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Post by Erenmor on Aug 24, 2006 18:29:52 GMT -5
"Kad... that Tinisian officer. Hm. I'll have a word with him myself, while we're at it," Gabriel said, stepping up and leading the way through the camp. "Though they are starting to grate on me with all their complaining. They've no idea how fortunate they are the Overseer didn't see fit to assign Faust to assist with data gathering," he went on. "Builder, give me patience..." he added in quietly.
***
Meanwhile, further planes from Erenmor dropped off construction teams, medical teams and further Archon units for security at the other refugee and internment camps. There they went about constructing further interrogation points to speed along the processing.
Three more planes touched down at the main base some time in the evening. The first with construction material, the second with construction and medical crews and finally the third carrying the Wraith contingent.
The wraiths disembarked the large transporter calmly, in lines of four, each of them 7 feet tall and very sleek in their build. They were easy to tell apart from the Archons already on site; where the Archons' armour plating was more angular and individual segments could be made out, the Wraiths were covered head to toe in smoothly rounded, seamless plating. Where the Archons were covered with an intricate web of glowing blue lines, the Wraiths were featureless silver, seeming polished to the perfect reflective surface. Where the Archons still had the most basic facial features, their dark red eye slits, the Wraiths' heads were a single featureless mirror plate. And where the Archons carried their impact carbines, the Wraiths could be seen with two much smaller impact pistols and, more importantly, sleek, slightly curved blades.
The entire company marched silently off the airfield and moved to the Erenmor section of the base to await assignment.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Aug 24, 2006 18:38:40 GMT -5
The Chamber of Speakers is very rarely filled with all its members. Open debate and discussion seemed to be only beaten by the amount paper being shuffled about. There was only one or two bills that might even have a chance to get to a vote, both dealing with medical and rescue efforts for those still in the radiation zone in Ropogo. The actual discussion was centered around approving active military operations against Pargalo, and with that, discussions of what's already been going on. Even the First Speaker made an apperance, as its one of his few reasonable ways of avoiding the constant phone calls and meetings that he was quite actively getting impatient with. The disaster procedures were being followed and followed well, but that didn't mean that everyone wasn't going to ask for more to be done. So what better way to escape the berrage than to preside over the berrages between others.
Dizmulak had the floor once again, shouting up a storm. "Those ships had enough weaponry to hit every single major city in Tinis. Even if the one that detonated over our fair land was the most powerful of those that they had, that means literaly half the country would be dead now if we hadn't got luck and been informed by Cal of their presence.
"That said, where are we when Cal gets attacked? We're moving north! I despise the regieme in Pargalo, but even I know now that they won't be a threat again for some time. We should be moving quickly to help our allies fight these criminals where they are, not where they're now dead. They might strike Llewellyland next, or Shikeishuu, or even Peanisula for all we know. And when those criminals are dead, we'll come home and end these crazy crusades once and for all."
"With all due respect," retorted a little known speaker from the south side of Forr named Galdwin. "That's insane. We need to end the Pargalonian threat, else if we go somewhere else to police the boarders of our allies, which they should be defending on their own, Pargalo rebuilds their refinery capabilities and start up collecting heavy water again. Even if their uranium stock piles are nil, after the Shiimandu collapse, there's still likely enough floating around to cause more devesation. Cal can take care of themselves, so we should be moving against those who helped out the bad guys."
Much more relaxing, thought Izixs.
"All of you are fools though to think we can fully trust our allies," starts up speaker Mangow of north central Arx, one of the senior members of the Socialist Party. "I know the Miokalians started reversing the process and all, but if they're secretary of state hadn't let us know what they were doing, they probably would of kept on going with this evil vaccination process. To rip away a part of a person in such a manner is nothing but criminal. For some, faith, be it in a deity, a philosophy, or just hope, is all they got, the people of Pargalo especially. I fear that if this thing had continued that this denial of the estastic would lead them to have been burned out by the struggles they face.
"And Erenmor, invading their minds and bodies with their devices. The Miokalian scans were spooky enough but to drain information from a person's mind directly is both frightening and disgusting. I am now submitting two bills. I submit two and not one as one is much more controversal than the other and I'd hate to have the first not get a super majority on the quick. The first bill will make it illegal in Tinis, in our lands, airspace, or seas, or on crafts affiliated with us for an individual or group to invade a persons mind with the intent to record information there in with out their explicit written consent. And it also makes it an act of war against us if another government performs such a procedure on. The second bill would add to the list of Tinisian recognized war crimes the acts of genetic manipulation of a population without their consent and or knowledge and as well interrogations such as those used by Erenmor. The second bill ends with declaring any use of nano-device weaponry against a population a war crime as well. Each speaker should now have copies of both."
The chamber had become a bit less noisy during Mangow's speach, many reading quickly through the two three page bills. "I would like to submit the first bill to the floor for fast track consideration."
Izixs nodded. "A bill has been submitted to the floor for fast track consideration. The bill will be immediatly put to a vote after three readings if a majority of party leaders second the motion."
Dizmulak was soon joined by the Socialist leader in supporting the fast track consideration, with the Nationalists going against. As First Speaker and a member of the Union party, Izixs was the ranking member of his party in the chamber at that moment.
"Seconded," he said after a minute of reading.
------
At around the same time as the reading and Kad hearing the comotion involving Ivoristo, a message began to be broadcast from a small broadcast station in Pargalo.
"People of Pargalo, we have been invaded by forces both strange and dangerous. The Zamprek* forces have taken the down lands of the unfaithful and unready. They are the ones that spawed the great dance of fire that killed many of your country furs. They wish you to submit to their methods and ways and to give up your families and belongings. Even now your great leaders are on the front lines of this battle to end all battles, fighting to defend your lives and homes from the Zampreks. Go now to your places of safety if you can not fight. If you are unwilling to fight you are no better than a Zamprek already and will be removed from our land with the same great hell fires that shall consume the Zampreks and their devices of war. If you fight, take up arms and salute your commanders, for today we are at war. The final battle is here, and salvation shall only be had by those who destroy the corruption that has invaded and burned our cities, our crops, and our fellow citizens.
"The Zamprek have many lies. They claim to want to liberate you, but liberation is not their goal, as we are already free to follow the path before us. They claim to seek to root out those who attacked their homes, but there are no Servants of Light or their allies in Pargalo. Pargalo is clean of vermin. Neither the great Jirie nor the great Wune would consort with petty zealots. For no earthly religion could compare to their abilities to protect you and to fight the dark ideas and ways of the Zamprek.
"We also learn now that the Zamprek were sent by none other than the Tinisian traitors. Those the old once thought as friendly now show their true colors by consorting with imperialists. Tinis shall burn for their huberis. Go forth and destroy the Zamprek once and for all, forever ridding them from this Earth in the name of justice and freedom. And if our great armies shall fall before their evil, they will not be given the satisfaction of holding our lands or us. I've been told that Wune is willing to save us all from the Zamprek cruelty if his might gives out, and Jirie has seconded. So go now, those who are weak to your places of protection and await either victory or victory. And those that fight, go forth and crush our enemies."
[*Zamprek is an old term for 'outsider' or 'alien' with the connotation that this outsider wishes you great harm. In more recent times in Pargalo its been associated with the external threats that help keep the country in constant fear.]
------
After the third reading of the first bill is was quickly passed with a vote of 483 to 16, with the abstenien of the bills creator is tradition, the upper chamber, and the First Speaker. The second bill was moved to the floor for full debate soon after.
------
It wasn't long before Kad, watching over the pinning of Ivoristo by the M27s spotted Generals Hayago and Gabriel approching.
Kad gave a medium bow of the head to them both individually. "Ah good, someone with what appears to be enough rank to do something other than gawk and point weapons. We seem to have a situation here. It seems Ivoristo here is right in thinking that invasion of his mind isn't right. I would like to ask... nicely..." he said trying to remain pleasant, "that the treatment of the Pargalonians transitions from being assembly line mind probes to something less offensive to their sensibilities."
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Aug 24, 2006 18:44:07 GMT -5
All seven of Cals boomers (carriers of submarine launched ballistic missiles) arrive undetected and unannounced at miokalia ports under standing orders. Those orders being: "If Cal should descend into civil war surrender to a neural port."
-- UBC television: We have reports of explosions over Leck, en-Leck and so-Leck, the baronies are reporting fighting. there has been no communications from the unified parliament building at this time. We are reporting firing between Saeie vessels and artillery duels in drew.
We now have reports of fighting in Teer and Teu, we can but assume a civil war has started.
--- OOC: I'm planning a spin off thread if any one is interested
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Post by Erenmor on Aug 24, 2006 19:40:28 GMT -5
"Builder, give me patience," Gabriel muttered to himself again before turning to the Tinisian officer.
"You are correct in that what we do here is not fair. I will spare you the argumentation, however, and say this: the bottom line is that it is a necessary evil. We've come to eradicate the Servants of Light, but in order to do so, we must know *who* is a Servant. Their zealots, their misguided followers I expect to expose themselves sooner or later. But they are not the main threat here. We must determine the identities of the Servants' leadership, and we expect *them* to have enough sense to not blow their cover so simply."
Gabriel turned his attention to Ivoristo, walking over to him. "I will tell you this much. We do not care for any information not pertaining to the SoL. Provided you did not willingly cooperate with the Servants of Light, without a gun to your head so to speak, you will not be harmed." At this point, Gabriel knelt down, bringing his "face" closer to that of the dragon. "And there is always the chance you may have known more about them than you thought. Help us weed out every last Servant and perhaps, Builder willing, no other country will have to suffer through what yours has."
***
"Bombings in Miokalia. Arms smuggling through Cal. Nuclear attacks on us and Tinis, attempted ones on Miokalia... and now this... civil war in Cal? A worrying turn of events to say the least," Onyx commented during a net "meeting" between himself and his older aides.
"These are interesting times indeed," replied Conrad.
"Though we should be thankful to the Builder that most of these events do not take place closer to our lands," added another of the old AIs, Durand.
"We should consider providing assistance to Cal, I would say. Our troops are plentiful, we can well afford another contingent abroad," Conrad suggested.
"More importantly, we need to earn some more positive notes. The clean-up detail from Miokalia has returned... an enlarged detachment could be sent to Cal to help with decontamination there," Durand went on.
"And to acquire as much of that fallout as possible so we can extract what valuable elements can be found in it, of course," added in yet another AI.
"Admittedly, there wasn't much high-grade material to gather in Miokalia. The fallout from a proper nuclear device could be of much greater value, especially once we run it through the UC."
"Agreed. Then I believe we have a course of action," Onyx said. "We will extend to Cal our offer to clean up the site of the nuclear blast. Due to the unrest in the area, we will of course have to send along a military contingent, but we will keep it to a minimum and stay out of Cal's internal affairs unless asked otherwise. Durand, you'll take remote control of the operation."
"And hope that Miokalia does not make use of their problem solving device in Cal as it did in Pargalo," someone added in before the meeting was terminated.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Aug 24, 2006 20:58:11 GMT -5
"Never heard of such servants. Pargalo could use some more light though," said Ivoristo. Gabriel and the M27s being so close could detect very very high pitched whine from the direction of Ivoristo. "I was here before the current pretenders took over, even here before the earlier republic, and I'll be here for a good while longer. We don't have need of outsiders like yourself or those you seek. I see that now. I came out of the mountains thinking help was on the way. Now I see that you're only here to help yourselfs."
He looks over to Kad. "You should be ashamed of yourself son of the houseless. To stand by and let opportunists rape us such." He looks back to what amounts to Gabriel's face. "If the world is so horrid that those who would risk all our lives to liberate us from Wune and Jirie are only doing it to find the occasional sympathizer for some worthless group of of fools, then this is not a world I would live in."
"General," says Kad. "I hope you understand that he's more than likely seen the rise of the local dictators and everything that lead up to. I'm pretty sure he mentioned earlier that he counts his age in centuries as well. I respect my elders, especially when they're right. And rounding up the few Servants of Light or Liberationist who are dumb enough to try to escape death by hiding out here won't get us to finding their leaders, if they have any left. Disarm and feed the refugees. Don't strip away their dignity."
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Aug 25, 2006 8:33:00 GMT -5
UBC television: The news reader looks more than a little nervous, and is looking down at the papers she is holding. Suddenly she looks up with a worried expression on her face.
“Welcome to the Unified Broadcasting Corporation news channel this is Ote Latora en. This is the news at noon." *shot of explosions and various, mostly wolf like furs dodgy between large rocks on a mountain side* "Baronies in rebellion" *Shot of explosions out at see with a few ships on the horizon* "Saeie, Teuie and Teerie units now engaged in open fighting" *shot of a forest canopy with smoke issuing from areas* "Fighting in all major cities" *shot of three massively tall spires* "Parliament building locked down, reports of fighting with in" *camera cuts back to the studio* "From the information we have it would appear that rebelling units are mostly loyal to a group of minor nobles and military leaders that have moved against the democratic government to create a new absolute monarchy"
"we have yet to ascertain the exact position of all the units and we have herd nothing from the prime minister, lucan council or any of the democratic government. It appears that they are in turmoil and the loyal units are fighting a desperate action to try and retain control. How ever they appear to have been caught totally off guard by this opportunistic action."
"Most shockingly we are now receiving reports that the hospital ship the scalpel has received incoming fire, some thing unknown in history. We are also receiving reports that rebel forces have started targeting foreign and civilian shipping and aircraft."
There is an explosion off screen and the news caster turns in shock, the regains her composure.
"It would appear that the rebels are now shelling Tel and we are now getting reports of heavy weaponry being used against other cities"
Another explosion strikes and the screen goes black.
-- Telegraph to Erenmor. We are more that willing to accept your assistance in the clean up of Thack, it is an isolated island and should be far from the fighting, but we can not offer any guarantee as our forces are engaged else where.
Head Of Navy: Admiral Eye Cleton en
-- The smell of electronics burning issues from the seven boomers, now surfaced in miokalia ports as they destroy what remains of there more classified components, most, including those in the missile systems, having already been destroyed. Small fires appear on deck as the log books and charts are burnt. This may be a peaceful surrender to a friendly nation, but there was no need to give out any of Cals secrets.
Once the fires had burnt them selves out the crews line up on deck and raise a while flag to await miokalias to accept the surrender of their vessels.
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Post by miokalia on Aug 25, 2006 14:34:08 GMT -5
Commander Blinn received word of the Calie submarines surfacing near a marina in Kolminaisus and offering a peaceful surrender to a friendly nation, that signalled that the democratic government required assistence. He ordered that the crews be granted political asylum in Miokalia. The submarines were basically treated as a sale to the Miokalian government, and the money from the sale was distributed amongst the crew. All conditions to assist the government were met, so Miokalia began the process of pulling back some of the forces from Pargalo.
An order was issued in Pargalo to pull 60% of the 'M49 units out, the 'M70 units from Malychis would take their place. The assault force was completely reorganized and slimmed-down, having observed the sucesses of the reletivley small Erenmor assault teams, it was decided that it would be most wise to follow a similar example, using the stealthier, although still large 'M70 units.
The 'M49s were transported by carrier back to Miokalia, where they would then be redeployed to Cal, as military assistance to the democractic government. Additionally, there was the matter of getting the Miokalian citizens who had been caught in the crossfire out of the country, that process had already begun.
Three Cetacion-II air-carriers landed in the bay of Inleef, the massive carriers were huge airplanes designed for landing in water and functioning as a naval staging point, or small aircraft carrier. The vessels had orders to destroy anything that attacked them, and to take prisoners if necessary. However the primary function of the carriers was to defend the commercial and civilian boats in the area. Of major concern was a tanker full of ammonium electrolytic fuel from Hokyldaryon that was heading toward one of the islands. If attacked, the substance would leak into the ocean much like an oil-spill except with possibly more dangerous results. The Ammonium-based fuel was intended for use in fuel-cells and unlike oil, would mix with the water. The environmental impact of such a thing is unknown, since it had never happened before. The possibility of fire was dismissed, since it the fuel were ignited, it would instantly turn into water vapor. Although it was very possible that the boat would be a target since it was delivering a substance of economic value. There was also concern for another tanker carrying the same substance, but bound for a terminal in Paeninsula. This tanker was taking a more round-about path around Cal, instead of right next to it in response to the hostilities flaring in the islands. Both ships are owned by the state-run Darasouth energy company in Miokalia.
Back in Pargalo, the rearranging of forces resulted in a change in the way the refugee camp was run. Now there were more organics in the camp, hopefully the change would help to stabilize things, since the refugees clearly didn't feel comfortable with the Malych guard. They were even less comfortable with the Erenmor units.
General Hayago was in earshot of the scuffle with Ivoritso, he then approached them. Hayago of course, thought the interrogations were ineffective in their implementation. He was a beleiver in the use of cultural warfare and soft-power to uproot enemy organizations. Of course, once those suspicious become conspicuous, he would have no problem with the use of interrogations on those individuals. Although the process was seeming to produce more distress than it did results. He approached Ivoritso and said, "I agree with Lietenant Kad. We do not need to strip these people of their dignity, after all, such a thing is especially precious and... seem to be worth fighting for...", Hayago looked over at General Gabriel as he said that and then continued, "when you have so little. Now the damage has been done, as far as trust may go with the interrogation process. I say we can afford to shut it down for now". The red allosaur then looked over Ivoritso, and having had experience with dragons before, he said, "I would say that this dragon here hasn't lived as long as he has thus far by being a member of an apocalytic cult. Dragons tend to have a lot to live for. I suggest you let him go, and do not interrogate him. He has nothing of use to you and I can see that you already know that."
There was pause as the situation seemed to calm down somewhat. The mechanicals were still registering the high-pitched whine of the dragon's breath weapon holding a charge. Hayago was able to sense the charge as well, but not through hearing so much as intuition. He kept his distance.
The radio message was disturbing and thankfully, didn't reach most of the camp. The Malych were able to detect the uncoded transmission and promptly triangulated it's location. The message was then interrupted in the camp, at least, by the Dincotian/Tinisian-run temporary radio station. This station was of course, a major part of the Dincotian soft-power offensive. And they had another one specifically set up to transmit into the Pargalonian territory. The Dincotian soft-power offensive was designed to instill distrust in the people towards Wune and Jirie, and along with the cultural knowledge and experience with this Tinis had, the operation seemed to be working, although the real sucess of the project had yet to be verified. The Dincotians kept a very close eye on the counter-offensive propaganda mill of the Pargalonian regimes, taking care to exploit it's weaknesses when possible. It became evident that the Pargalonians were very much still using direct propaganda. Outright political slams against the so-called 'Zamprek'. The new Malych assault forces were finding circulation materials that featured bold, roshenko-esque graphics, imploring the commoners to defend their homeland from the Zamprek. Oddly enough, perhaps because of the styling, or maybe the historical significance of it, these circulation materials were saved, brought back to the bases by the Dincotians and became novelty items of curiousity. The command decided not to crack down on this since, after all, it wasn't like they were stealing precious art or cultural treasures from these people. They had a cultural fascination with propaganda as a novelty art form.
As they pressed on, the Malych units came upon a town where every single inhabitant appeared to have died instantly. Upon an examination and field autopsy, it was discovered that their aortas had been severed with a small electronic trigger. A tiny, fairly inprecise device that would send a razor-blade shooting through the aorta of it's host if the proper signal were sent to it. The units decided to collect the bodies since they knew it would be harder for the organics to do it if they didn't. Although to them, these were just bodies, the 'M70s did try their best to handle them with care. Lining them up near the town's chapel. They collected sheets from a nearby general store and draped them over the bodies. These were after all, civilians. Fortunately, they managed to find one alive. Appearently the razor had mostly missed his aorta. A feline that was barely alive, bleeding internally. He was terrified. An 'M70 unit found him on their infra-red optical bandwidth. Leaning in and peering through a window, it was perfectly reasonable for the cat to be scared. First every one in the town mysteriously falls over dead, then he begins to feel sick, a sharp pain in his chest, but he's still alive, and then mechanical allosaurs show up in his town and one of them is now looking through the window at him. It was just like a horror movie. The mechanical monster was outside, having to turn his head to the side to see into the window. His eyes were beyond just inorganic, up close, he could see that there were four independent lenses behind each eye panel. And they moved back and forth. One of them seemed to be a light. It illuminated the room the cat was in. He froze against the wall.
Over the network, the 'M70 unit announced the finding of a survivor, and that it would take an organic force to extract him from his domicile, based on the creature's apparent fear and that the 'M70 units themselves were just a bit too large to grab him and carry him out of the house without tearing the small cottage apart and possibly injuring the survivor.
Soon a team from Tinis arrived to rescue the survivor. The 'M70 continued to keep and eye on the house as a red fox forced open the door. The cat naturally screamed and threw a few books at him. Then realized he was throwing books at a fox with medical gear and a helmet with a red cross on it. "Get inside, there are monsters out there!", said the cat to the first living thing he had seen in days. "Don't worry about them. They are looking for survivors. They are just passing though.", said the fox. "Everyone is dead. Why is everyone dead?", said the cat. "According to the 'monsters' out there, it's because their aortas were severed.", said the fox as began to open his medical bag. "They did it! They must have something to do with it. They must have made their hearts explode like that.", yelled the cat. "No, it was an implant. There is a small device inside everyone that sent a razor blade right into their hearts. Apparently, either you don't have one, or it misfired.", said the fox. "Implants... I don't think so. It must have been a plague.", said the cat as the fox examind him. "Beleive what you want to. But once we take an X-ray, it'll be pretty hard to argue against what we find.", said the fox as he pulled out another device. "Where are the rest of them. Where are the bodies?", asked the cat. "It would appear as though the 'monsters' put them in front of the chapel and placed sheets over them.", said the fox. The cat calmed down even more and then said, "It was so sudden. No one even got sick, or looked ill before they dropped at the same time. I felt a sudden sting in my chest as it happened. I don't know if it was from whatever it was that was killing them or the fact that everyone I knew was dying right in front of me." "Probably both.", said the fox as he continued to examine him. "I went through every house, in each one everyone was dead. The guy at the store, he still had a bottle of milk in his hand as he died while restocking the shelf. The priest was dead in his chamber. All of them dead without explanation.", he said.
The survivor was taken back to the refugee camp by the fox for medical treatment. They were going to remove the razor blade and the 'killswitch' device. Meanwhile, images taken by the 'M70s of the village and the people killed as they were going about regular everyday lives found their way onto DCN and were eventually used as part of the soft-power campaign. Aircraft would drop thousands of flyers over populated areas still under the control of Wune and Jirie. The flyers featured photos taken by the 'M70s of the dead villagers. The text on the flyer read: "Wune and Jirie will Sacrifice You! Don't be sheep waiting for the slaughter!". On the bottom were pictures of Wune and Jirie and below that more text that read, "Turn in members of the SoL or RLM, you will receive a 2,000 Kt Reward and protection." There were other propoganda flyers as well, all of them designed to turn the village kill-switch practice into a way to turn the public against the dictators. Meanwhile, the rewards for turning in SoL and RLM members became increasingly appealing. 2,000 karats was a whole lot more in Pargalonian currency, and would go a very long way in such an economically defunct country.
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Post by Erenmor on Aug 25, 2006 15:13:57 GMT -5
General Gabriel straightened up slowly, taking a few steps away from the dragon and turning to Hayago. "What you seem to be failing to take into consideration is that we cannot guarantee with any certainty that *ANY* of the refugees here is not part of the SoL's strict leadership. But, fine, we will put off mass interrogations for now," the AI said. Then he turned sharply towards Kad. "However, I will not disobey my orders on the issue that *every* organic wishing to leave the country must be interrogated. As will anyone turned over to us as a Servant. Doing otherwise would render the whole operation and lockdown pointless, I'm sure you'll agree."
"Now, if we're done here, I have to assign the newly arrived troops with operation areas," Gabriel stated, before turning and walking off to the Erenmor command post.
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Post by miokalia on Aug 26, 2006 23:03:10 GMT -5
An environmental services ship followed behind the Tanker bound for Cal by order of the Miokalian government. I the event the ship were attacked and a leak started, the boat was going to have to rescue the crew and ignite the fuel to prevent it from becoming an environmental hazard. The theory was, it's better to have a fire on board a boat than hundreds of thousands of gallons of ammonium electrolytic fuel poisoning the water. The E.S. ship was also protected by military escort. Up to this point, the Merchant Vessel MZS Rojo had not been attacked. The fear was that it could be attacked at the terminal in Cal. The other tanker, the Merchant Vessel MZS Rodalaton was now on the other side of Cal, heading up toward Paeninsula.
Back in Pargalo, General Hayago was a bit at odds with General Gabriel. He knew this and he also knew that this dispute would have to end. But by the same token, he had to make sure that the interrogations themselves didn't continue to compromise the population's cooperation. The 'M70s were now in deep enemy territory. The intelligence they were gathering was extensive and detailed. Although they were not able to locate Wune or Jirie, they were able to report on the effectivness of the soft-power offensive. They were also able to asses the damage caused by the HCPC device. Much to the content of the CA, it was as accurate as they had hoped. At a old heavily damaged warehouse outside of a small town, one of the Malych 'M70 packs discovered remnants of nuclear triggers. Apparently melted by the HCPC, they were parts of nuclear devices which thankfully, never got the chance to detonate. Shortly there after, a machine gun opened fire on the 'M70s A fire fight broke out, but it was mostly one sided. Although what was of particular interest was that the enemies were not the loyalists they were used to fighting. They were RLM. They lured the 'M70s close with the machine-gun fire. Then when they were in range, they detonated a electromagnetic device. The wave took out the couple of 'M27s nearby.
But much to the chagrin of the RLM soldiers who expected the 15-ton allosaurs to fall down flat on their boxy snouts, they flinched a bit as the pulse interfered a bit with their peripheral controls temporarily, and then continued to function. The 'M70 had substantial core shielding. Seeing that this news couldn't be allowed to disseminate through what remained of the organization, the 'M70 units captured the soldiers. Rather than killing them outright. Such prisoners would be definately worth interroagtion, especially since RLM was very closely associated with SoL. The bodies of the 'M27s were also located and cleaned up. The Malych preferred not to leave their own fallen units lying around. They've had enemies take those bodies and reverse-engineer them in the past. They weren't going to take the risk with this conflict.
The HCPC beam destruction data showed that the beam had perfectly hit every target. Communications lines were cut. Missile launchers in the middle of farm fields were destroyed, and not a single home, church or school was hit by the beam. Evidence of arson began to show up. Traces of napalm were found in the burnt out homes, indicating that flame-thowers were used. Evidence was building that the warlords had ordered the assault on their own towns, to make it look like whatever it was that attacked them, had attacked civilians.
After compiling this data and testing it against the actual data of the Coleotam Ring system, the C.A. was able to create a report on the use of the weapon.
"The HCPC is a precision weapon. It is accurate to within 8 feet. It is a tactical weapon and couldn't have caused much of the damage to civilian structures. The presence of napalm and other accelerants in civilian structures suggests that much of the fires over Pargalo were caused by two things: Burning farm land, since many of the missile launching systems were hidden in farm fields (this was indeed, as a result of the HCPC), and an incindiery assault against civilian targets launched by Wune and Jirie (this is of course, not our doing). Rest assured, while it seems that the use of the HCPC was tremendously destructive, we figured the moment that fires broke out all over Pargalo, either we had hit an impossible quantity of incindiery devices and smoke bombs, or something else was going on. We just weren't going to jump to conclusions until we found evidence of it, and had collected enough data on the damage caused by the HCPC."
An APC drove up to the interrogation tent, some 'M27s plopped the heavily bound RLM fighters down in front of the tent. A vocal-synthesizer-equipped 'M70 then said, "Here's some leads. They would have to know something, considering their suicidal methods and the things they were shouting at us. Have fun."
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Post by Erenmor on Aug 27, 2006 15:13:23 GMT -5
One of the Archon droids remained behind as the other guards took the prisoners off for interrogation.
"I wouldn't celebrate too much in your place," the Archon commented. For a combat droid, its voice was oddly not monotonous, but seemed to imitate an organic one quite well. "Many, many years ago I took part in the first war against the SoL, and I can tell you this much about their methods: it's the cannon fodder that's suicidally fanatical. The higher up you go, the more that fanaticism goes from suicidal to cunning. Their leaders don't want to get martyred for their cause - they want to see their cause fulfilled," the Archon went on to explain. "Your efforts to win over the population are admirable, though I personally would not be surprised to learn one of the SoL higher-ups denounced some of his "meat" to gain favour," the bot added, sounding somewhat sad about the subject. "They'll return to wreak their havoc in another couple of centuries, by my guess," the Archon said finally before giving the Malych a polite bow of his head and going to catch up with the other guards.
***
Back in Erenmor, a clean-up detail to Cal was being assembled. The main obstacle was preparing a plane which could land on and take off from water, in the event that easily accessible landing zones would not be available. Six such planes were currently being put together in one of Erenmor's harbor towns. The bots assigned to the operation were also refitted to be able to operate underwater without any problems, merely as a precaution, while the Golem construction bots were fitted with hover systems as well.
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Aug 27, 2006 16:21:27 GMT -5
The high priestess of the Inleef city of Anlen, Tyie, sits in her bath in the temple of the port of Teia. She was trying to make sense of the last few days. She sits with her head in her hands, the last few days were beginning to tell on her. She had never been trained for this and her years in temple had not prepared her for this in the slightest. She knew she was so far out of her depth that it wasn't funny, but so far she had risen to the challenge, but how much longer could she. Her sisters had too but she knew they were not made for this, some how she had to hold them together.
It had started a few day ago with reports of a hydrogen bomb explosion in Sae, the island of Thack she seemed to recall. Shortly after while she had been preparing for the daily ritual she had been interrupted by the temple guards telling her she must flee and had been unceremoniously bundled into the back of a waiting transport. Only then did she start to hear the gun fire and realise that something was very much amiss.
She was then informed by the temple guard that the temples and palaces were under assault by military forces, though most of the assaults were at best half hearted attempts. Though the palace and temple guards with the help of the police were fighting despritly to hold on the superior forces of the military were winning. She also herd that both the war lords had ordered that attacks to take control from the government and that all civil leaders that had not immediately surrenders had been shot and all communication with the parliament in Tel had been lost. This had disturbed her greatly but even worse was to come.
The high priestess of Ley, her friend and her orders leader, had been killed in her own temple. The sacrilegious nature of this had been the final straw and drove her into a rage, by then she had reached a make shift radio station. The UBC had been taken off air but though pure bloody mindedness and means that she really did not want to know about, had managed to get control of there transmitters back, but they could not hold long. She had immediately demanded to make a transmission to the whole of Inleef and they had granted her wish.
She recalled her speech, it not like any other she had made before and hope would never have to. She recalls her words: “This is High Priestess Tyie, the sisterhood morns the loss of my sister Triy, the high priestess of Ley. She was murdered on sacred ground by people of such evil that I can not fathom. The priestess will curse any that support those that would do such a thing! We do not recognise any of these creatures as being of the goddess and any action taken by any other to capture or kill them will receive the sisterhood's blessing!”
“As, now, the senior high priestess I now order all units to fall under the sisterhoods direct command! The ancient laws are now in place, with our princess and dukes unable to command our forces, the authority of our crown now falls on the sisterhood and now as there leader I take it”
“All forces must cease all assaults on palaces and temples and all of those of rank knight and above are to report to the sisterhood.”
Her broadcast had apparently given the troops the excuse they needed to mutiny against their orders and indeed many of the officers had mutinied with them. A few minutes later reports had started coming in of knights entering temples unarmed and handing them selves over to the sisterhood. The sisterhood had not, in centuries, had any real power and the priestesses had no idea what to do, in all honesty she had no idea what to do.
A rough looking leefen had approach her and identified himself as a surrendering knight, Sir Inac. She had turned to him and asked him “What should I do now?”. He had replied “Appoint a leader so that our forces can regain control”.
He had been very reticent about it and had given her many reasons not to but his men had been the ones holding this place. He had refused to carry out the order to attack her temple and his men had taken losses for that action but all had remained loyal too him. She had given him the promotion to supreme war lord of Inleef and ordered him to accept it.
The knights that had surrendered to the sisterhood where quickly placed under his command, all had accepted it. Within the day most of the battles against the rebels had ended, if they could be called battles most of the troops had either killed or imprisoned any officer that had ordered them to continue. Both of the war lords had attempted to flee north but Inac had quickly sent forces to cut off their escape and had them quickly surrounded. She knew there had been a battle and that both of the war lords and the bulk of there fiercely loyal forces had been killed.
She had so many people to mourn now.
So here she was, the current supreme commanded of all ground forces, air forces and a large proportion of naval forces of leefen warriors. She recalls the journey here, against Inac's wishes and recalls the conversation with him in the transport. Inac had started to smile.
“What is there to smile about” She enquirers raising her head. “Well you see, I was thinking in the past few months we have been a monarchy, a democracy, briefly a military dictatorship and now a theocracy. I wonder what we will be next?” her replies She had smiled “We'll be back to a democracy soon, I hope” “So what now?” “To Teia to find out what is going on in the bay” “That is risky, you may be killed” “What is one more life?” “But you must be saved” “Why?” “Because you are now our leader” “A life is a life it matters not who it is, driver best speed to Teia” “Belay that order” She had turned on him then. “This is a direct order! Redirect this transport to Teia!” “No your blessedness” “You would challenged me?” “Only for your own safety” “MY SAFETY MATTERS NOT, I WILL GO TO TEIA. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO STOP I...” “Driver to Teia” The silence had become awkward after a few minutes, she broke it “What temple do you go to?” “None” he smirked “I'm an atheist” She had been taken aback by his statement, but replied “Why did you save me?” “I didn't know I was saving YOU, but the sisterhood, despite its failings is still full of honest people and well....There is something wrong about raiding a temple and killing the priestess.” “We will be in Teia soon, and you need a wash” she had replied noting his fur was matted with blood and his smell. He had turned. “You are not much better have you changed that robe in the last two days?” She had glared at him, he was right and she could not have smelt much better than him. “I will give you access to the temple baths, for we must speak with the miokalias soon.” “Aren't there rules about that?” “This is not the time for those”
So here she was, the priestesses had objected to him and a number of his men using the second bath, but she had put them in thier place and now she would have to meet the miokalias, she knew that they did not like religious types, but she also knew they had not attacked so it was no invasion force and Inac's directions to forces to not engage and if possible avoid the fleet had been good. She knew he had pulled all forces back from the coast so if it had been an invasion they could pull back to the north and to the mountain.
She steps out of the bath and turns to an attendant saying “Does Inac know?” “Yes your blessedness” comes the reply “Have you spoken to the miokalias” “Yes” “They know to meet us on the harbor wall?” “We think their sea lord understood” “Thank you, has Inac made sure there is only an honer guard?” The attendant produces a piece of paper “He said to give this to you if you asked that” She reads it, it reads in a very untidy hand “I may not be the sharpest tool in the box but I'm not a total idiot”. She stifles a laugh. As she puts her new clean robes on she turns to the attendant and asks “What do the miokalias look like?” “No idea you...” “I know some of their language but I have never used it. This is going to be interesting.” --- Lady Thack stands on her yacht, space was limited as she had order as many people as had been found to board. This was their tenth run from thack, the crew kept telling her to leave them. These were her people she was saving and her presence, it did not matter if the radiation sores and hair loss where beginning to show, mattered to them. She had herd that a some of the minor lords had started a civil war and may be winning. That mattered nothing to her.
She looked at the last of the survivors on the boat, nothing lived on her beloved island anymore. She knew nothing could be done for them, the hospital on the closest island of Frackan had provided aid those viable, but the sisterhood would cared for those beyond help. Two had joined her, even though it meant almost certain death, they had taken the place of two of her crewmen who had young families and had lost when the lots had been drawn.
Even on her yacht it was a two hour trip each way.
She collapses, the radiation eventually telling on her. One of the priestesses walks over and leans over, she speaks in a kindly voice “Your ladyship drink some water”, while presses a cup of fresh water to the lady's lips. Weakly lady thack replies “Give that to some one who might be saved” “All can be save” the priestess replies. “What by the 'goddess'?” “No, just by hope.” Lady thack looks at the priestess oddly “You people really are what you seem?” “That depends on what we seem, but hope and the strength of a persons spirit is what saves people when science fails.” “Is that all there is?” “No, but that is what you discover next time round” “So I am dieing?” “I will not lie, yes I think the last land you have seen is Thack. Not because of your condition but because you want it to be.” “f%#$ y$^$” The priestess smiles “That's the spirit!” Thru her closing eyes she see the priestess walk off, she was going to fight with all her spirit, she was going to see her mate again and more to the point, she was going to live to piss off that priestess.
--- Message sent in the clear to Erenmor via an Inleef transmission station:
Angle seven reports the air strip on Thack is clear though none of the buildings are intact. Radiation leaves are too high for organic life to survive for any more that one day without serious radiation poisoning. Electronics may well be effected by the radiation levels.
Attack is unlikely as most weapons systems will fail under these conditions but please proceed with caution. The rebel fleet has been detected in the area, signing off, we need to find some where to land.
May the goddess go with you.
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Aug 27, 2006 19:45:43 GMT -5
It had been a quiet day in the control tower of Anlen airport, well it was shut and Inleef unlike the rest of Cal was now in peace. It was under the priestesses but they were likely to be a very benevolent and short lived leadership as most people had backed them to avoid war. They had done nothing wrong, well they had done next to nothing that had effected the population other than cause peace. Well that and they obviously didn't want power, they had said it would be returned to the parliament over in Tel as quickly as they could be sure they could. Some had suggested keeping them in charge since they didn't want to be, it did have attractions to the tower controller.
The tower gets a message: “Angle five requesting landing permission.” “You are not on radar” “We wouldn't be, our heading is 27 degrees south” “The skies are clear and our runway is clear” A black, very large and oddly shaped aircraft lands out of the low clouds and quickly moves to the far side of the airport. “Angle three requesting landing permission” “We are clear” “Coming in” A second aircraft like the first touches down and again heads to the far side of the airport. “Angle two requesting landing permission” “We are clear” “Coming in” This continues for ten more aircraft. Only now does the controller notice by the far side of the airport where they had all gone, by the cargo terminals, a mass of activity. Black fuelers where moving amongst them and people in dressed in almost space suits where climbing in and out of the aircraft. He had found it strange that this minor airport had managed to hold off the military forces so easily. He was then tapped on the shoulder a heavily armed vulpine who simply says to him “What you see today, you did not see” “Erm understood” “Good” Over the radio a message comes in: “Angle seven coming in hot, I repeat hot!” The controller screams out over the speakers “Hot aircraft, repeat hot aircraft!” His new vulpine 'friend' asks him “Are they cleared?” “I don't think it matters” “but that is..” “A plane in trouble, keep your nose in join, we have another runway!” “They are not cleared, refuse the plane, they are not don't matter ...” With that the puma controller punches the vulpine in the face sending him sprawling and kicks him in the head twice. “This is control we have emergency procedures in place, come in” Across the runway nets spring up to catch the plane,or at least slow it. “Thank you” The black aircraft lands on only two sets of wheels, the front undercarriage having failed to deploy. Radiation alarms across the airport start going off, as it rips thru the nets like paper, it could not have been doing much under mach 1 on landing, though it had been slowed now. The shower of sparks coming from it's nose almost hides the pilots ejection. The plane continues until it stops short of the end of the runway.
The towner's radiation waring systems notes the entire aircraft as hot but not to a life threating degree, and the airport fire forces are given the clear, the controller had noted they were already heading towards the aircraft anyway. The pilots had already been picked up by the medics.
His vulpine friend was now moving again, the controllers colleagues having already disarmed him. The controler turns on the vulpine and speaks “Those are angles, everyone here who did not already know has figured that! I know they are, I have save two of your pilots, we are loyal, they are loyal” waving his hand towards the window “Your people are safe here, but if you dare tell me not of take a hot plane again you will not be. Have you understood!?” The vulpine nods “Good, we will have that runway cleared in fifteen minutes, what is the launch plan?”
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Post by Paeninsula on Aug 27, 2006 22:43:27 GMT -5
In Paeninsula, several things have happened in quick succession in the last few days. First, there was an explosion in a crowded shopping mall and in a cyber clinic within minutes of each other. 5 were killed, and dozens wounded. A third bomb failed to go off in a popular crowded downtown park. Upon inspection, it was found that the bombs were home made pipe bombs, and were placed in close proximity to a cybernetic shop, and the park was having a picnic for mostly prosthetic beings. It was only a mater of 2 hours before the small Servants of Light church was surrounded and the occupants arrested with only minor resistance. Second, what was thought to be a piece of space junk suddenly came to life, and all Paeninsulan space craft went on high alert following the firing of the previously unknown weapon. Ships are moved out of potential range of the weapon and the battle cruisers keep it right within their own target lock. Other chunks of space junk are scanned and inspected for fear that another menace lurks among the growing collection of disabled satellites. The situation that is developing in Cal and Pargalo is monitored careful via AI satellites and relief forces recently brought back from Ciata are again gearing up to move into the irradiated zones around the blast to help survivors.
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Post by miokalia on Aug 28, 2006 1:01:49 GMT -5
One of the Cetacion-II naval carriers was approaching the port of Teia. The boat had not encountered any direct attacks, nor had it attacked anything. The vessel stopped and unloaded a few small boats. Security boats.
Alpha Commander Ceratch was onboard a submarine approaching the harbor. It remained surfaced, and on top of the vessel were a few sailors. "People commute here..." said the black dragon. "Is there something wrong, sir?", said the captain of the submarine. "Yes, this whole civil war business is a bit too close to home.", said Ceratch. "We have visual confirmation that Tyie is at the harbor.", said one of the sailors. "Please tell me that she has some kind of military escort.", asked Ceratch. "Well, Inac is with her, and I think there is a body guard.", said one of the sailors. "How very subtle. I can't decide if she did that purposely not to attract attention, or out of misjudgement. Well, we're not talking without substantial security. We will invite her to the MZS Dorrington. As far as I can tell, she's someone who has a talent for being influential and she wants stability. Both of these make her someone who we don't want to see killed in this.", said Ceratch.
The remained surfaced the entire time, and pulled up along the harbor wall. The sailors on deck deployed the ladder-bridge and helped the robed preistess on to the deck as well as her escorts and Inac. There was some slight confusion as the sailors, who didn't speak English very well tried to direct the guests down below the deck. The two raptors attempted to explain it to the guests through a combination of occasional broken English and gesturing. "Isn't the representative going to come up and meet us?", asked Inac. "Dal Ceratch, iy..." said one as he pointed to the door and motioned the group to follow him, "Seguritat?". The other corrected, "Security reasons." Eventually the guests followed the sailors through the sealing hatch-door. Although they had apparently not expected to be going into a submarine as part of this. The inside of the submarine was dark, a bit stale and illuminated mostly with red lights. Ceratch quickly came up to entry deck and ordered that the regular lights be put on. "I apologize. Security concerns. Welcome to the MZS Tdorcoshira. Soon we will be on the Dorrington, and there we can discuss things in safety.", said the dragon. "I was just expecting a small meeting on the harbor wall. This is unnecessary.", said the preistess, fiddling some with her robes. "Your nation is in civil war and we are concerned for your safety.", said the Dragon, he continued, "I apologize for the informality and expedience of this." "Well indeed.", she looked around at the spartan interior of the vessel and then said, "Well, welcome to the Kingdoms of Cal... or Calie waters at least." The submarine entered the carrier-ship and docked. Once again, some sailors helped the guests out of the submarine.
Paeninsula was not happy about the use of the HCPC. Having not even known it was there, the beams shooting across overhead towards Pargalo sent the Paeninsulan space force into alert. Now the orbital component of the system, the Coleotam Ring now had mostly Paeninsulan weapons aimed at it. Hearing of this from the C.A., secretary of defense Zagckza was quite troubled. "We are not going to play cold war with Paeninsula, but I know what they are going to do. They are going to ask us to get rid of it, or they are going to destroy it. From what I can tell, C.A. doesn't want to get rid of it, and would consider an attack upon it by Paeninsula an act of aggression.", he said. Secretary of state Andertol then said, "Well, it's not like we have massively incompatible ideologies. I don't think this has to erupt into cold war." "You don't need to have two different ideologies to have a cold war. All you need is two heavily armed countries and a dispute over something... Something like this.", said Zagckza. He then continued, "We should be more concerned about Pargalo and Cal right now anyways. I say we bring the ring out of geosynch, and maybe put it away in a Haxxar-IV. That will at least get it out of the sky, and that should satisfy them. I doubt we will be using it any time soon, if ever again." There was a pause and then Andertol said, "I was just thinking about ideologies... and maybe I'm splitting hairs but, do you think they're angry at us for... you know... Well, we seem to be getting a lot of... fairly elderly immigrants from there..." "They're mammals. Even in post-scarcity economics... oh nevermind", said Zagckza. "200 years though? I mean, that's... that's beside the point of it all. The point is to avoid death altogether... What do they do with those folks when they reach that age? 'Here's a cake! Happy 200th birthday! Now hurry up, and don't be late for your euthenasia! Except now a bunch of these people are coming over here for the same thing since we have no legal limits... This makes no sense to me.", said Andertol. "I haven't heard of any such practice of age-determined euthenasia in Paeninsula. I think they just refuse those people any other extensions... And of course it doesn't make sense. Your thinking like a Dincotian. Dincotians don't put things 'in the hands of God'. Dincotians fear death so much, that they alter themselves endlessly to avoid it.", said Zagckza. "I hope you aren't making a cut at my culture. I find my culture to be one of reason.", said Andertol. "I'm not. Because for us... Well, we're machines. All of this is irrelevant to us. I can't blame you for it.", said Zagckza. "You've escaped the equasion though. Your predecessor got tired of the uncertainty. 'Zagckza' is a Kohtohkhan name after all. Your father, Tachakita was once an allosaurus. A real organic one once.", said Andertol. "And he was faced with a decision. He was given a choice between a terrifying and uncertain eventual death, or to be transformed into something completely different. Something that is not subject to such uncertainty. Clearly, we all know what happened. He fell in love with a Malych and asked her to assimilate him. The rest is clearly obvious. My father became a mechanical dragon to save himself. So he wouldn't have to feel fear.", said Zagckza. "But he died anyway.", said Andertol. "But at least he died by his own will. He died when he knew he could die with dignity. He died only after he was ready.", said Zagckza. Andertol then said, "The only kind of death my species is capable of really understanding." "Shall I tell Paeninsula that we are disabling the orbital component... and to stop aiming their weapons at it?", asked Zagckza. "Yes. Do that. Don't make them angry. Just tell them that we're shutting it down and putting it away. We're not going to let this escalate. It's just a simple issue and I'm going to let the C.A. make this a problem by not backing down. It's not like it's never backed down before anyway.", said Andertol.
Aboard the MZS Dorrington, the accomodations were much nicer. The meeting took place in a room in an officers' lounge. There was a distinctive minimalist aesthetic with plenty of trees all around the room. Simple and elegant. Ceratch was very business like in the matter. Now that the lighting was better, The two could see eachother more clearly. Ceratch was a dark brown dragon with beedy black eyes. He had some webbing between his claws, some slightly amphibious traits although he was still very much a conventional reptillian dragon. It was fitting that he be in charge of the Miokalian Navy. He was at home in the water, while most of the dinosaurians, were terribly slow swimmers and only made up for their lack of natural sea-worthiness in their ingenuity and resourcefullness in sailing. The dragon was wearing the standard grey dress-uniform with a single green loop on the one shoulder. The two were sitting at a table and the preistess was offered beverages.
"You seem to have clout over a lot of people in your territory. There are a lot of nobles still loyal to the Sisterhood... AND, you seem to be on the correct side of this conflict: The side of stability. The side that wants to end the fighting as soon as possible. We of course, want to see that as well. The stability of Cal is in our best interest, as well as yours.", said Ceratch.
The situation was tad awkward. The Priestess didn't even expect to be taken aboard the ship, and the Alpha Commander of the Navy was very informal in his approach. So he took a moment and said, "Okay, this is a bit awkward. We're not really sure where to start here. We know whose side we want to be on, but... we're not really sure who is fighting for stability and who is fighting against the government. What we do know is: if anybody is going to reach out to us and want to work with us, chances are it's going to be side for stability. Right now, we don't really care what that side looks like, just as long as they are good people. And good people come in a lot of different shapes, sizes and ways. The sisterhood is full of good people and while yes, our attitude is typically very secularist, these ideological differences are beside the point. To you, terrorists are desecrating the sacred by using it to justify murder. To us, they are a threat to our way of life, and to the continuation of that life. This civil war is killing too many people and I think, atheists and theists can agree that such a thing must be stopped."
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Aug 28, 2006 9:17:53 GMT -5
The controller at Anlen airport was having a very busy day, especially considering the airport was meant to be shut. The wreckage of the crash landed Angle had been removed from the runway and the other angles had once again taken off. Now a large number of contacts were being made on the radar, more of the same he suspected.
The night before more than a two dozen aircraft had landed, most fleeing the mainland, most civilian. But now the traffic had changed and entire squadrons of fighter and ground attack aircraft from teu and drew were landing. He had realized that most of the air bases had probably been hit and this was likely to be the best safe port for those loyal to the government.
If he had had the chance this would have worried him but he was far to busy now trying to maintain at least some form of order.
--- Tyie sat facing Ceratch, this was the first time she had seen a dragon and couldn't help but wonder if he could breath fire.
"Hmmm atheists and theists working together" she muses out loud looking at Inca and smiling "I think we can say that we are already doing so."
"I may have clout here but I think that was more a case that the people didn't want to fight and are on the most part loyal to their queen. I wish we could get word from her as the people are still more than a little spoked by this whole thing."
"As for who we are fighting, the rebels seem to be a collection of lords and military people who have the stupid idea of taking power to 'go back to the old times' and install an emperor god. They think we have 'lost our way' and the country is in 'moral decline' so a strong all powerful leader is needed to stop this. To them democracy and liberalism are part of this decline."
"But to more practical matters communication with the mainland has become increasingly problematic but from what we can ascertain The parliament is still under bombardment from rebel forces, though reports of fighting inside have stopped so we must assume the government still hold the complex, though Tel has fallen to the rebels. Fighting is continuing though out Teu, Drew and the baronies. There has been a lull in fighting in sae as the islands loyal to the government and those loyal to the rebels are now secure in one or the other's hands. But what is more important is that the Teerie have managed to secure their kingdom from the rebels. Only an idiot would fight the teerie on home ground and as luck would have it the rebels are idiots as the seem to be sending reinforcements to try and take teer."
"The problem is that our main supply of information is being cut off as the rebel's have noticed what has happened here and are moving against the sisterhood, priests and any other possible power structure in the territory they control. Most have now fled or are hiding amougst their people so communication with them is becoming impossible"
"Now Inca you said you had a plan?"
Inca looks a little nervous and pulls out a map of the cal peninsular. he says "From what we can tell the bulk of the rebel forces are drewn or from the baronies of Leck, en-leck and so-leck, some of the southern baronies have remained staunchly loyal to the government, but unlike Teer can not hold out for much longer"
"My plan is simple, we have been on the defensive too long, I propose we take Tel and free our leaders. This will not only give us second front on land but also draw fire away from the southern baronies"
"There are two routes into Tel thru the mountainous, rebel held barony of So-Leck or over the drewn desert. A landing in so-leck would be almost impossible and would cost many lives so the desert approach is our best hope." he says tapping the part of the map where the drewn desert is located.
"More importantly for this route is none of the desert tribes have declared for either side. No one travels the desert without there say so, well to be more exact no one travels the desert and gets out alive with out there say so. We believe that the tribes could be easily won over to our side"
Tyie looks surprised for a second and them pulls out a small communication device from her rodes. She looks embarrassed and says "Sorry about this". She taps the device and puts it to her ear "This had better be good and make it quick" she snaps.
The other two eye tyie curiously as she talks "WHAT!....thank you". She looks at Inca and says "Scratch could be won over, that was the temple they have just received word from high priest Lac Oranagle Ja. The priests have confirmed that the tribes will declare for the government, but will not do so yet as they have managed to avoid the fighting until now."
Inca smiles, things were eventually falling into place, the arrival of large numbers of air craft and now the desert tribes. He looks Ceratch in the eye "What we ask of you is that you ensure the safety of Inleef as most of our forces will be required for the landing and capture of Tel. If we can take Tel quickly and decisively the rebels will be put on their back foot long enough for other forces loyal to the government to act"
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