#armed conflicts

[without-ado]

"Only the dead have seen the end of war." —Plato

[rwby-redux]

What is the Atlas Military like in Redux?

I mean, technically speaking, it’s not actually the “Atlesian military.” People often call it that since the general is the headmaster of Atlas Academy, but it’s not all that accurate. The correct name for it is the “global” or “world military,” since it’s a joint peacekeeping operation dictated by Remnant’s 17 world leaders.

Some historical context:

After the Mistrali-Mantic Alliance officially surrendered in 10 IB, the leaders of Remnant’s four great powers convened at the Island of Vytal. This meeting, later called the Vytal Summit, was to discuss reparations, concessions, government restructuring, and international laws that all countries would abide by.

One of the main talking points was, “What do we do with our armed forces?”

Understandably, people were reluctant to fully disband their militaries, since international tensions were still a bit high. No one wanted to create a scenario where one country complied, only to then be left vulnerable and at the mercy of its neighbors. And even if that weren’t the case, Grimm remained an active threat—perhaps now more than ever, since their global activity dramatically spiked over the last ten years. Many settlements fell to them during the Great War—Periit, Kuebiko, Amervaile, the Yrrose cities.

It was an all-around unpleasant situation.

King Ozark, Vale’s last reigning monarch, was the one who suggested a specialized Grimm-killing task force. After all, most of the countries in attendance already had something like it back home: Vale’s knights, Mistral’s rangers, Vacuo’s outriders. Huntsmen, as they were later called, would be the world’s answer to the Grimm: specialized fighters, jointly educated and trained to protect people, regardless of national borders. Huntsmen would be a preemptive measure, a way to routinely deal with Grimm and keep their numbers low.

But here's the thing: Huntsmen are by default meant to fight Grimm, not people. And the Great War wasn’t caused by monsters—it was caused by man.

It’s worth pointing out that the formation of the academies did help significantly decrease international tension, by rallying people against a common enemy. But Huntsmen couldn’t fully dispel generations’ worth of imperialism, nationalism, and genocide. There was the lingering fear that groups of people might try to kickstart another war.

That’s where the world military comes in.

Repurposed from the ranks of Mantle’s armed forces, the world military was created as a final, last-ditch measure to deal with disputes manufactured by people. Its purpose is to intervene in conflicts too large or aggressive to be handled domestically.

In order for the global military to be mobilized, it requires a unanimous vote from all 17 world leaders—the four councilors of each kingdom, and the leader of Menagerie. There’s an exception to this rule, which states that if a country is violating international law, then the military can be deployed with a unanimous vote sans that of the country at fault.

Hypothetically, let’s say Mistral tried to reinstate slavery within its borders, and word got out. The World Council is obligated to hold a meeting with Mistral’s council and try to find a peaceful solution. If Mistral’s government refuses and continues to violate international law, then the other world leaders can vote to mobilize the military. In a case like this, only a 13/17 vote is needed, since Mistral’s council has forfeited their right to vote. It’s never gotten to this point in the last eighty years, thankfully. International relations have been pretty stable, all things considered. There have been a few smaller conflicts where the military did get deployed, but they weren’t on the scale of wars. But that’s a topic for another day.

The head of the military, as mentioned earlier, is the headmaster of Atlas Academy. Academy headmasters are unique in that their council positions aren’t democratically elected, unlike the other three council seats. Instead, headmasters are chosen from amongst their peers. This means that James’ position was only solidified once Ozpin, the Haven headmaster, and the Shade headmaster voted him into power. It’s a quirk which has its share of detractors. That being said, there is a reason why this “design flaw” exists, and it was very much deliberate on Ozark’s part.

The “main” base of operations for the military is the Island of Vytal, where the eponymous Fort Vytal was built. There are also a handful of other outposts located across Remnant, like Fort Nubuck (which is situated on Bycast Island, within Argus). Resources for these outposts are supplied by all five countries.

Nowadays, the military’s more or less in perpetual standby mode. It hasn’t seen a lot of action in a long time—which means that it’s doing its job correctly.

[thefanficwriterscraft]

[EPISODE 12] - WRITING WAR (OR, ALL OF US ARE GOING TO GENEVA)

Yay! We have a new episode out!

Today, in honour of Remembrance Day, Lani (@copper-dust) and Jo (@pebblysand) have a chat about war. Specifically, they discuss how to research war, write war, and explore the aftermath of war in fanfiction. They talk about what they find interesting about it, what drives them to write about it, and how they use these armed conflict situations to paint a picture of the broader world we live in. Please note that this episode does contain discussions of war-related violence - nothing graphic but still, if that’s not your thing, feel free to pass. 

This week, we mention: 

Merry Men, Check the Spindle and Storge by @copper-dust 

castles and slipped by @pebblysand 

Jo’s post about a broader definition of war

Fluorescentgrey’s historical AUs

This scene from Peaky Blinders

Jo’s post about right and wrong in Castles

Your recommendations for this week are:

The Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker because it's great example of historical fiction based on WW1

Achilles in Vietnam by Jonathan Shay because it offers an interesting take on the war in Vietnam and trauma

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card because it's an fascinating example of a sci-fi/fantasy war

Peaky Blinders by Steven Knight and the BBC because maybe then Jo will finally shut up about this show 

You can find us online at:

The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify

Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3

Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

[unpardeojosmarrones]

Film No. 5: Pizarro

Fecha de estreno inicial: 26 de abril de 2015

Director: Simón Hernández

País: Colombia

El comandante Pizarro, el hombre que cambio las armas por la paz. Líder del movimiento revolucionario M-19, mismo que posteriormente se transformaría en una guerrilla colombiana. Un sueño colectivo y una vida truncada, todo esto y más se presenta en este bello documental en manos de las personas que lo conocieron, acompañaron su proceso y no menos importante ,de su hija María José, la voz narrativa.

[skylar-quetzalcoatlus-ward]

Armenia VS Azerbaijan

What happened?

Recently some military conflicts surfaced in the area of Karabah, on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan (sept. 27, 2020). It has been a frozen conflict for the last few years, but now it erupted, with several deaths already.

What does this mean to caucasian people?

Well, if the two states wont be able to solve this in a few days, there will be an intervention. The question is: who gets there first? (My guess is that the russains are already there, and "ready to help".)

What does this mean to non-caucasian people?

There is a conflict, but there wont be a WWIII. We will see who gets there first, who sends help. I wonder if the NATO learnt anything after what happened with Crimea and Ukraine (lets hope they did).

The UN wont be able to help much, it's not really useful in these kind of situations.

I'm waiting for updates and hope this will be solved quickly.

Be safe everybody and stay strong.

[willowlark369]

More Fun Facts

Author’s Note(s):

Story title is referencing the piece I wrote immediately before this one (Fun Facts). If you dislike themed names for meta series, well, I guess you will just have to dislike the title. It wasn’t chosen to offend you. It was chosen to please me.

I am presenting just a list of information. Any conclusions that you come to using the information are your own. Any emotions you feel about those conclusions or the information contained on the list are your own. Conclusions which may be drawn from presented information are not particularly friendly towards certain characters, because canon isn’t particularly friendly to them.

I strongly remind all readers that you are free to conclude whatever you wish from the information listed below. That freedom also extends to ignoring it if that is what would make you feel better. Choosing to ignore it does not require me to do so as well.

Note to All Maximoff Stans/Apologists: I understand that you dislike how your favorites have been portrayed by the MCU. This is understandable, as they are barely recognizable as versions of themselves from other runs of Marvel-verse. I am not the one you should be angry with, however. If you feel that either Maximoff is being “demonized” by the information on this list, I apologize but also empathize that I did not have any part in writing this run of canon. Arguing with me will not change canon.

Content Warning: This list contains references to a lot of disturbing topics such as human experimentation, terrorist organizations, and weapons. Reader discretion is advised beyond this point.

Wanda & Pietro Maximoff were adults when they volunteered for Wolfgang von Strucker’s experiments. The twins knew that other volunteers were dying and they still wanted their turn.

While no attempts were made to hide the bodies from the inhabitants of the base, it is possible that they somehow missed how the other volunteers disappeared to never be seen again. (Not logical, still possible.)

At the very least, the twins later demonstrate no surprise that they were the only survivors of the experiments.

The twins’ stated motivation for everything is not wanting to help Sokovia or the people living there. It was revenge on a single individual for something that had happened when the twins were ten.

Helping Sokovia was a possible motivation put forth by people researching what could be found on the twins when they were not brought into custody with the rest of the base’s personnel. As such, it does not override what the twins said about why they were doing things.

Wanda & Pietro Maximoff knew Wolfgang von Strucker was working for Hydra and was pursuing Hydra’s goals. None of this was hidden from them nor were the twins led to believe something different about the goals of the people they were working alongside.

None of the conversations shown about Hydra and the water-cooler style gossip about their plans among personnel show any attempt at secrecy, indicating that there was no worry about scaring off anyone who might be wandering around the base.

Even if the twins somehow did not hear any of the open discussions going on around them prior to submitting the experimentation, by her own admittance, Wanda’s telepathy does not allow for ignorance of who they were working with & for. Her exact words were “all men show themselves” after she demonstrated surprise that she had met a person whose mind she couldn’t read.

Wanda & Pietro Maximoff were not captives or brainwashed. While human experimentation involves a certain degree of pain and dehumanization, none of it was done without their ongoing consent.

The twins are shown being able to come and go from the facility, being treated as trusted allies with the same freedom of movement as other inhabitants of the base.

Wanda is shown being able to remove the influence of the scepter without the need to resort to "cognitive recalibration” methods.

Neither Maximoff show any sign of the Mind Stone’s control, which has a visual display.

Neither twin exhibits any fear of the other people in the Hydra base nor did they demonstrate any surprise at the automatic response to the morale callouts that the other personnel present participated in.

Both Wanda & Pietro Maximoff were trained to the extent that they were considered to be field ready. Hence why they were allowed to stay in the  combat during the Avengers’ raid of Wolfgang von Strucker’s base in Sokovia.

While deployment against the Avengers was discussed as a reasonable action to take, the twins actually elected to join the fight without being ordered, rendering said discussion as moot. During said combat, they successfully take on three out of six Avengers, nearly killing one. Only a desire to make him suffer prevented the death of another.

The twins had a reputation outside of Hydra. That reputation was attributed to someone else’s firsthand experience of a demonstration of the twins’ abilities.

Both twins were able to use their abilities in chaotic situations and distracting environments with an ease that speaks of experience. Even under emotional distress, Wanda is able to do precision work.

Wanda Maximoff has enough control over her mental manipulation ability to successfully control several blocks worth of people as mindless puppets at the same time. This is considered her main power, not the psychokinesis that allows her to blast things.

Both Wanda & Pietro Maximoff are capable and willing to leave a situation in which someone wants them to use their abilities for a cause or goal they do not believe to be worth it. Hence why they decide to not work with Ultron once they determine that he is planning to annihilate all of mankind, no exceptions, instead of just the Avengers.

At no point does either twin demonstrate regret or remorse for having willingly worked with first Hydra and then Ultron.

Neither twin demonstrate regret or remorse for having attacked and (in some cases) nearly killed the Avengers.

Wanda Maximoff does not demonstrate any regret for having forcefully violated the mental autonomy of the Avengers or that of the multiple individuals referenced as being potentially permanently locked in their nightmares due to her violation of them.

Wanda Maximoff does not demonstrate remorse for having forcefully triggered the Hulk and then violated the Hulk’s entire being (which had canonically shown as protective) by setting him to destroy a city. This is particularly noteworthy as Bruce was not a combatant at the time she targeted him. She specifically sought him out to do this because she “wanted the big one”.

The only authorized purchaser of Stark Weapon Tech was the United States Military Forces. All other organizations or individuals had to have gained the weapons through the black market trading done by Obadiah Stane.

SHIELD falls under the control & command structure of the United States government. This could logically include using resources gained in any defense contracts held by the US government. In sharing the resources, Hydra would also have access to the resources gained from these same contracts.

Hydra had an interest in encouraging the civil unrest of Sokovia. There is no evidence that they did anything more than enjoy the fruits of the opportunity, but they certainly did have motivation to do so and such things are often a part of Hydra’s toolbox.

Repeating for emphasis: there is no canon evidence to suggest that Hydra caused or participated in the Sokovian Civil War, even if they did benefit from the Sokovian Civil War happening.

Also, it is a historical fact that the United States (not individual contractors) sold/loaned weapons and other military sundries to allied countries during various conflicts, including the Vietnam and Korean Wars. While the weapons were supposed to be returned at the end of the conflict, it was not uncommon (in the real world) for various generals and political leaders to sell the weapons to other forces in order to line their own pockets, leading to US military equipment showing up in unexpected places far from where it was originally sold.

Between 1990 and 2018, the United States Armed Forces have not been involved in any conflict which could logically have included the area between Czech Republic & Slovakia where Sokovia would be located if it existed.

Howard & Maria Stark died on December 16, 1991. There is a significant gap of time between this date and Tony Stark taking over Stark Industries as CEO from Obadiah Stane (who stays on the Board as CFO, which allowed him to start/continue his illegal sell of weapons).

Czech Republic is nestled between Germany and Poland. Slovakia is (in real life) the country that borders Czechia to the south-southeast. Sokovia is canonically between these two countries.

The closest real world armed conflict with authorized US involvement during this period (1990-2018) takes place in Serbia, on the other side of Hungary which is on the other side of Slovakia.

All these countries are placed in the Balkans, for those readers who aren’t familiar with the layout of Eastern Europe.

Historical evidence suggests that the US was likely not involved in the Sokovian Civil War at any point.

A civil war is when a country is drawn into a significant conflict with two (or more) internal forces. While outside forces may become involved at the request of one or mores sides, most external organizations try to stay uninvolved since all sides of a civil war belong to the same country.

Tony Stark was considered the foremost weapons designer for many reasons. Primarily, because the malfunction risk was negligible on anything he allowed out of his lab and should any malfunction be reported, SI investigates the reason and recalls any known defective tech. Weapons built to those designs and not tampered with were guaranteed to work every single time. No weapon jams; no missile duds. If he creates a weapon, it is going to let the user kill their target every single time.

That being said, Tony Stark is not the sole population of Stark Industries R&D department. Stark Industries is a multi-national company with employees around the world and a diverse number of interests. The R&D department cannot logically be a single person, especially a single person who is also functioning as the CEO for the company as well as lecturing at science conventions.

Answer to a Repeated Question: Facts are drawn from the movie Avengers: Age of Ultron; the comic tie-ins with particular focus on Avengers: Age of Ultron Prelude - This Sceptre’d Isle; and real world historical facts. If you have any question about the canon, feel free to review it at your leisure.

Final Reminder: Once again, I remind all readers that you have the freedom to ignore presented information if you are uncomfortable with it, regardless of why you are. You don’t have to attempt to validate that decision or justify having a conclusion that isn’t entailed by this information. No, I am not required to explain these things further to you. No, I am not required to justify my tone or provide a conclusion for you.

Edited (2/28/2018): Clarifications of points; addition of subpoints; addition of Read More line Edited (3/13/2018): Stronger reminder that ignoring these facts are fine Edited (6/12/2018): Reworked opening notes; Note to Maximoff Stans/Apologists added; clarification of points Edit (8/17/2019): Addition of subpoints for clarification purposes; Addition of links

[this-guy-ships-everything]

Gajeel: Do you realize how much of your life revolves around food?

Natsu: Do you realize how much of your life revolves around armed conflict?

[thefanficwriterscraft]

[CALL FOR QUESTIONS!] - [EPISODE 12: WRITING WAR]

Hi everyone, hope you're all doing well! We just wanted to let you know that we will soon be recording an episode on the art of writing war. We'll be touching on everything from writing armed conflicts themselves, to writing their aftermath, to the place of war in fanfiction writing, down to Jo's broader definition of war in writing, and what she means by it. If you have any questions for us or want us to chat about anything specific, feel free to send us an ask! We always love to hear from you :).

And of course, if you haven't already, remember you can listen to our latest episode on multimedia in fanfiction below!