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Post by Erenmor on Feb 13, 2007 19:20:01 GMT -5
(This thread deals primarily with the relations between Erenmor and its northern neighbour, but others are welcome to join in as the situation develops.)
***
Around the same time that the foreign delegates landed in Skaine, the line of intricate fortifications commonly called the Northern Perimeter along Erenmor's northern border was seeing an unusual amount of activity. To be more specific, it was the Sky-Eye drones that were doing the seeing. The line's acting commander, Xander Morhaime, went through the recon logs with the two of his Wraith advisor-bodyguards.
"Considerable amounts of personnel entering the earthworks network along their side of the border," stated one of the Wraiths. "I count three battalions' worth within the last week."
"They must have done considerably expansion of the network, then, to accommodate that amount," the other Wraith added. "And those appear very much like concealed tanks. If they've started keeping them out in the open, we should assume they have more stashed out of sight..."
"Amount is one thing, but look at the quality..." Xander pointed out. "Modern-grade MBTs. Those must have cost a pretty penny."
"Rejza..." one of the Wraiths muttered, shaking its head.
"No... too large for one of their normal raids. Look here," Xander drew attention to the mountain foothills a few miles away from the border and both sides' trenches. "What do those look like to you?"
"Artillery emplacements..." one Wraith answered.
"Long range artillery emplacements," the second Wraith added.
"It looks like they're really planning on giving it a proper try this time around," Xander sighed, shaking his head. "Theorised tactic would be artillery barrage followed by either mass assault along entire line, or in one particular point..."
"In which case it may be prudent to withdraw the front line units to higher trenches we haven't had to use and reveal thus far," one Wraith pointed out.
"I'll instruct Wasps to pick out the artillery pieces for our own long-range pieces in case they start becoming troublesome," the second one added. "We should keep our Hammers in concealment until that time, however."
"Agreed..." Xander sighed, stepping up to the command bunker's view-port. "They just had to pick this time of all others to raid again? Gabriel's going to go spare when he finds out what he's missing," the fox chuckled, shaking his head. "Tell Nathaniel, we could use the knowledge of where they received all that materiel."
"And the Overseer?"
"I'm sure he knows already," Xander muttered, looking down onto the wide stretch of hills evening out into a shallow river's flood plain before again rising into hills across the border. To the naked eye the terrain was unremarkable - thick snow covered everything. Xander however could see the complex network of their own trenches and tunnels weaving along the hillside, could sense each of the machine soldiers waiting patiently underneath the snow. The previous raid having been over 10 years ago, Xander thought they at least might appreciate the opportunity for some movement. As the fox looked up to the hills across the border, his mind overlayed enemy positions sighted and confirmed over his normal vision. Seeing all those signatures had a sobering effect on a mind already confident of victory.
"We're in for a rough time," he said simply to the Overseer over Erenmor's internal network.
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Post by Erenmor on Feb 21, 2007 20:19:35 GMT -5
Meanwhile, somewhere north of the border...
"Has the Reverend arrived yet?" the commander asked his aide as he returned to his quarters in the labyrinth of tunnels they'd so painstakingly dug out beneath the border hills.
"Yes, sir, some two hours ago... he's waiting for you, sir," the young seal aide replied before withdrawing as the commander disappeared into his quarters and slammed the door closed after him.
"Ah, Marcus... it is pleasing to see you in good health," the commander heard upon entering. The speaker had seated himself at his desk and as the chair swivelled around, turned out to be a white-furred lion with a neatly trimmed mane, clad in a black, old-fashioned monk's habit.
"Reverend Father," the commander, himself an otter, in the green-grey-white field uniform of their army, bowed his head out of respect, "I am glad you've come."
"How could I not? You requested my presence... what troubles you, Marcus? Speak, please," the lion said with a warm smile, standing up from the chair.
"The men... they doubt this venture. They claim our past raids brought us no benefits, their morale is sinking fast. I have tried to bolster it, but I cannot find the right words... Tell me, Father, what should I say to them? How to make them believe in this?"
"I had hoped for better news, Marcus, but very well, I will aid you. We will require conviction in our warriors if we are to emerge victorious," the lion sighed. "The clockwork horrors that dwell south - it was their war that drove your people into these bleak lands, to scratch a living off these mountains," he began. "Even they admit it. They remain poised on your border, their armies but waiting for a lapse of vigilance to claim yet more of your lands, thus forcing you to maintain such a stout defence. Such an endeavour requires considerable funds, leaving precious little to care to the needs of the people... They have the technology, the means to secure for you a safe existence. Yet they choose to loom over you, with a sword raised to strike. They spread lies of your own warlike nature so that other nations would turn away from your plight, that they may break you with hunger. They hold the seas and the skies within an iron grasp, so that what little help is sent to you is thinned further. They would have you slaves and puppets for their entertainment as those they cynically call their "citizens"..."
As the lion paused to take in a longer breath, the otter spoke up. "I will relay your words to the men, Father, but please, I have doubts of my own. Can we truly win against a power such as theirs? Even with the weapons you have so graciously provided..."
"This is a war where victory will not come of force of arms alone, Marcus," the lion replied with a kind smile. "The clockwork horrors have recently tried to spread their ways to the rest of the world, and so attention is on them... you will have to take some of that attention, show the world what desperation they have brought upon your nation."
"Finally, Marcus, I tell you privately... it is in the Lord's plans to bring about His judgement about the world. Yet there are those who would seek to deny Him."
"But isn't the Lord almighty?" the commander interrupted.
"That is true, Marcus, yet He blessed us with free will... and He cannot move directly to change the will of those who would stop him from His divine plan. Thus, we Servants of the Light Eternal have taken it upon us to bring about such change with our own hands, in the Lord's name... and with whatever means get the job done. The machines, soul-less abominations that they are, are among the foremost of such obstacles. To battle against them is to fight in the Lord's name, and those who fall in His service earn His eternal favour. And those who succeed in His name..." the lion left the point unfinished, bowing his head slowly.
"I... I believe I understand, Reverend Father. I will relay your words to the men," the otter nodded hesitantly as his mind came to terms with the great things at stake here. "I assure you... they will see the Light."
"Go with God, Marcus. Remember not to rely upon force of arms alone and you shall bring about the fall of the soul-less," the lion placed his hand on the commander's forehead briefly before leaving.
***
"They are definitely planning something," one of Xander's Wraiths stated. "In the last day there has been a massive increase in the amount of personnel seen entering their earthworks."
"Adding up the information along the entire line, it appears that they have received ten full divisions of infantry alone, that is not counting the armoured units they must have in waiting," the second Wraith added.
"By the look of it, time to wake the reserves," Xander sighed. "I had hoped it would not come to it, but it's getting to the point where we can't take the risk. I hope Gabriel returns with his elite contingent soon, though... And we should alert Skaine as well. I get the feeling we'll be needing the air support on this, more so than before..."
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Post by miokalia on Mar 25, 2007 12:13:58 GMT -5
"We don't fire until they fire. When their on the move. They can't see us from a mile away.", said captain Br15t0L.
"Erenmor will, they can see the boat topologically, if they somehow gain access to Erenmor's surveillance.", said Blinn, "Stay back 4 kilometers."
"They wouldn't think to look."
"After you fire they will."
"By then, we will have done enough. This isn't a major conflict. This is a shakedown. Battle proving."
"Send a Sal over north. That will distract them and mislead them. It will also get us a more accurate place to fire... not that it's that important that we actually hit an exact target."
"Does Onyx know we're here?"
"He does now. He knows were here just to do a little damage. Might as well put in a shot for Dzegedy."
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 11, 2007 20:32:12 GMT -5
The soil beneath the Morskoj side of the border was quite literally honeycombed with tunnels, earthworks and similar underground construction, perhaps even more so than the Erenmor side. The earthworks also housed a number of muster halls that were now filling up with fighting men, volunteer and conscript both, preparing for the address from the commander. The mood was tense, thick enouch to cut with a knife would be one way to describe it. Everyone was on edge from the constant waiting. They wanted to get out of the trenches, one way or the other.
The Reverend relayed these observations to commander Marcus Inaj as the otter stepped up to a podium in one of the halls furthest south. The sea of whispers quickly calmed down as the soldiers took notice of their leader, cameras transmitting the speech to other muster halls all along the lines.
"It has been over four hundred years now since our forefathers were driven from the rich lands south into the wastelands we are now forced to inhabit," the commander began. "In all those years, we have not for a moment lapsed in our vigilance, for in all those years those who have forced us out here have not given up on their expansions and it has only been through our force of arms, our blood, that we have kept them at bay."
"The world turns, the times change, and with them so must the methods of our defense. Soon there will come a day when good Morskoj blood will not stem the tide any more. We must look to the rest of the world if we are to emerge victorious. Their attention is already fixed on us, and soon they will see our resolve, the crimes being committed against our people. And with their aid, we can finally not just halt the push north, but push back!"
"My soldiers, my brave Morskoj brothers, this is where we come in. When the next push comes, we must be ready. We will be pressed hard, we will have to pay for our land with our blood - but I have no doubt that we all, to a man, would lay down our lives for our people, our way of life. Hold the line, men, and take not a step back. The tides of this war will soon turn-"
The final words of the speech were drowned out by the roar of explosions overhead, massive blasts tearing through the earthen ceilings, collapsing tunnels and chambers. In one hall, the commander was pulled aside as a ceiling grate was jarred by the shockwave, falling and shredding the otter's arm along the way, loose earth spilling into the chamber after it.
"Artillery barrage! Erenmor is attacking!" the Reverend bellowed, straightening up once he'd pulled the commander clear of the debris. The camera promptly refocused to him. "Men of Morskoj, for all you hold dear! Get to your stations, hold the line! God be with you!"
Another volley of explosions across the entire border earthworks line, collapsing tunnels as soldiers rushed through them to their stations. The initial panic was short-lived, and by the second volley the order was given to the Morskoj artillery to return fire. And return fire they did, the long-range guns in the foothills homing in on the Erenmor defensive lines and letting loose with a rain of fire...
***
"What in Builder's name is going on down there?" Xander growled, watching plumes of smoke and soil being thrown up along the length of the Morskoj side of the border.
"Explosion profile suggests bunker-breaching charges. Possibly old artillery model shells," one of his Wraiths commented.
"Where'd they come from? I know we haven't used the stuff for nigh on two centuries now. The Miokalian fleet?"
"No shots fired on their part," the second Wraith replied, just as the second volley of explosions rolled along the Morskoj lines.
"What the bloody hell is going on here... oh @#$%^&*" he swore, as reports got to him of the Morskoj artillery being loaded.
As a third series of blasts bloomed out along the Morskoj lines, their shells in turn started falling on the Erenmor side of the border, the heavy shells smashing open the trenches and tunnels half-buried under the snow, the entire border line suddenly coming alive with the roar of explosions, now on both sides of the border.
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Post by miokalia on Apr 11, 2007 22:14:23 GMT -5
"We didn't fire that, did we? We couldn't have. That weapon doesn't even do that.", said captain Bristol.
"No shots fired from any of our fleet.
We did a few tests on the Inoue... but it wasn't even out of the low-dock yet. If they shot anything it would have hit the inside of the ship.", said a commander.
"Then why are things blowing up over there? How?", asked Bristol.
"The only weapons we have armed were the... carruthian-launch devices. They had some PTADs on them... PTADs don't do that.", replied a commander.
"We were about to fire a PTAD... for Dzegedy... but the explosions happened before we even armed the launcher.", said the captain of the Inoue.
"It's a carruthian launcher... so it would make sense for it to hit kinda fast... but if we never launched it?
Plus PTADs don't do that kind of damage. They just make people go crazy.", said Bristol.
"I can now confirm that this shot did not come from us, but we've got an order to get the hell out of here.", said a commander.
"I want a trace on what just happened over there.", said Bristol.
"I've got a propulsion exhaust line from a missile... not from our direction.
Okay, I got confirmation of a fourth-party missile.
And we also have a missile attempting to lock on to us.", said an radar operator.
Bristol showed his surprize.
"Well, they haven't got us yet have they?", he asked.
"No, wait. It's not locking onto us.
It's locking onto something inland, and it caught our sensors in it's sweep.", said the operator.
"Let's get the hell out of here. Something is shooting down at them over there and I don't know what it is.
Make sure Onyx gets what we saw.", said Bristol.
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 13, 2007 16:47:12 GMT -5
"Your report, Xander? How is the situation?" Onyx asked over the Network. The artillery barrage from Morskoj had been going strong for the better part of 2 hours now.
"We're continuing to wake and arm further nodes," Xander replied. "As predicted, the continue pounding the forward defensive lines that we had emptied out when we found out about their artillery. Sentinel nodes 097-11 to 381-92 have been pulled up to station along the border, supporting Knight nodes have also been pulled up. We've confirmation of enemy troops emerging from their tunnels and assembling on surface, we're assuming they'll be making their push soon. We intend to give them a surprise. We've the Hammer units on stand-by to silence their artillery."
"Very well... but drive them only back to their border and no further. The media's stirred up enough crap as it is and I've no desire to give them anything else to feast on."
***
On the Morskoj side troops were indeed assembling on the surface, watching the firestorm kicked up by the artillery across the shallow, still-frozen border river. While fresh companies of foot soldiers kept emerging from the smaller trenches, larger tunnels let tank units assemble near the border without having to drive large distances over open terrain. Further down, engineering crews were already preparing the crossings for the armoured vehicles, taking advantage of all the dust kicked up by the shelling.
As soon as the crossings were ready, the signal to advance was passed along the entire border. As the first tank treads touched on the Erenmor side of the river, the artillery cut out, leaving a crater-ridden hillside, with numerous trenches and tunnels having been blasted open. Spurred on by the lack of return fire from the Erenmor lines, the Morskoj forces advanced up the hillside, their sights already set on the openings blown into their enemy's earthworks.
***
"Like lambs to the slaughter," one of the Wraiths commented as the smoke cleared and the tanks came clearly into view.
"Node commanders are reporting an advance along the border," the other Wraith added. "Awaiting the order to fire."
"Time to address the troops, I think," Xander smiled, looking out of the command post view-port at the advancing army.
"We are the stones in the Builder's wall," Xander intoned, speaking over the Network, "and we will break the tide of our enemy! We are the hammer in the Builder's hand, and we will strike down those who would seek to topple His work! Give no quarter, drive them back to their holes! Knight marksmen, eliminate any engineers and heavy weapons crews! Knight lances, immobilise and disable their armour support! One vision and one purpose, brothers. Advance and fire."
"Arion, Zerion... let's go. I haven't been in a good scrap for too long," Xander grinned at his two Wraiths, turning to the tunnel leading down and out to the forward trenches.
***
As the first tanks and soldiers began to reach the trench line their artillery had been shelling, the hillside far above them finally came alive with fire. Bolts of brilliant blue streaked down from unseen bunkers, their blasts reducing tank tracks, engines and guns to slag in an instant. As the armour was brought to its sudden halt, the infantry found themselves without the cover of the tanks and were easy targets for the Erenmor marksmen. Railgun slugs streamed down from above, lethally precise, striking down officers, engineers and heavy weapons gunners. The soldiers that reached the trench line took cover where they could, but without engineers to clear the rubble and open up a way into the tunnel network, all they could do was sit and wait.
Their offensive had hit their first major obstacle.
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 16, 2007 18:56:46 GMT -5
The Morskoj troops didn't get much time to consider how bad their situation had suddenly become, barely a few minutes from the moment the return fire started. Unable to withdraw for fear of the precise fire from uphill, unable to advance uphill for the same reason and unable to breach the tunnel networks with most engineers downhill or dead already. When the rubble blocking the tunnels leading into the hillside was suddenly blasted outwards in various locations along the front, most of them realised that it didn't improve their situations by much.
The counterattack started, the same method everywhere along the line. A single Wraith darted through the cleared tunnel, shrieking like its name-sake, using a pair of power-blades to literally cleave through any Morskoj troops that didn't get the hint to start running. Directly after the Wraiths came small groups of Templars, their heavy weapons clearing the immediate area around the tunnel entrances. Then the main forces joined the battle - a continuous stream of Sentinels spilling out onto the hillside, sweeping away any enemy troops that hadn't yet started on the way back to their border.
The Morskoj artillery didn't get much of a chance to stop the rout either, as around the time the counterattack started, the Erenmor artillery was brought into play. Dubbed the "Hammers", these four-legged weapons platforms rose from their firing nests further up in the foothills, shaking off the snow that had built up over them during their dormant period. With their targets already picked out and marked much earlier by airborne scout drones, it took less than a minute for the Hammers' massive railguns to reduce the Morskoj artillery positions into smoking, scrap-ridden craters in the hillside.
In the end it took less than 30 minutes to turn the initial Morskoj assault into a complete rout. Despite the Morskoj command's efforts to bolster their troops' morale, the fierce resistance quickly broke their resolve. This was due in no small part to the tactics employed by the Wraiths. No soldier with any sense in their head wants to stand and face a barely-visible storm of spinning blades that seemed to shrug off bullets with no efforts, but sliced through flesh, bone and metal with equal ease.
The Erenmor forces pursued the fleeing enemy to the border only, not even firing upon those that had managed to get across the river. As the defenders returned to their own lines, gathering discared equipment and any of their damaged comrades, a final volley from the Hammers blasted the makeshift bridges, along with sizeable chunks of the ice still covering the river.
From a military view point, Erenmor won the first round, but it remained to be seen if they could keep foreign powers from intervening in the conflict on behalf of the Morskoj.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 16, 2007 19:39:18 GMT -5
"Sir... the northerners are pitiful band of rowdies who seem to enjoy getting themselves slaughtered every once in a while. With all due respect, why should we care?"
The First Speaker smiled at Commander Usil, leader of the Tinisian army. The dragon laughed and turned his back on the bear. "You see, international engagement is ideal for a safe and stable world. The act of fighting encourages more violence. It gives people practice at killing. And makes them feel it is an acceptable mode of getting things done. But I have found such a view lacking in so many ways as you can probably guess. I've worked hard to keep us out of major wars and conflicts. At least ones we couldn't win easily given the circumstances.
"Usil, I'm not proposing we go in there. What I am asking is to send a message to what ever makes up the leadership of Morskoj. With the current conflict lines of communication are in danger and risky. The message will be benign, simply that we would like to see an end to the fighting. But I'm worried. There are two many out there now who are not happy with us. I fear a standard covert exchange of messages would be at risk if it was found. Instead... I want something a little more public, at least as far as being visible to those who need to know. I've asked the undersecretary of state to forward a copy of my message to Erenmor as well as to let them know we're sending it, how we're sending it, and why."
Usil nodded towards the First Speakers back. "So I'm the how. And the why?"
"I already told you. This battle is unnecessary and destructive. It doesn't need to occur. If some sort of peace can be brokered then there would be no more fighting. So yes, are you willing to have a team deliver the message personally? You do have the least nefarious of the ground operations types."
"Does Epshrin know of your plan?" asked Usil.
"No. But he can read about it in the papers like everyone else unless you insist on telling him. This is a political operation. One that just needs some more than standard protection."
"Waldo's over in Erenmor now."
Izixs nodded and swished his tail. "I know. He can handle himself. And if they get upset he's good enough to talk them down from doing something drastic." Izixs hopped so at least.
"I'll be happy to help First Speaker."
"Thanks Usil."
"Now care to tell me the real reason why?"
-----
It wasn't long before a boat of lightly armed Tinisian soldiers and an envoy from the state department were on a boat traveling towards the lands of the Morskoj. The message, which was also forwarded to Onyx read:
'Dear honorable leaders of the Morskoj people;
We are disheartened to hear of the battles being waged between your people and the nation of Erenmor. We, the citizens of Tinis seek to end this conflict quickly and peacefully. We don't foresee a quality end to the conflict if a peace is not made. An end with out tragedy is much preferred to the current course.
If you so wish, we would be willing to be brokers and a channel of communication between your group and the Erenmor nation. Conversation is the first step towards understand and compromise, key ingredients to a pace both sides can accept. Please consider this offer and I personally hope to hear your reply soon.
-First Speaker Izixs, Union of Tinis'
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 18, 2007 20:37:36 GMT -5
The Tinisian "delegation's" first contact with the natives was in the form of a coastal military patrol. After some tense moments, some gun-waving about on the part of the natives and quick gesticulation on the visitors' part, the message got across that these foreigners wished to speak to someone in a position of power. To that end, the team were led to the nearest into the tunnel network spanning the length of the Erenmor-Morskoj border. There they were turned over to the local guards, and as the patrol returned to patrolling, the Tinisians were ushered through the dimly lit tunnels dug into the permafrost, presumably to meet whoever was in charge there...
***
"Everything has gone as commanded, Reverend," the Morskoj-uniformed mink said in a hushed voice. "We've removed all traces of our launchers, nobody's any the wiser of our actions."
"You've done us a great service... But with the drawbacks at the front, I would recommend you return to your stations," the Reverend replied. "We may have to call upon your return again soon. Relay that the cells responsible for plans B and C are to go on standby as well..."
As the soldier rushed off through the tunnels, the Reverend patted down his habit and strode through the earthworks to meet with these foreigners the coast watch had happened upon.
***
"Well met, visitors to Morskoj," the Reverend intoned in a rather accented Tinisian, smiling broadly and bowing his head briefly in respect. "Forgive the rough disposition of our guards. We are at war, they are mistrustful of foreigners, especially ones that come to us armed," the large white lion explained with an apologetic smile. "I have been told you bring a message? Our commander Inaj is still being tended to by the doctors and cannot speak to you at the moment, but I will be more than happy to facilitate. What words do you bring us?" the Reverend finally asked, clasping his paws together and waiting patiently.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 19, 2007 0:06:44 GMT -5
Ambassador Kelemer nodded lightly to her host. "I am here on behalf of the people of Tinis. I apologize for the need for my escort but it was deemed dangers to come here given the current state of affairs and thus it was thought necessary and appropriate.
"I am here to present a letter from the first speaker of our people." She pulled from a small satchel. Her fox tail was calm and hovering as she handed it over. "It was thought best that this message was delivered physically to a person of authority here so that it would not be intercepted by those whom may not wish communication to be established. I understand there is a great deal of bad blood between you and those that you fight. That is why a neutral party may be needed, which is where I and my government come in." Her clam demeanor was retained as she waited for the Reverend to open the letter.
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 20, 2007 20:06:26 GMT -5
The reverend took the satchel with a slow nod, pulling out the letter, his eyes quickly skirting over the lines. "Curiously worded, I must say," the lion said eventually, lowering the note. "A quick and peaceful end to a conflict that has burned, on and off, for the better part of four centuries? And only now our plight has gained your attention?" he spoke in a cold tone, shaking his head.
The Reverend's attention was briefly pulled away as a soldier ran in, whispering something urgently to the lion. From the expression his face took on, it wasn't good news.
"...it goes in your favour, at least, that you did not come with a war fleet," the Reverend admitted, scowling. "Perhaps you would like to know that the kingdoms of Cal have deployed a rather... excessive armada off our coast, supposedly to guard a medical vessel of theirs. Pah! First aid at gunpoint! Some in the world have a peculiar concept of mercy," he brought a large hand to rub at the bridge of his muzzle in frustration. "Forgive me. The Lord has put our body and spirit to a fierce test this day and it has taken its toll in one way or another on us all. Your show of good will is appreciated and I will pass on the word of your offer to mediate. I fear, however, that it would take nothing short of a miracle to make the machines see reason," the Reverend sighed heavily, shaking his head. "We extend our hospitality to you, such as it is, if you wish to stay here longer. We have deeper halls where you would be safe should the machines start their shelling again..."
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 21, 2007 18:11:37 GMT -5
"Your hospitality is deeply appreciated and I am more than willing to accept for the benefit of having at least one channel of communications here with me. Half my escort will return to their boat to await the time of my depature if that is alright."
Kelemer paused. "I do have to note, that we in Tinis thought this struggle was coming to an end. It had been so long between boughts of fighting you see. And until the last few years we had been quite isolationist foreign policy wise, only interacting with those with whom we were boardered with and those we desired trade with. Things have changed in my country since then."
Kelemer took leave and was shown to the lower caves.
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Post by Erenmor on Apr 27, 2007 17:42:04 GMT -5
The Calie medical effort wasn't receiving much cooperation from either side. Whereas the Erenmor only released into Calie custody those who could write out a statement that they *wanted* to be released. Oddly enough, there weren't all that many volunteers, certainly not enough for the Calie medical ship to be overworked. The Morskoj received the relief effort even more coldly. Language barriers aside, the locals seemed to make a point of avoiding contact with the Calie visitors, and in turn the hospital ship only received the most hopeless cases to deal with.
And on top of that, there was a lot of talk about the plane that had crashed into the sea and was subsequently blown up by a Calie sub. It certainly didn't make anyone more eager to come out and speak to the doctors.
The Tinisians received somewhat better treatment. While most locals didn't speak to them and generally gave them a wide berth, their guide explained it as due to the language barrier and the overall sombre mood that was prevalent in the underground village - it hardly could be called a city, in its current state. The tunnels were rather crude in their design, no room for aesthetics, but they seemed sound and most certainly survived the earlier bombardment reasonably intact.
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Post by Erenmor on Oct 7, 2007 15:39:38 GMT -5
Things had managed to quiet down some since the latest outbreak of fighting along the Erenmor/Morskoj border. Relief workers kept going about their work in the Morskoj tunnels, Morskoj skirmishers skirted along the edges of the border river, Erenmor snipers occasionally picked off the ones that crossed the border line. All quiet on the front.
Obviously, it couldn't last.
The break, when it happened, took place further inland, away from the coast, away from the main centers of relief work and most foreign observers. But word quickly got out of what appeared by all rights to be an unprovoked attack, artillery shelling of Morskoj tunnels by the Erenmor side. By the end of the day, the whole border was again abuzz with activity, both sides mobilising their forces once more.
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Post by Erenmor on Oct 8, 2007 19:58:57 GMT -5
Somewhere in northern Morskoj...
"The war has been receiving deteriorating amounts of attentions, Reverend," pointed out the ops chief Ryan Carrin.
"There's no denying that... and I believe it's time to up the ante," the Reverend replied calmly. "Something to really make them sit up and take notice."
"What have you in mind?"
"A staged massive escalation. I recommend we employ a tactical nuclear warhead. I'm certain there are garrison posts along the line that have not shown sufficient valor, that will not be missed..."
"Nobody's going to worry about one army base one way or the other, Reverend... the idea holds merit, but we must ensure civilian targets are in the area of effect as well."
"And preferably some of the foreign relief workers... I'm sure someone will notice that they've gone missing," the Reverend pointed out.
"Very well. I will assign one warhead from the Servants' stores to the cause. Make good use of it, Reverend. The Lord's work can only wait so long..."
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