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Old 09-20-2009, 05:49 AM
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Originally Posted by Matt W View Post
LOL... I might have implied that Holman Gunsmiths only sell deactivated weapons. In fact, they sell literally tons of weaponry - from pistols to stuff like real, fully-working artillery (including pack howitzers and Recoilless Rifles) Not to mention AFVs like Abbots and Chieftains - so I can see why your firewall might consider it a 'weapons site' .

As to what the Duke (and Cornwall) could be exporting
1. Academic knowledge/expertise - the Camborne School of Mines is a world-class centre for teaching and research in mines, minerals and earth resources engineering.
2. Specialist mining equipment (made by Holmans of Camborne - Cornwall's largest employer for nearly 200 years)
3. Fish - Newlyn is perhaps the UK's major fishing port by value of fish landed. Mackerel and Pilchards might be a major source of income

IMHO, the big 'diplomatic effort' might be payment from the French for maintaining lighthouses and navigation beacons. If the French are getting imports from Africa etcetera, they would be wise to make sure that their ships don't crash into Cornwall (in the real world, ships get wrecked on the Cornish coast with depressing frequency)

Also - if it hasn't been nuked - GCHQ Bude might be of major interest to the French. I could see them paying a lot of money for the rights to operate it
Bude I had down as evacuated in 1998, with remaining personnel relocating to HMS Drake together with what equipment they could salvage. (I also have the surviving personnel from the RGHQ at Salcombe consolidating in Plymouth in early 98).

I checked out the gunssmith site at home... you're right, they have a heckuva lot more than just deactivated firearms! Looks like there's enough stuff there to equip a full armoured squadron! I'm going to assume that most if not all of the heavy duty stuff would have been requisioned by the Government earlier in the war, but I do think that it might be a good source of small arms, perhaps for the Mebyon Kernow resistance rather than the Duke. (I'm currently polishing my draft on the MK, so will try and get that posted asap - must point out that it has no connection with the real life MK - I felt that the name justified a bit of artistic licence!).

I'd planned to give the Duke control of the Cornish fishing fleets (the fishermen's families would be held as hostages onshore in order to ensure that none of the boats made for HMG's enclave at Plymouth) but wasn't sure if there would be enough fish to have an export surplus (I know here'a s lot of agricultural land in the south west but I figured fish would still be a staple part of the Cornish diet). Mines and mining is a definite goer, but beacons I had never ever considered, so thanks for that...will definitely incorporate that into the full sourcebook when it's done (with appropriate credit obviously )

Cheers
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