptu caretaker. And right now at 3:15 in the morning, Bonn was watching the news on late night TV. Riots, protests, the “Gaddies” the self-proclaimed freedom fighters of the Bombpire had been out and about causing trouble for a few months. Granted they’d been doing what they were supposed to at first. Offing and ridding the Bombpire of officials he couldn’t give a wick for or those he just didn’t like. But then they started spiraling into city-eating hive minds. Bonn sighed as he watched another fight between Bombperial “Urbapol” and the rioters.

He tilted himself to look at the bed. Camila had been peacefully asleep for the last few nights. Her night terrors had been decreasing, though they seemed to be “worse”- trading quantity for quality. Visions of worlds of flesh and eyes continued to haunt her, and they got more and more visceral. Bonn grew tired of listening to it faster than he grew disgusted. Mental images of the countryside being disgusting purple flesh filled with creepy eyes and horrifying orifices could only be creatively described in horrifying detail either by Camila or by the aides that helped care for her so many times.

He had Mitt assign a special catering of scientists to find out whatever the fuck was wrong with her, as fleshbag psychology was something Mitt wasn’t the best at. Something that would take more time. Something that would have to be waited on. Waiting. Something he was currently doing right now scrolling through the 3:30 channels watching more news about riots, more soaps, more boring sleep-catching programs of the odd hours of the day.

Bonn hated it. Sitting there couped up in the dark bedroom, unable to do nothing. Sure- he could go back to his office, he could discard the watch, get ripped to shreds by the press for “abandoning his wife in the midst of a mental breakdown”, the damnable news was able to eek out enough information from a snitch in the Palace that Camila had suffered a serious mental snap somewhere between being captured and being found. And Bonn feared that the news would rip him apart even more than it was right now. Fear. Fear. Bonn hated fear, it forced him to sit in a dark room doing nothing most of the night- fear of the press. Fear for her and the lack of consistent mental stability. And Bonn knew it was fear that made the riots. It was his fear of others, fear of being subverted and double-crossed by his underlings. Bonn flipped through the channels on late night TV annoyed and peeved.

If the rebels didn’t remove that golden stepford smiler he’d do it himself he thought as he flipped through the 40th Smile Group owned channel. After that. Eliminating fear from most avenues of his life. If he was going to rebuild the Bombpire his own way- he needed to be respected and feared. Not to fear his own nation. He'd made the first steps in getting the underlings and goons to kowtow. But as Bonn look upon the riots on the news and extensive maps of protests- he figured now came the step of making the people fear him.

If there was one word from the old world Bonn loved above all else- it was 'tyrant'. And now its time he showed how much a tyrant he could be.

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-=Expanding the Swamp=-
Obviously, one cannot rule by simple terror from the upper crust alone, this "New Umer Imperium" has shown a prime example of such elitist-only terror. If the Bombpire is going to be built under my sway and my direction, the swamp not only must be reinforced, it must expand outwards. From the great halls of the Grand Palace and aristocratic private communities- to even the lowliest slums and dingiest shacks one must revere my name. While I've shown my mug and plastered it everywhere, the people associate me with living, but they do not seem to associate me with the law or the land.
That changes now.
(The proverbial swamp must grow, it is not enough I am everywhere in my citizens lives passively. I must be there actively. Three choices.)

Pledge Allegiance to Me!- What if every morning- say at schools and at work- one had to pledge allegiance to the Bombpire (and to an extent, yours truly), every day save for maybe holidays and weekends. Set a timer, standardize it, and let the cacophony of allegiance sound itself throughout the Bombpire to have the first thoughts of your day not be yours or your loved ones, but of me!
(Now repeat after me! "I pledge to uphold the authority of the Bombperor and his law across the nation, his will inscrutable and his authority just, one nation, under the Bombperor with equality and order for all." A Bombperial pledge will be made mandatory in every school, office, court, what be it so!)

Mandatory Service- The military is made of patriots and lowlifes looking to get a quick buck. The patriots are fine, but they're small in numbers. The lowlifes make the numbers swell, but they're there for a safe money and run when danger presents itself. To fix this, we should add mandatory conscription- say 1-2 years. Depends on what you want to go for ya grunt.
(Bombperial conscription will become a feature to bulk up the army's numbers. We'll also include extra 'command troops'/'regulation officers' to make sure said conscripts don't decide to abandon thier mandatory service.)

A Surveillance State- With Mitt rebuilding the Bombperial digital infrastructure, would it not be wise to monitor the ever-loving fuse out of it? CCTV cameras on every city bloc, spy gadgets in every personal electronic, face scanners in every checkpoint- from airports and train terminals to shop entrances. Don't worry peoples of the Bombpire, it's for your own safety. . .
(The Bombpire will rebuild its digital real estate with a shit-ton of "peeping software" and other spy-gear. Even those without phones or computers will still fall under the mighty gaze of the Bombperor!)

Weekly Announcements- A simple announcement to the people updating them on the status of the Bombpire. Growth, tariffs, heck maybe even advertising some new shows and programs. Introducing the people to the Bombperor's more "personable side", to appear as less a bombastic ass and more a "human".
(Maybe we can turn it into a radio or TV program- "Thursday Tea with the Tyrant" or something, if I'm going to be busting my wick reading out the post-it notes version of how the country's doing every week, it better be able to make money through cheap marketing and sales too. I don't work for free, and working extra costs a lot more- especially if its with stepford smiler Mr. Smile.)

The State Means Business- We've made a big mistake allowing a semi-free market dictate the Bombperial economy. While we've had limited control of the economy, it clearly wasn't enough. The elites of the New Umer Imperium have shown that if we don't corral thier dreams and aspirations, they'll seek to overthrow and destroy the Bombpire.
(Next episode will add a category dedicated to either improving current state-owned businesses and corporations, or building new ones that serve Mitt, Greens, or Adams. A new corporate empire will be built along with a digital empire.)

Proper Monuments- Statues of my gloriousness adorn major parks and urban centers- sure. But thats simple triumph. Arches, aqueducts, bridges, tombs, so on and so on. The Bombpire will be made into a cultural mainstay. You will venerate and awe the grounds you walk on and work in. The Bombpire will be more than some flags and distant politicians, it will be art incarnate.
(Let the Bombpire embrace the arts! We'll make even the rustiest city or dingiest town shine for our Bombperor. We'll even start thinking of our own "Bombperial Standard" architecture. Gone will be the gray and depressing apartments, soon will be the marble and limestone apartment blocs with increased rent.)

Shifting the Blame- See, the problem is, the people should not only fear me, but they should see the source of my woes as the people around me. Not Mitt, Greens, and Adams (on most days anyway); no, no, no you plebes. My problems come from the nameless politicians and Zone schmoes around me trying to make a quick buck off our labors!
(The blame for most woes will be shifted to the middlemen of the Bombpire. This can range from mayors, to Zone governors, officers, whoever hits my Shit-List this month. Keep the people and the elite bickering amongst themselves and competing for my affection.)

Exemptions for Bootlickers- Buying Bombperial goods or goods produced in states closely affiliated with the Bombpire such as 'Mittsylvania' or 'Greensmarch' will allow you less tax if not no tax on said goods purchased. Shop local! Shop Bombperial! Or else.
(Bombperial goods will be cheaper and of the same quality as those fiendish foreign goods. Plus seeing those who excessively spend on foreign goods- Dynastic electronics, Adventist lava lamps, Castronian cigars, and more could lead us to more 'subversive' or 'rebellious' agents of society.)

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Bonn continued to sit in the dark, flipping through channels, stewing and plotting with that thought about fear in the back of his mind. Fear, fear, fear. Fear. Flipping through the channels, the riots, the wars, economic lows, worry after worry that plagued his mind turned into anger. He had feared losing control of the Bombpire, he had feared losing the respect of the people, it was some damn piece of him, something he'd always had in the back of his head as far as he could remember that he always feared. That little niggling fear in the back of his head ever since he became a politician, that little fear he had even before that. Before he could remember anything at all.

Fear was something one earned, it was a horrid little currency. You buy and sell it through life as you go through and shape life and the lives of others. Punching some shitwack Senator in the face? He fears you, the establishment feared you. Overthrowing the government and installing your own? The people feared you! You were unstoppable! Lose the faith and will of the people- have them revolt. You feared them. As much as you felt invincible, the power you had came from the people. Those people could at any moment rise up and overthrow you. Bonn didn’t fear death, he boldly and fairly assumed he couldn’t die. Being shot, drowned, hit with bricks and shanked. Bonn didn’t fear death cause he couldn’t die. Or at least nothing seemed to hurt him. It was the fear of losing power.

Bonn had clawed drawn tooth and gloved nail to the top. Loafers, ties, and suits had been lost and thrown out over the years, but Bonn continued to trudge forward. At the end of the day it was appearances and respect that garnered fear. Now with Camila however, the Bombpire appeared sick, Bonn had to help. The Bombpire stagnated and bled across the continent. Bonn had to pick up the slack. The Bombpire had to grow and expand, Bonn led the faceless horde of criminals and lowlifes, it was Bonn who whipped them into shape. It was why he initially made the Bombpire so ‘rudimentary’ so ‘crass’, because an empire of criminals and lunks could easily be controlled- so he thought. One as it turns out cannot take the scum out of a criminal, just train it like a lion-tamer. Bonn looked at the TV channel he stopped on. Showing a city bloc burning- red flags adorned with white diagonal crosses.

But maybe the problem was that he didn’t show the lion what was the punishment for not playing along.

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-=New World, New Wars, New Toys=-
The Bombpire has had to rely on old world designs, equipment, and salvage. This has made it cost-effective, but in general it has proven less-than-effective. Overwhelming numbers and specialized uses of rare old world technology and designs has allowed the Bombperial Army and Navy to take victories in wars- and even then it hasn't always been guaranteed. The worst example is the Airforce and the Missile Command, rebuilding and dusting off what are antiques to fight or be manufactured is abysmal. For too long fat industrialists have stood in my way, holding my factories hostage and threatening to strike out. Now that they've played thier bluff and have chosen treason, we can work a better army into the production queue.
We should punish these traitors with better and bigger weaponry.

-Bombperial Ground Forces-
Three shiny new toys should enter the field.

Mittsylvanian Robotics- Officially called either "Automated Infantry" or 'WATbots'. (Weaponized Automaton Trooper(s)) is the more militaristic project of Mitt and his laboratory in Fort Knocks. What started out as a way to boost security concerns around the base and continue peak research efficiency in the form of the "MIT" Program now seems to be sprouting extremities into military applications.
(WATbots will enter into the Bombperial Army at a serious and industrial scale- at first filling in the numbers, little more than robotic grunts who can hold and shoot guns or are modified to have guns attached. If we don't select this project to go through, WATbots will instead be relegated more to an 'occupation' or 'security' force.)

Armored Infantry Corps- While heavier and more expensive, giving our troops the same level of protection riot officers and Urbapol grunts have would boost thier survival on the battlefield. We can't exactly be the feared 'evil empire of doom' if we our grunts get downed by a single lucky shot or some foagie farmers in the sticks now can we?
(The infantry will become heavier and sluggish, but this means any position a force of infantry takes or stands on will be harder to dislodge given the heavier armor and shields Shrapnel, bullets, debris, the infantryman no longer will fear such trivial measures.)

Hovering Armored Vehicles- Or 'H.A.V.' has been a project for a new generation of Bombperial armored fighting vehicles- primarily tanks, has been a constant on-and-off project of Greens for a while. Enamored with this project, Greens claims the 'hover tanks' would in theory be able to pack just as much firepower as a tank, and outrun- and in some cases- outrange tanks 'stuck' on the ground.
(H.A.V.s will begin production- exiting thier 'trial phase' and be quickly made part of the Bombperial armored formations as better medium and light tanks. Early success will drive H.A.V. production into other vehicles such as trucks, self-propelled artillery, and even military tractors. Failure to pick this option renders H.A.V.s nothing more than extremely specialized vehicles seeing heavily limited production.)

The Bombswagen- What we need is a new everything. Take what made the old world good and we'll make it greater. Perhaps by first inventing say- a new car, which means new engine, new chassis, all that- we can use that as a basis to make newer and better vehicles for our army in the future. Progress takes a while, besides we can fund new research and expansion of the 'Bombswagen' by marketing it as a civilian vehicle.
(Bombswagens will enter production as simple civilian and logistics vehicles. Further 'field testing' and encouraging modifications on the go should help us realize what our vehicles should specialize into and fix in the long-term.)

The 'Glass Cannon'- Found by some of Adams scavengers in the valleys leading to the Adventists in an old world base, this mortar appears to utilize nuclear payloads as opposed to simple explosive shells or kinetic rounds. The name 'Glass Cannon' comes from wherever it strikes- it leaves behind a small amount of the same radioactive glass that permeates the Ash Wastes just east of the Dynasty.
(Going through with the 'Glass Cannon' mortar will see other 'casual' nuclear weapons inducted into Bombperial service such as tactical nuclear warheads and radioactive chemical warfare. Adams dosen't care if we don't adopt this en masse, saying he'll still use it- albeit in a more limited defensive stance.)

'Goliath' Project- Hovering, tracked, or wheeled, adding to our arsenal unmanned and remote weapons of war would be even more cost-effective for military expenditures. Strapping a machine gun to wheels is practically the same as a machine gun to a truck bed- minus the truck and minus the people. Maybe a small flying bomb to detonate above the enemies heads. The possibilities are limitless.

(Drones of all shapes and sizes will be produced by our factories and slaves, from mobile machine gun emplacements, 'bomb delivery', and other surveillance purposes. The Bombpire will see every enemy and watch them fear the unending horde of steel.)

-Bombperial Naval Forces-
Two shiny new toys should swim.

The 'Tadpole Carrier'- The one problem with submarines is while they're mostly invisible- the big problem is that they're still required to surface, and will eventually have to go back to specialized port for repairs and rearmament. Two big problems that hinder submarines true potential. But with the "tadpole carrier", a mobile base capable of rearmament and repairing submarines out at sea- those two negatives go away in the flick of a fuse.
(A specialized aircraft carrier hull will be modified to work with submersible craft- it is the same basic premise just 'reverse', acting as a floating submarine base. We'll make sure to put as much stealth tech on it as possible, a submarine base is no good if its seen by every motherfucker with a radar.)

"Landships"- Submarines are great, but the Anchovynes are a different terrible beast. Submarines to them are but frigates and destroyers. Their real power lay at the bottom of the ocean floor, untouchable all save for big ordinance explosives or specifically manufactured missiles. To compete with the Anchovynes- one should imitate them- including their underwater mobile fortresses.
(The first truly undersea ventures will be made, building small tank-sized crafts to roam the bottom of the ocean. Thankfully we have some friendly fish to help school us on how to build similar 'landships' like they have.)

Gyrocopter Cruisers- Aircraft carriers are a nice idea, but they're bulky and large, limited to special ports able to host and fit them. Expensive and large, the loss of an aircraft carrier is limited only to being in the back of the fleet. A smaller more 'portable' carrier could be made out of a cruiser, equipping certain larger cruisers with the ability to host gyrocopters would make a cheaper and more forward carrier platform.
(Several cruisers will be modified to host flight decks of gyrocopters. Lightly armed aircraft that are best suited for local patrol and local harassment of ships and aircraft. Less effective than a true cruiser in some ways, the "gyrocruiser" makes up for it by being faster and better able to support its flying complement more directly.)

A 'Dreaded' Ship- The old world speaks of a great class of warship- seemingly so large and so massive it only fought in one war and was retired out of every empires service afterwards- fearful of a great naval arms race. This class of ship- this "Dreadnaught" was impenetrable to even battleship armaments. Able to withstand a submarines volley and keep firing! It must be mine!
(Ahab's going to love this one, the first ever Bombperial 'Dreadnaught' will be constructed in 2 years. A behemoth of iron and steel, an unsinkable ship. A perpetual naval titan that will defy all who dare test the Bombperial Navy.)

-Bombperial Aerial Forces-
Two shiny new toys should fly.

The Aero-Fortress- A floating vessel bigger than any bomber we have currently, likened almost to a ship in the sky. A mobile command center from which to oversee any war, skirmish, or conflict. A vessel of intimidation and sheer unyielding power to blot out the sun itself! Yes. Such glorious power. It must be made- to project the Bombpire's power over land, sea, and air.
(A grand aerial fortress will be constructed- able to take command of the skies from its sheer firepower and sheer size will be built- likely taking 6-7 years, such a vessel however would be akin to a mobile Grand Palace. Able to govern through one method or another anywhere in the air.)

Bombperial Zeppelins- Slow, lumbering, and at first glance not useful in an age of zippy fighters and bombers. But a zeppelin has its place. Less fuel costs beyond the initial hydrogen for one. But also plenty of room for cargo, troops, supplies. Zeppelins may seem like an idiots choice, but one simply has to see it for what it is, an opportunity to get the best of both worlds. Flying high and flying large.
(Zeppelins will be added to the Bombperial air force, sticking out like ugly thumbs among the speedy fighters and tanky bombers, but these zeppelins will serve a multitude of purposes for the Air Force as a nice cost-effective logistics craft and strategic bomber.)

Low Orbital Flyer- Mitt and Greens have been toying with an idea- even getting giddy over it. A low-orbital flying machine. Touching the bare edges of space itself. Being such a high-flyer it'd be able to avoid anti-air batteries and radar for a significant portion of its journey. Quite literally attacking from the heavens and striking down our enemies.
(Mitt and Greens are going to jump for joy, the Low Orbital Flyer- otherwise known as the "Kessler" will enter a trial period and begin experimentation- flying around the world. A world I intend to conquer. . .)

The 'Sound Jumper'- An aircraft thats got some "turbo" to it. While some aircraft already break the sound barrier, those are flyin' trick ponies. Rich idiots who want a new record and do it for the gig money. I was thinkin' a new kinda fighter- something that constantly breaks the sound barrier. A supersonic jet fighter that'll blow apart every other fighter on the continent.
(Mainly suggested by Adams of all blockheads, but he claims its cause of files he found in something called the "Shy Mountain Complex". If we build it, he's promised to let us fly the first one from his personal airstrip and take a small jaunt over Dynastic airspace.)

-Bombperial Missile Command-
One shiny new toy must light up the night sky.

SLAMming New Ideas- Old world technological schematics show a missile that flies at low altitude real fast. Now while this doesn't sound like a huge innovation- or a good one. This thing in theory avoids every anti-air defense by virtue of it flying close to the ground rather than it being in the air. Modifying and rebuilding Missile Command with "SLAMs" we could get a shit-tonne more bang for our buck.
(We also better get some bang for our buck because this would be expensive to retool or rebuild our missiles as this fancy new technology and would also considerably shrink our total missiles- likely down anywhere between 1/3 to 1/2 of the previous amount of missiles- which currently stands at around some 980 operational [pre-revolt numbers obviously].)

Nasty Dirty Warheads- A few of our missiles are something called "dirty bombs", first of all- us bombs aren't all 'dirty'. Second- as opposed to the more expensive nuclear weapons, dirty bombs do a similar job for cheaper. Shove some radioactive material or easily activated chemicals and suddenly you have pawn store nukes in every missile silo.
(Every conventional missile will be adapted into a dirty bomb. Every 'simple missile' will also be made into a dirty missile. No matter what we hit our enemies with, they'll always be face first into the dirt and eating poisons and toxins for breakfast.)

The "Moon Boom"- A missile that grazes the heavens and then rides gravity down and strikes the target. Almost like a rod fired straight from the heavens. Letting gravity do most of the work as we climb high into the sky would significantly cheapen fuel costs- paying for only half the journey's worth of fuel should make missiles cheaper and better boomin'.
(The 'Moon Boom' program will see missiles shoot to the stars and then fall back to the earth below. The missile will be little more than a hunk of metal with wings and engines. The kinetic force of going from low orbit to the ground should put a good-sized crater into anyone's day.)

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Sitting in the dark room with little else to do other than watch news broadcasts that did little to anger Bonn, all he could do throughout the night was tilt and look at Camila. Sleeping mostly peacefully save for a few times where she tossed and turned in the night. It seemed this night wouldn’t be one of the visceral night terrors. Bonn wanted so fuse-damn desperately to leave the stool. To get back to his office, to be at the helm of the decaying nation he saw on TV. To save it and make it once again fear him. To corral the masses loyal or disloyal to his name into fearing him.

Bonn could do little other than toss the remote in the dark. Every channel relevant showed the same fuse-damn thing. Riots. Protests. Loss of control. The Bombpire sloughing itself away like a leper. A city bloc here, a factory complex there, a village over yonder. If he wasn’t losing land at home through the New Imperium or the Autonomous Zones in rebellions and secession, it was the associates of the Bombpire who rendered further disappointment. Anchovyne naval forces continued to battle over the endless ocean. The Domain’s forces are like gelatin, press down somewhere and they pop up elsewhere. It drove Bonn mad. But it also just reinforced the idea that the Bombpire had to be rebuilt in his- and his colleagues' image. To take back control of the empire he had made!

Of course he couldn’t do that. Not now. For now Bonn had to sit next to his spouse who laid in bed, none the wiser to the brewing and plotting Bonn had. So fast asleep she appeared peaceful in bed, the night terrors weren’t going to be apparent this night it seemed. Though it was only 4 in the morning- there was still 2-3 hours left to her sleep and any number of awful sudden shocks would turn the night into a horror show. While there were signs Bonn knew beforehand they could quickly and unexpectedly spiral. Bonn stood up and paced around the bed, doing a light patrol. Nothing at all in the room, nothing amiss about Camila save for the ugly mark on her back. Bonn winced. Everyone said it was from the fish-mongers. Everyone believed it. Bonn however studied those filthy fish-mongers. He hated them. He despised them, but even he knew the Anchovynes weren’t into what Camila said was 'astrology'. Not even the weirder sects of the Imperium. At least none that were public or even the less secretive ones. And that symbol looked way too different than the runes they loved carving everywhere.

Bonn finished his patrol, putting the sigil back into his subconscious as nothing else out of the ordinary seemed to appear. And he sat back down on the stool. The TV providing limited light to the room as riots engulfed more and more of the city it was broadcasting from. Bonn simmered as he cooled off. The day would be starting soon. Or at least the Sun would be coming up and the Palaces inner workings could begin chugging for the day. To once again take the reigns of the empire. To think running the empire was only half his job nowadays. He couldn’t wait to be off the stool and back in the office. Back in the seat to crush the enemies at his gate. Back in the seat to tame the criminals he let run his empire for a decade and a half.

It's time to take out the trash. Get rid of these rebels and return the Bombpire to its glory!

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-=Knocking Down the Door=-
The Bombpire is currently being attacked from both ends of the spectrum. On one end are the usual suspects, low-class impoverished plebeians who claim the system is oppressive, and thus have risen up against it. The Gaddies are at it again and are taking down and out large swathes of the Bombpires urban areas and turning them into 'Autonomous Zones', claiming to fight the good fight and all that "freedom" bullshit. On the other end is the band of traitors I should've skinned, tarred, and feathered a long time ago. Rowdy elites, tricky dealers, and other high-society jackbags who've done nothing but leech my time, my resources, and my patience. The New Umer Imperium- noble and grand it may seem is all but a vehicle for thier lecherous ways.
Let these rebels revolt in Hell.
(You have 4 choices to choose from- you can put these 4 options in any category. Putting all 4 options you have in a single category will remove that rebel faction as a threat- though be careful, its not wise to put all your eggs in one basket.)

-The Autonomous Zones-
Time to clamp down on thier freedoms.

Send in the Army- Its clear Urbapol and other metropolitan police forces aren't able to cut down and stop these protestors wholesale- or else we wouldn't have this problem. Sending in the army- particuarly the more mentally unstable bits of it to clean up the rioters and protestors.
(The banners of yellow, blue, and black will fall before the might of the red, black, and white. Letting the Army- especially some of the more psychotic parts should trim and break the more opportunistic and turn-tail traitors of the Gaddies and thier Autonomous Zones.)

Bust thier Unions- Composed of the lower classes and spread through various workers unions and groups- official or unofficial, breaking these little cooperative groups can lead to breaking the backs of any future reinforcements and communications. Disbanding these organizations will provide short-term ammo for them, but a longer-term benefit for us in the end.
(Disbanding these unions and snooping around for 'illegal electronics' or secret passages in the cities should stunt any future Zone growth and rebel spread. Future Gaddie revolts will be more decentralized, though thanks to this, they'll also probably be more radical.)

Chaos in Chik-ango- The main core of Gaddie resistance is in the industrial heart of Chik-ango. A city half on the polluted waters of the Great Lakes and half on the dirty gravel shores. A large and ugly urban sprawl hidden under fog. AKA, plucky freedom fighter central. Re-taking the city will not only retake a crucial industrial center, but also deprive the Gaddies of a critical recruitment center.
(Taking back the city is dangerous and treacherous, but it is worth it to take back the key industrial center that is Chik-ango and pulling out an important fulcrum to any potential Gaddie manuevers in this rebellion of theres is crucial.)

The Battle of 'the Wall'- 'Wall Street' as it was known in the old world- now simply 'the Wall', a large collection of tightly packed skyscrapers that host the most of the Bombpire's trades and 'digital economy'. A common place it seems for the plebes to congregate and riot in both the new and old world is in front of the Wall- and right now the street in front of it is a decisive battleground.
(Letting these 'freedom fighters' take over the Wall itself would damage and paralyze the Bombperial economy, not to mention such a symbolic victory would give the Gaddies more legitimacy than they already have or deserve.)

-New Umer Imperium-
Business can be conducted at the good end of a gun.

Tell Off the Airforce- The N.U.I. has a strange but unusual beef with the Air Force. Its mainly over contracts awarded to other factories and beef with some of the higher-ups such as "Commander Condor" over some of the most trivial shit. Thanks to these past incidents the N.U.I. has been focusing on crippling the Air Force's assets such as radar and radio.
(Hooking up the Air Force with some better and new-Sumerian-inspired communications systems [only slightly untested] would allow the Air Force to scramble itself into action and blow up the damn N.U.I.)

Tank Their Wealth- A lot of the N.U.I.s wealth comes from factory complexes and resource deposits- oil derricks, aluminum mines, lumber mills, and plenty more. While in the long-run it'd cripple the Bombpire, we don't exactly have a long-term if the Bombpire collapses or worse. Acting fast and acting hard against any action taken against us should be our strategy.
(Specially bombing and destroying the factories and mines they own would endear us to the locally occupied people and bust thier ability to wage serious war. Without oil you can't drive. Without ore you can't make bullets or armor. Without even wood you can't house the smallest mouse. Enjoy the cold in the middle of your burning cityscape.)

Raid Gores Island- In the center of the Great Lake is a small island known as 'Gores Island', a spa resort for the uber-wealthy. Domed off from the toxic lake around it, Gores Island is an isolated place, almost being used as a 'neutral ground' between the elite for more "extra-legal" deals. It's likely home to a temporary "capitol" for the N.U.I. Let's take it down.
(The Bombperial Guard will raid Gores Island and storm the spa complex-turned-neutral ground. A tough fight it'll be, but taking out one of "thier" places should greatly dishearten and demoralize the New Imperium.)

Destroying Vandals Mountain- Vandals Mountain is the site of a rumored stockpile of missiles. While we've been good in keeping them out of the hands of the N.U.I.- destroying them or moving them elsewhere, Vandals Mountain isn't an official Bombperial site, but whatever's in there, the N.U.I. seems desperate to grab it. Blocking them from taking it and stealing it ourselves should put them down a peg or two.
(Either by stealing it or blowing it up, Vandals Mountain will not fall to the New Imperium and the Bombpire will stand great and mighty over the hills and all the mountains! Even the ones we don't seem to own.)

'O-[]-()-{X}-'O-[]-()-{X}-'O-[]-()-{X}
The sun had come up a while before as Bonn sat in the office without lights- save for the glowing orange of a new sunny day. Another night gotten through, at first Camila waking up somewhere before 6 in the morning was cause for alarm, but concern quickly dissipated once she signed she wanted some ‘sweet rosebud tea’, at least to Bonn it seemed like it was perfectly fine. Wake up, grab a favored drink of the morning, and get to work. Personally he was more of a liquidized sulfur kinda guy, but each their own for morning brew.

Shoes on the desk, Bonn cracked his gloved hands, and sipped a mug of sulfur. Another day of crushing the shitheels who tried to take down his empire. Another day of- Camila looking fucking awful. Maybe Bonn just didn’t notice it at first because ‘hey a night without night terrors, great!’ but Camila looked downright awful like she had been plagued by them all night. Her hair was a mess, the usual facepaint she donned every morning had been a rush job. She was still in her sleep-dress. The tea seemed to be spilling over her cheek and over her shoulder, whatever Camila was, she was not oh-kay in the slightest sense.

She stumbled into the office, trying to make it to the desk while Bonn sat back, repeatedly pressing a button on the desk and trying not to fumble the phone at his desk. Camila made it to the desk, slumped over on one arm before trying to stand up.

Wobbly she was, but with both hands free, Camila signed one message before collapsing on the floor.

“They’re no longer night terrors.”

Bonn looked disturbed as the Palace’s staff rushed into the office, shocked but diligent and carried her away to a more ‘hospitable wing’ of the Palace.

The last thing he noticed was the sigil on her back. It almost seemed to invisibly glow. Were it not for the lack of light save for the sunlight- Bonn was sure he’d have never noticed.

Whatever torture she had in that missing year it wasn’t the Anchovynes, and whatever that sigil was, Bonn knew it wasn’t from those fish-mongers. As the Palace staff retreated out of sight, Bonn decided to get up and take a stroll to his personal library. Hopefully a lead would be had there as to whatever Camila seemed to be ill with. Disease or *otherwise*.

'O-[]-()-{X}-'O-[]-()-{X}-'O-[]-()-{X}

Sorry for the wait. And sorry for the long episode. A lot needs to be sorted out here and in reality.
I do hope you enjoy. Any questions or ideas are welcomed.
Voting ends August 17th.
Glory be to the Bombperor! Down with the traitors!