[Rainbow Six]

Some of my thoughts on this subject

1. Helping European neighbours. I don't for one moment imagine the French simply "helping" anyone for the sake of helping; I could forsee them becoming involved in various countries, but I think any such involvement would solely be to further French interests - as Paul said, helping other countries to reach a level where they can be of use to France.

For example, it's been mentioned on the Poland After Omega thread that the French would gain a long term benefit from helping the Poles as it would place a French ally on Germany's eastern border. Some of you may have noted that I've always advocated the French having a covert presence in the United Kingdom as well as it suits the French to keep the UK destabilised. I'd expect Germany to also be subject to French destablisation efforts. Yes, both the UK and Germany are in a pretty sorry state on 01 January 2001, but they will recover eventually - anything that the French can do to delay that recovery gives them more time to cement their position as a World Superpower.

I think in some areas you could see proxy warfare taking place, with factions armed / equipped by the French fighting factions supported by other countries. One example of that could be in Scotland if French backed Scottish separatists became engaged in combat with British Government troops. Likewise in Canada, withe the French supporting Quebecois against Canadian troops.

I think the French might also become involved with Catalonian Separatists as that would put a buffer state on the Franco Spanish border.

2. French agents. I think you'd still find numbers of French agents throughout Europe (and beyond). Fully agree with Slappy that comms will be unreliable, etc, but I think working for the French may be an attractive option for many - they can pay, not just in cash (gold?) but in goods, and ultimately can offer sanctuary in French territory - that may be a powerful recruiting tool for a would be agent in war torn Germany - work for the DGSE for a few years and you and your family will be given safe passage to France (of course, every time the agent tries to take the French up on that offer they say "one more mission...just a few months more". Incidentally, I always though the idea of an Israeli agent in Krakow was a bit far fetched...so I made her French and Head of the DGSE in Poland.

I also think there may be a fair number of French agents in North America, operating out of Quebec - I think it's possible that there would be a DGSE presence in both Colorado Springs and Omaha.

3. I agree with Slappy - the Soviets aren't going to pose much of a threat to the French Army any time soon. And the French will still have their own nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them.

4. Again, I agree with Slappy - I don't envisage the Italians and the French going at it in any big way; perhaps the occasional skirmish on the border between French troops and semi marauders encroaching on their territory, but nothing more than that - referring to my point above, if the Italians did get shirty the French still have nukes...

I actually think there's more mileage in the possibility of the French and the Italians forming some sort of alliance...I'm not suggesting that the Italians join the Franco Belgian Union, but I think it's possible there could be some trade between the French and the Italians.

5 / 6. Agree with Slappy again...the Flemish may not be pro FBU, but what are their options? Fight for independence from the most organised country in Europe? I think that would be out of the frying pan and into a very, very hot fire...

There may be some localised disturbances / rioting inside France, particularly I think in 1997 / 1998, but I'd expect the authorities to deal with them quite quickly and efficiently.

As for outside Europe, remember the French presence in Quebec gives them a foothold in North America, and there are also French territories in the Pacific and Going Home states that Senegal is under French control (I think?). So I think the French might be engaged in a small amount of Empire building, although again on the basis of how that can best serve France.

7. Expanding the Foreign Legion; yep, I think any experienced troops who find themselves in French territory might find a home in the Legion.

So, that's my take on the French...trying to establish themselves as the World's only Superpower, helped by the fact that they still have a nuclear arsenal, and offering limited assistance to other countries, but only when doing so best serves their own needs.

Cheers