The fall of Shimandu

[Ciata]

The two covert-ops and communication specialists Raja Borah, Juki and Sachi, located the orphanage in question through their bonoculars and contacted their superiors. After receiving further instructions, Juki begins to approach the building, carrying a satalite phone. Trying to keep his emotions still, he is still unsucesfull due to the amount of fear Sicarii puts on people, especially ones who know what you can do. He gets to about 150 yards away before he halts, and puts up a shield just in time to be shattered by an energy blast. Dazed and slightly injured, Juki crouches and calls out in a rasping voice,

"I have come to establish communications with the Diacanos and yourself. I mean no harm."

Sicarii responds, "Huh, you mean none because you can deal none. Bring the devise to me now!"

Juki resitates for a moments, and then starts off to the house.

[The Union of Tinis]

"Now that was uncalled for," mutters Izixs. He watches patiently the scene just outside the orphanage as it unfolds. His ears twitch, trying to detect the conversation between Sicarii and the satellite phone, but is to far away. Before its over, he slides away through the brush and away.

------------

"Analyist," says the cat holding to phone towards Analyist Krel. "The first speaker wants to talk to you."

The Skunk's tail perks up. "Thank you," he says while taking the phone. "Hello?"

"Good," says the voice on the other end. "Krel, you know what you're doing. Tell me, has there been any word on the where abouts of Sicarii of late?"

"No sir. He's like a ghost. We pin him down, take a look, and he's not there."

"I think I may have found him. Uncia, very fast, likes to consume the raw flesh of his foes?"

"Sir, I was unaware you had access to that file." Krel flattens his ears.

Over the phone, Izixs chuckles. "I don't need a file when I've seen it with my own eyes."

"You've seen Sicarii? Sir, where did you see him? Where are you?"

"I'm away from there now, so I'll let you know. I believe its in section 15 near Eriksvill. An orphanage. However, do not flatten the area, at least not yet. I believe there's hostages inside still, possibly some high ranking Ciata who were passing through. I repeat, don't berage the place. Both I and our friends will be in the area. And I know Epshrin might not mind my death on some days, but international incidents are a pain to deal with."

"Understood."

"I just thought I'd give you a fresh start in case he decides to flee again."

Krel points to the cat who gave him the phone and twirls his figners in a cirlce. The cat hits a couple buttons on her terminal. "Where are you now sir?"

More laughter over the phone. "I can't tell you that. And I'm probably about ten seconds away from you tracing the call, so by!"

The phone goes dead and the dial tone appears.

----------

The white dragon, in his black outfit hangs up the phone. He hears the front door of the house opening. Izixs moves towards the window, looks out, and then scrambles out.

[Ciata]

The following day, early in the morning, the fated meeting finaly comes to pass. Opalance Calaminion, Diacanos of the Chattan, was secretly taken into Shimandui, and then with a final word, was dropped off about 2 miles from the orphanage in question. All personel were cleared of the area and Opalance, or Jonan as he was born, approaches the building, met by the sight of his former rival, Sicarii, or Michael as he once was, before he lost his soul. They approach each other and stop at about ten feet. For the first time in years they look each other in the eye, one white, the other dark as night. After a long time, Opalance breaks the silence,

"Release them, as you said."

"Of course....just as we agreed, they are free now, I have what I want."

The head care taker of the orphanage, the badger, wearily leads the group of children out, allong with Reana, supporting the wounded Rowan. Reana pauses when she nears Opalance,

"Please, you dont have to do this."

He doesn't break his gaze at Sicarii but responds,

"Yes, I have to do this."

They continue on, finaly getting out of sight of the pair who continue to stare. At last, Opalance asks the burning question he has had for years,

"Why?"

Sicarii replies, though knowing what he meant,

"Whatever do mean Jonan?"

"Why did you kill her? Why did you do all of this? What hapened to you?"

The dark one snears,

"Because.........because I am who I am. With great promise comes great expetations. I am meant to be great, the greatest and most powerfull, not you!"

"But why did you kill her Michael? She loved you also, she never harmed you."

The assassin breaks the stare,

"Because, if I am not, no one may be. If I cannot, no one else will!"

"But why did you kill her and not me?"

He turns his head back to face the leader,

"Because, you said.........we promised."

"You killed her for that?"

The killer smiles with sharp, jagged teeth,

"So you remember it."

"Yes I remember, we re-affirmed it on the day before they chose the new Diacanos. We promised that no matter what, we would still be equal, still be friends."

"Yes, but you weren't equal, you got power, and her, and I got nothing. So I made us equal, I made you share in the despair and pain I had suffered, the loss."

"Then why did you not just kill me then?"

"Because, you had to suffer, long....."

"Is that why all of this has happened? To cause more suffering?"

"Hahahahahahahahaa........yes, several trained fools and blind power hungry men, and all it took was one little push, and all this came about."

he spread his paws over his head, gesturing to the ruined land scape

"So, what are you going to do now?"

"Now........I'm going to make sure we both keep our promise, we're both going to die here, now!"

The black leopard spreads his arms again over his head, forming a huge mass of energy, radiating, yet not giving off light.

Opalance stands there,

"I am ready Sicarii, one way or another, we will die, I only wish it could have been with my friend...."

[The Union of Tinis]

Izixs' eye opens ever so slightly. The pupil rotates into the slit. It then shrinks and the lid opens compeletly. The adrenaline shakes off the grip of sleep.

"Damn sleep," he grumbles as he observes the growing energy above Sicarii a quarter of a mile away.

The dragon glances about and spots a stone. He grabs it, backs out of rubble that had been his bed, and takes off into the sky. Holding the stone, and grabing the sword from his back. He does not approch the scene but circles up from where he was hiding. Izixs reaches his desired altitude and turns back towards the meeting of the two, over half mile away.

[Ciata]

Then another object is spotted in the sky moving at increadible speed toward the two, like a white, glowing streak.

Cy Gaffon, the Opalance's body guard heard of the meeting and was determined to do his duty no matter what the cost. He is one of the few in Ciata history to be fully geneticaly compatable with the Heaven Stone's genetic altering. He is fitted with 5 stones, instead of the usual 3, two being placed on his back to be able to form wings.

Sicarii is focused on Opalance and doesn't see or sense his approach, all of his efforts being put into forming the destruction he is bent on dispatching. Cy flashes is just as he finishes and uses all of his strength to form a shield around Opalance just before the scene is blinded by an increadible flash of light.

[The Union of Tinis]

<The Tower - Command Level>

On the primary screen, an infered satellite image of the growing energy ball can be seen obscuring all other details. Data from the analysist level displays around it, all of it incomprehensible to Epshrin.

"I take it this is the duel then," says the wolf. To his subordinates, "Let me know when the hostages are clear. If Sicarii lives and the others in the area do not, level the area with everything. If he dies, move the troops in and secure the area and tend to the wounded."

The screen flashes.

-----

The white dragon wearing black turns towards the scene moments before the flash. Izixs pulls the parallel dual bladed sword back, adjusts his claws on it, and starts the blades spinning. Holding the rock up in front of him, he lightly tosses it into the air and brings the spinning blades to the rock in midair. Izixs hopes the rock will meet its mark and distract the demon. The blades impact the rock as the flash occurs.

[Shikeishuu]

[Special Broadcast: FNN (FurFed News Network)] 22:00hrs GMT

(Also blanket broadcast across all Shikeishan television networks)

"We interrupt this program for a special broadcast to the citizenry of the Empire and to all residents of the Federation. We now take you to a live briefing with senior members of the Shikeishan Defence Department."

The camera image shifts to a lectern upon which the badge of Shikeishan High Command is emblazoned - an extremely significant emblem in a nation where enlistment is compulsory and every able-bodied individual is a member of at least the terrirotial reserve. Standing behind the multiple microphone equipped lectern is a Lieutenant General garbed in the characteristic maroon beret and 'paint-by-numbers' jump smock of the Shikeishan airborne.

"In light of recent events concerning the attempted establishment and entrenchment of rogue forces on our borders and within the territory formerly known as Shimandu and in order to render assistance to Special Forces already operating against self-proclaimed warlords within the already lawless territory in question, His Imperial Majesty's chief representative, Her Grace the Lady Mariko, has ordered the commencement of combined land, sea, and air operations against the criminal and terrorist elements which seek to threaten and destabilize our Empire and the Federation. To this effect we are authorized to announce the full mobilization of the third, ninth, and 23rd armoured divisions, together with four mechanized infantry battalions and supported by the twelth field artillery division and 443rd wing of the SAF ..."

Gesturing towards the Federation map behind him, the general indicates several broad red arrows extending across the Shikeishuu/Shimandan frontier in a broad swath. "The aforementioned units are crossing the frontier as we speak on a two-hundred mile wide front, with several squadrons of A-10 aircraft and heliborne ground attack units in close support. Our primary objectives are to detect, isolate, and neutralize all terrorist threats, to provide support for our Special Forces operations, and to secure the former nation with the goal of reestablishing a free and soveriegn state capable of defending its people and joining our allies in opposing terrorism. To that effect we have committed one hundred thousand front-line troops to the current incursion and have commenced both precision and large-scale aerial, artillery, and conventional missile bombardment of all known hostile military installations, airfields, and armouries."

The General pauses briefly to allow his statements to sink in, the flash and whirr of several dozen cameras going off in the background as he leans forward to emphasize his next remarks. "Make no mistake: as the establishement of legitimate government has not occurred in Shimandu, a state of armed conflict exists between the Empire of Shikeishuu and the former Shimandu. This is not, I say again not directed against the populace but against those who seek to oppress and enslave their brethren. Our troops have been ordered to open fire on any and all armed individuals who are dressed in either Shimandan military, unmarked fatigues, or civilian clothing. Be advised our forces will not open fire on anyone who lays down their arms. We hereby place all rogue elements who threaten our Federation on notice: there can be only one fate for any who bear arms against Shikeishuu or against the Federation. Throw down your weapons or face the consequences: the choice is yours."

Amidst the flurry of unanswered questions and the touching off of seemingly innumerable flashbulbs as the General leaves the podium, several newspaper correspondents can be seen rushing to the phones to submit their reports before the presses run the morning edition. One grizzled veteran stands out with unbuttoned collar and loosened tie, his gravelly voice distinctive against the backdrop of unintelligible hubub from many other reporters. "Western Onion Telegram account number 392708, destination Associated Press Head Office, mark message urgent:

--- FROM J. PETERS SHIKEISHUU CORRESPONDENT <STOP> WAR I REPEAT WAR DECLARED AGAINST SHIMANDU <STOP> --- AM BOOKING NEXT FLIGHT TO FRONTIER AREA <STOP> REQUIRE PRESS PASS AND FLACK JACKET <STOP> ---

[The Union of Tinis]

Once again, Izixs' eye opens up. As he slowly focuses on his surroundings a voice is heard.

"He's waking up."

Izixs stirs and realizes he's lying on his side in a bed. He tries to pull himself up but soon relaxes again, realizing that he hasn't the strength to do it.

"Hello First Speaker," says a new voice. "Can you hear me?"

"Of course I can hear you. Where am I?"

Izixs sees a Tinisian military doctor, a goat. The doctor smiles and says, "Don't worry sir, you're in safe hands. This is field hospital five near Tinis. You were found several days ago unconcious and with several broken bones and many scrapes and cuts near an orphanage. After setting your fractures you were moved here for longer term care."

The white dragon concentrates on his body. He notices the cast on this left leg and the brace on his wings as he attempts to move each limb very slowly.

"What has become of Sicarii?"

"Sir, I don't believe I'm qualified to say for certain, but I don't think anyone knows.'

"And Opalance?"

"The Ciatan is supposedly alive, at least that's what forensics suggest. No official world from Ciata the last I heard. But again, I'm not in the know on that."

"Good good," Izixs wiggles his hears. "Thank you. How long will I be layed up then?"

"A few weeks likely."

"I need to get out of Shimandu. As soon as possible, get me back to Arx."

"Yes sir. Should I inform Captain Emprog that you're awake?"

"Of course."

The doctor leaves and after an hour of trying to regain his strength, the Captain appears in the make shift hosiptal room.

"First Speaker."

"Captain."

"Sir, I've been ordered by Supreme Commander Epshrin to handle your debriefing and to inform you of what we know of the Shimandu situation."

"I see Epshrin is being friendly today. Very well."

"Sir, whould you please recount your time in Shimandu leading up to the last thing you remember before waking up here." The raccoon pulls out a notepad and a pen.

The dragon takes a deep breath. "I crossed the boarder between Shimandu and Altzan and traveled along the coast for about thirty miles. Upon coming across a suffiently sized city that seemed to be free of either friendly or unfriendly military forces, I landed and made my way to the city hall. Inside I found their records and looked up orphanages in the the region. I had been informed that the Ciatan representative and her husband had dissapeared shortly after entering Shimandu while looking to adopt and was curious as to weather their disapearance had anything to do with Sicarii.

"From what the Ciatan have reveled so far, and our own intelligence estimates, the Shimandan collapse was actively pursued by Sicarii and Sicarii had developed a number of strong influences over the insurgent forces during the aftermath, including the attempted assasination of myself. I had become discouraged by our continued failure to locate and remove him from the equation."

The Captain frowns.

"But anyway. I found a listing and made myself a copy and went out looking for them. The first three places I visisted had been destroyed, the after was damaged, yet standing. None of the caretakers had seen Reana or Rowan. Then I got lucky.

"At first the fifth orphanage seemed abandoned. While I was approching, I saw a Raja Borah nearing the building. I hid and observed what was happening. Sicarii appeared from within and promptly murdered the poor Ciatan. I soon left and found a house in the woods near by. Thankfully its phone was still working and it was empty, so I called home and talked to Analysist Krel. I'm sure you have that conversation recorded.

"I returned to the orphanage and found a better hiding place with a clear view of the main entrance, but far enough away that I would have time to take off if I was spotted. I spent at least two days there before I was woken up by the light of a strange energy orb.

"Now this is where things get hazy. I flew up a good distance, holding my sword and a decently sized rock. I activated my sword's spin function and batted the rock at Sicarii with the tip of the longer blade. I had hoped the spin function would give the rock the proper spin to tear his flesh if it hit him. But it was about the time that I struck the rock that my memory goes strange. A brilliant flash of light seems to have blinded me. I then have a sensation of anger. Then I'm sliding along something, and then I slamed into something. The next part I'm pretty sure was a dream because I was suddenly in my child hood home with my mom. Then I wake up here."

Captain Emprog completes writing the account and looks over to Izixs. "Thank you sir. This will be most helpful."

"Now your turn."

"Yes, yes. Of course sir. After your contact with Krel, our forces moved up and surrounded the orphanage zone about three miles out. Opon the arrival of the Diacanos of the Chattan, our forces went into high alert and began prepariations to move in. The energy ball, or as the Krel's team calls it, the bioenergetic pattern slip vortex, appeared. When the flash as you call it occured, the three satellites that were observing the scene were overwhemled and were blinded for a for a full five minutes. The last few frames did observe the apperance of a Raja Borah on the scene near the Diacanos and your swinging at the rock. Our forces arrived thirteen minutes after satellite imagry was restored. Other than blood, no signs of Sicarii were found. The Diacanos and the Raja Borah were quickly evacuated and handed over to Ciata. Reana, Rowan and the rest of those who were in the orphanage were also evacuated and are safe."

Izixs nods and smiles at this.

The raccoon continues, "You were also found at the scene near the orphanage with the injuries the doctor told you about. Also, since you can't see it the way you are laying sir, is the claw shapped gashes on your wings and on your stomach. Nothing deep thankfully. But that, and the state of your sword and how close to the epicenter we found you, brings us to believe that you probably came in close contact with Sicarii."

"Then I'm probably lucky to be alive."

"Probably. However not all the blood on you was yours."

"I see. Now he's probably pissed at me." Izixs narrows his eyes, grins, and chuckles. "Good."

The Captain intentionally coughs. "We are still uncertain how Sicarii evaded our troops as they closed in on your position."

"Oh well. Now, what else did I miss?"

"A lot sir. As of yesterday Shikeishuu has begun major operations in the Shimandu, Drensnake's government went into hiding, and Lord Nogitsune's advisors had admitted he is indeed missing, thus effectively also declaring their government non-existent. Thankfully both those nations are a bit more stable at the moment than Shimandu or Genus Liberalis."

"Genus Liberalis?" asks the First Speaker.

"Yes, forces from Shimandu attacked them after you left and have seized the capitol. Genus Liberalis is effectively part of the Shimandan combat zone now. Epshrin has extended our Ciata boarder guard into northern Genus Liberalis as well."

"Go away for a few weeks and suddenly everything falls apart. Thank you Captain Emprog, right? Now where's my flight home?"

[Drastrata]

A group of 6 bio-armoured dragons fly their daily patrol in western Shimandu, as usual, however this day there is smoke in the distance, about where a small city is located. They increase speed to investigate.

A blue dragon, "Sarge! What is that?"

The Sargent, a red dragon replies, "What does it look like, Carl? Smoke, coming from the city."

A smaller blue dragon, "What happened?! The city is destroyed?!"

The Sargent, "I dont have a clue, there were no reports of enemy forces in this area, but it looks like it got shelled."

Carl, "But we were here yesterday!"

Sargent, "I know that. Tar (pointing to a black dragon with a satalite uplink) get on that thing and tell head quarters that Edicos is seems to be destroyed and we're going to investigate."

Tar radios in as they land near the center of the city, blackened and in ruins.

Their demolitions expert, Private Stallin, a smaller yellow dragon remarks, "Hey, look at these building. They dont look like they were shelled by anything I know of. It looks more like they were burned somehow, but more like a laser or something because it burned right through the walls."

Tar, "HQ says to proceed with extreme caution, and at any sign of an enemy to identify it and return.

Sarge, "Right........hey, what's that?"


Back in the regional head quarters the Tar's radio comes back on, the crew there listens with horor.

" *static* "What is that!" "Look out!" *the sound of an explosion followed by a splatering sound* "Oh my god!" "Look out!" "Fire!" *guns begin to fire almost randomly* "I can't hit it!" "I cant even see it, where did it *gasp*" "There! Fire! hu..." "It got sarge, get out of here!" *a jet pack begins to fire up, then there is another explosion* "Tar, run! I'll slow it dow....*gurgling*" *then there is just heavy breathing for about 5 seconds, then* "What?! NO!" *static*

One of the radio men breaks the silence "we should tell the king"


A few minutes later in the king's war room. Alexander Aquinas is shouting orders "Warn all ally forces in the area to clear out and stay clear, we've found Sicarii and are launching a tactical nuke."

The king enters the code and retnal scan to authorize launch.

A techy, "Cordinates locked in, launching! ETA, 3 minutes"

The video pannels in the rooms turn to the missle launching, then satalite coverage of the missle in flight.

Alexander, "If he is within 5 miles of that place he's fried once and for all. Unless you count his time in hell.."

They all laugh, then wait anxiously.

finally the techy begins to count down "7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2....."

The videos show the missle streak in to the ruined city, then......nothing.

Alexander, "WHAT! What happened? We dont have duds in our armory, what happened to the missle?"

the poor techy, "I dont know sir, it as tracked and showed to be fully oporational untill right at the time of intended impact, but it's like it never hit."

Alexander, "What do you mean it didn't hit?! You can't catch a nuclear missle!"

"I dont know sir, but if it had even hit it would have made some small explosion, but nothing happened."

"Well what the hell happened?!"

"I dont know sir, but the nuke didn't hit, or go off."

[The Union of Tinis]

<The Tower - Command Level>

"We have a launch!" comes the cry. "From Darasta, one tactical level nuclear missile!"

The room instantly moves into a flurry of activity. Supreme Commander Epshrin in notified and quickly the face of the aged wolf appears on one of the main screens.

"Analyist Krel, what is the situation."

Standing before the larger than life commander, the skunk replies, "Darasta has apparantly launched a tactical nuke at Hamidazi, a small city in Shimandu. Estimated time of arrival, one minute thirteen seconds."

"What besides the city is in danger?"

"Upon the estimated blast radius, three near by towns will likely be destroyed. None of our forces are within the primary or secondary effect areas, but a armor unit is within the trietary effect zone and may suffer some radiation damage. They have been informed and should be bunkering as quickly as possible."

Epshrin nods. "Are there signs of additional launches?"

"No sir."

"Then there is nothing we can do. Observe the situation and put everything we have on active alert. And prepare the PDS."

"Yes sir."

Krel turns from his supreme commander and joins the busy crowd of furs running the machine that is the military of Tinis. Epshrin waits patiently. Fifteen seconds before impact, another large screen changes. This time to an inferred satellite view of the city. Everyone stops and watches.

Each second slides by. Finally, the missile appears at the top of the screen, pointed straight down towards the orangish glow of the city. Five frames later it appears to nearly join the cities glow. The next frame, it is very bright. The next it is gone.

Epshrin scowls. "What the hell just happened!"

"We don't know sir. Checking visual satellites." Krel hits some buttons. The main screen changes to another view of the city, this time with normal colors. Smoke errupts from various buildings, obscuring most of it.

The missile moves into view and at the same spot, then vanishes.

"Contact Darasta," says Epshrin. "Inform them that their missile has dissapeared from our view. Also ask them to inform us next time they want to level a city."

[Drastrata]

From King Alexander Aquinas to the army base of Tinis:

"Forgive me of not warning you of our failed nuclear strike, however if we given you enough time to get everything out of the way, we believe that Sicarii, as we believe he was in the remains of the city in question, would have also had time to escape. We lost a patrol there this morning and heard over our satalite radio the sounds of them being killed by one being, moving increadibly fast, using non-conventional weapons of some sort which he used to destroy a city. We highly doupted that anything was still alive in that city after our patrol was wiped out and from satalite images we used to determine he was likely still within the city somewere. We had a chance to end that threat once and for all, and we took it. However something happened. Our nuclear missle, which should have exploded the moment it hit anything solid, did not explode, and therefore did not hit anything. We still do not know what could have happened to bring this about, but we are looking into it and keeping the area under close survalance, though from a distance incase it does go off for some reason. Again we are sorry we did not give you warning, but in this case we were not able to and still, think we were sure of getting him. However now it seems there is a rouge Raja Bora of extreme power and a nuclear missle somewhere in the area of that city."

[Lemuriania]

8:00 PM Lemurian Standard time

The humid room was barely lit by a few wall-mounted lights that pointed toward the ceiling. Two ceiling fans spun methodically, though it only seemed to stir up the heat rather than cure it. Parallel from the dark tiled ceiling was burgundy carpeted floor, a small podium with a lap-top on it and a wooden table. Four people---the President, the Chief General, the Chief of External Information Gathering and the Mistress of Foreign Affairs---sat at this table with worried looks on their plastered across their faces.

"You're serious?" inquires President Zhen’Yrehcez Nesbecej, "Someone launched nuclear missile?" The ring tail lemur's eyes looked at the Chief of the EIG in confusing, trying to come to terms with what was going

The EIG Chief Stoylynyll'Noy Thoynfo responded, "Why would I lie to you about something so serious Mr. President?" The tropical chameleon then stood up in his chair and walked over to the podium. "d**n it, I didn't want to have to use this..." he grumbled as he clicked through various icons. Slowly a projector emerges from the ceiling with a mechanical whine before coming to life and projecting a satellite map of the area.

Stoylynyll'Noy walked over to the wall, pulling his business pants up just a little before pulling a laser pen out of his pocket and shooting it at the map. "Based on your orders, Mr. President, I stationed roughly 1,000 of our best secret agents stationed through-out the war-torn regions. From what they gathered, the nation of Drastrata launched a nuclear strike against some small city in an effort to destroy one man... named Sicarii."

"Sicarii?" inquires Phen’Skeeps Hselgne, the Mistress of Foreign Affairs, also a ring-tailed Lemur.

"Some kind of leader," states Stoylynyll'Noy, "He may also hold some kind... magic ability but our agents are running of a second hand rumor from locals."

"Cute," sighs the President, "Did the nuke at least get him?"

Chief General Zhen’Mehtekem Reerew’Meebeg (an Aye-Aye Lemur that looked too-cute to be the nation's leader in defense) spoke, "Nope! Cheap ass nuke didn't even go off!"

"Gives new meaning to the word 'missile'," Phen’Skeeps said with a smirk on her face.

The President sighed. "Great. So we have uranium---hell, a nuclear war-head---in the paws n' claws of mad-men and women."

The Chief General nodded. "It seems that way."

The Chief of the EIG shook his head. "We still don't know. There IS a probability of Drastrata launching a dud nuke as some sort of warning shot.

The Foreign Affairs Mistress proclaimed. "Well, if we had more formal contacts with the Federation, we would have known what kind of shot it was!"

The President held up a single finger. "We've went over this before, Phen'Skeeps. The socialistic tendencies of some of those nations---"

The Chief General interrupted, "I think a bigger threat is the growing problems just to east of us.'

Stoylynyll'Noy nodded as he moved to sit back down, "Same here. The nations involved have done as much as they could. We cannot just sit by as the enemy grows stronger!"

President Zhen’Yrehcez Nesbecej leaned back in his seat, a little over-whelmed at the information that had been passed back and forth. He nods and speaks, "Alright. Alright. I think I got a plan."

He stood up and placed his paws behind his back. "Chief
Stoylynyll'Noy; I want you to order your agents to cause even more chaos in the region, especially your agents in Genus Liberalis. Have them do whatever it takes to disband the roving armies... Kill commanders, lie, backstab, trade information back and forth; whatever it takes. Of course, I'll still want information on the more threatening armies, the missing nuke and this Sicarii character."

"Chief General, I want your soldiers to gather along our eastern border. From what I understand from our previous meeting, Tinis has been pushing from the north border of Genus Liberalis. We'll push from eastern border, softening up with bombers then blitzkrieg with our ground forces. I know our numbers aren't as big as the others, but we have the toughest troops and an expensive military. Use that to our advantage. After we create a buffer zone between the hostiles and Lemuriania, we'll regroup and push eastward. I want the most of Genus Liberalis as our playground for when the Shimandi attack ... or for when we attack the Shimandi. Take note that this DOES NOT MEAN we'll attack Tinis or any nation or people that are fighting against the scourge."

"Phen’Skeeps, I want you to establish more formal contacts with the Federation. While I'm still obviously worried about the repercussions of this later on, this is only of minor importance for now. Announce our arrival to join in the battle and have the nations' leader contact me, have their central intelligence agencies contact the EIG and have their militaries talk turkey with ours. We need to work together in this."

"Also, Mistress Phen'Skeeps, you'll need to have your people find out everything they know about the former Genus Liberalis. People, culture, economics... anything. Once we have the majority of Liberalis as our playground, we'll need to keep the people inside of GL on OUR side. The more we know about them, the more we can use that against them and for us."

"I'll contact the Minster of the Press and tell him he needs to stop vacationing. He'll try and soften the sudden announcement of war. This will obviously be the hardest part, as we originally made a pledge to not get involved. Hopefully, the war protests will be to a minimum and the media will not ream our tail holes."

"After which, I'll contact the Vice President and tell her she needs to stop vacationing. I'll have her establish a 24 hour crisis room that will handle all aspects of this from the simple to the complex. Now, are there any questions?"

"Sir," the Chief General stated, "There is a river that goes up through the middle of Genus Liberalis. We could send in our navy up that river. We'd not only have our floating fortresses launching out bombers and sending out troops, but we'd successfully divide the region in half! That means a much easier time for everyone."

The President smiled and replied, "Sounds spiffy. If there is any other nations along that river contact them and tell them we mean no harm. Of course, once we get our navy out on that river, have them focus westward, so that our forces could meet in the middle and regroup. Any more questions?"

The room was silent.

"Alright, meeting adjourned. Full staff meeting will take place in two weeks from now unless another emergency comes up.

[Shikeishuu]

[ --- FNN --- Live Coverage of Invasion --- somewhere over the border --- ]

An impeccably groomed female collie with microphone in paw and helmet on her head accompanies one of the several armoured columns now making its way into the former Shimandu. Though the image is slightly shaky as innumerable armoured vehicles rumble by, the audio is quite clear under the circumstances.

"This is Connie Collie with continuing coverage of Shikeishan ground operations in the former Shimandu. While we are not authorized to divulge the location we are broadcasting from, I can report progress has been made to the order of several hundred miles into the war-torn country. Reaction from the populace has been unenthusiastic yet non-belligerent: it would appear most view the presence of heavily-armed mechanized infantry in their midst as a necessary burden to bear until order has been re-established.

"Over to my left is one of the many posters and leaflets as dropped from reconnaissance aircraft and posted in towns along the invasion route. It imposes a temporary 'after dark' curfew, urges residents to report any insurgent activity or known weapons caches, and advises civilians not to dress in military fatigues or carry firearms.

"Thus far word from Field Command Shimandan Theatre indicates comparatively light casualties suffered by non-combattants due mainly to neutralization of rogue forces attempting to conceal themselves in residential areas. Spokesmen for the Shikeishan military police confirm their operations are meeting with little resistance, with most law-abiding civilians enduring necessary searches and 'sweep and clear' missions as the price to pay for peace."

The scene shifts to file footage taken over the last thirty-six hours, including clips of powerful 155mm tracked howitzers shelling suspected rogue emplacements in an outlying area of a northern settlement, bombing and strafing runs from the Shikeishan air force 'neutralizing' caves suspected of concealing rebels and their supplies, and the capturing of an ex-Shimandan army Colonel and his aides.

[Shikeishuu]

[ Diplomatic Communique ]

-> -> -> Top Secret <- <- <-

To: His Majesty King Alexander Aquinas, supreme ruler of Drastata
From: Her Grace the Duchess Mariko, Voice of the Emperor
CC: First Speaker of Tinis, Ciata

Your Majesty,

This letter is addressed to your attention given the gravity of the situation in the former Shimandu, an area in which both our great nations have a vested interest and in which we both have invested considerable time and effort with the intent of upholding the fundamental rights of the affected citizenry and ensuring a bright and peaceful, prosperous future both for the Shimandans and for our Federation as a whole.

It is with great concern we witnessed the launching of a nuclear weapon towards a target area within the former nation of Shimandu. While our Empire is as the most militarized nation in our Federation in possession of a large nuclear arsenal, we justifiably feel our efforts to pacify our former ally's territory - and as a necessary step towards accomplishing this earn the trust and cooperation of the Shimandan people - would be irreperably undermined by the use of weapons of mass destruction ostensibly against the territory and populace of Shimandu. Doing so would in our opinion only escalate armed resistance against our armies, earn condemnation from our fellow nations, and work in favour of the rogue forces who even now claim ours is anything but a benign presence in 'their' land.

On behalf of His Imperial Majesty I ask that all members of our Federation work together in order to resolve the current conflict in Shimandu without resorting to weapons of mass destruction unless such is deemed unavoidable by the Federation Council. Ours is a mission whose success is heavily dependent upon whether or not the Shimandan people accept our efforts to assist them in becoming a strong, sovereign, and self-sufficient member of our Federation: may we always act with their best interests in our hearts and minds.

With kindest regards,

Lady Mariko

[The Union of Tinis]

<Interior of the Tower - Analysis Level 1>

Commander Dinsdale pauses for a moment. "There is one problem though First Speaker."

The First Speaker raises his ears. "What is it?"

"Supplies. We are becoming stretched thin. Current food stores are at fourty percent of reserve. Estimates have them dipping below tewnty by the end of the year. Feeding our nation, refugees in the millions, and our army is taking its toll on the system sir. Unless strict rationing is introduced or the next couple years has the best harvest we've ever seen, then in three years starvation will become a problem for Tinis. Sir, we are reaching our limit."

Silence consumes the room. Izixs stares at the map. Finally he says, "Joel. If we secure Shimandu and the Shimandan refugees in Butin home, will that be enough?"

"Only for another year."

"And what about returning the refugees from T3H Furry to the west end of their country?"

"Maybe another six months beyond that."

Another silence creeps into the room and strangles the mind.

Izixs gets up, "Its time I talked to Waldo. Thank you very much for this breifing. I wish you the best of luck. But track down these criminals. I don't know if you know it or not, but if we fail at this conflict, not only is the Federation in danger but Tinis. T3H Furry was a close miss. Next time they'll be dead on. The Chamber will authorize your plan within an hour." Izixs hobbles out.

When the First Speaker is gone, Epshrin says, "Its time we made the insurgant Shimandi and that Sicarii feel our wrath."

-----------

"From Tinis Public Broadcasting headquarters in Arx, here's Simon Skunk," intones the voice over.

"Good evening. Until today the action in the fallend Shimandu by Tinis forces has fallen under the title of policing action. However, that has just changed. Twenty minutes ago, First Speaker Izixs has signed 101st Chamber Resolution 830 declaring war against Shimandu and Genus Liberalis. Already there are reports of increased movement in Tinisian forces in Shimandu and Genus Liberalis, however due to the nature of war, we are unable to depict the action at this time. The last time time and only time previous to this that we have ever declared war was last year during the human terrorist invasion. As such, it is not widely known that such a declariation can go into immediate effect for three months before approval of the citizenry is nesicary.

"In addition to the decleration, the chamber approved an emergency domestic bill to increase refugee aid to both Shimandu and T3H Furry refugees. Voting on the relief bill shall begin tomarrow and last the rest of the week.

"'War, what is it good for?' already we've seen massive protests here in the nation's capitol and elsewhere against the action in Shimandu. However, Arx police are bracing for even greater show's of disastisfaction in the coming weeks. Commander Dinsdale commented that he looks forward to calm and peaceful activist activities on the part of the residents of Arx and other cities and hopes that all activities can be performed in a safe manner.

"In other news...