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Post by aatuylva on Apr 10, 2010 19:51:23 GMT -5
Governor's Residence Outside of a sickly yellow house, with a sickly colored car parked in a gravel driveway, stood a man. He looked downtrodden and full of despair. He was small, rotund, and losing his hair day by day. He wore a toupee to hide it, but it had the habit of falling off every few minutes. With a deep, heavy sigh, he opened the door to the car and got in.
Eric Dunsel, Governor of the Aatuylvan Confederacy, sat in his beat up automobile. It was a puke like color, tinted with green. He sat staring out the egg-caked windows from under his toupee, which was falling off. He sat thinking "It's going to be just like it was yesterday. And the day before that." Every morning, as he drove off to work, the neighborhood children would throw eggs at his beloved car. No one had any respect for him, after all, why should they? All he was good for was filing paperwork. It's all they ever let him do.
He looked down, watching his wig fall to his lap, and sighed, starting the engine. Not a minute after, the sounds of splats and thunks of eggs were heard, with the laughing and giggling of children who should really be in school. Eventually, it was over, and he pulled in front of the foreboding building that housed the central government, and parked his vehicle. He sat for several minutes staring once more out of his front window, before dragging himself out of the car to go to work. He paused a moment, looking at the windshield, puzzled. Someone had placed a flower under one of the wipers. "I wonder who did that?" The governor takes it, and places it in his pocket before heading in...
Governor's Office
Commander Stidham was not an imposing man, in fact quite the opposite. As tall as he was [6'3''], many thought him as rather harmless looking, even for a human. He had no visible scars, and a ruffle of brown hair that clashed with his bright, blue eyes.
He stood, waiting, inside the office of the governor. Fuming in fact. His rival and fellow official, Lady Secretary Volvolen, the crafty wolf, had managed to convince everyone that funding should be shifted towards Internal Security and away from the Defense Corps. And he couldn't have that. Not at all. He would've preferred intimidation to cowing to the man, but he can no longer do that as the Minister of War and Defense. The door opens and Governor Dunsel walks in, smiling. "Wait, he's smiling? What's he so d*mn happy about?" Stidham was confused. This was not a feeling conducive to his good health. Nor anyone else's for that matter.
"Governor Dunsel."
Dunsel sat in his chair, the only real perk of his position, and turned about, a white flower sticking out of one of his pockets. "Hm?"
"I do hope you have a good reason why Ruils are shifting to InSec and away from my boys."
The Governor looked him in the eye and smiled. "Of course I do! We need to stabilize this country."
"My men are very capable of that." The Governor looked him in the eye. He never looks him in the eye.
"If they were, they'd be stabilizing the country, instead of blowing it to smithereens in their fancy little A..PBs."
"AFVs."
"Right, those. That's besides the point...We need to look our best.."
Stidham was trying very hard not to slap the man. He was being pushed off, dismissed, by the Council's chew toy.
"And what, pray tell, do we need to look our best for? Planning a parade?"
"Oh no. We have enough of those! I'm going to try something new."
"What."
Dunsel smiled, amused at the Commander's expression. He never gets to boss anyone around...until now that is.
"I'm going to open up our borders to dignitaries and travelers."
The shocked look on the minister's face was more than enough reward for Dunsel, who was tired of being pushed around. And he was bored out of his mind. Now, he was going to make something happen, and he would give the orders. He even had the approval of the People's Council! ...Well, the Leader of the Council, which was just as good...
"I want you and Wira to prepare a welcoming party. You know, the usual, a band, dress uniforms, that sort of thing. We'll make it a parade too since you brought it up. Gods know that the people love any reason to celebrate something...Well, go on. This is a diplomatic affair. That means you listen to me. Not the Council, not Wira, not your advisers. Me. So go on, get on with it. We want to make our best impression."
For the first time in his career, the Lord Commander listened to someone else for once, and left the office bewildered and beaten.
Councilman Virrim's Chambers The small and immaculately dressed fox smiled to himself, and leaned back in his chair, staring at the room around him. Such opulence and splendor... It was said that these chambers were once used by the human king of Accallia to receive guests, but now, with their marble tables, plush fixings, and warm colors, they were his office. "The flower was a nice touch..." It was difficult, trying to get what little ambition Eric had left moving, but he had done it. And without working that hard either. A flower on his car, getting his aides to actually say 'good morning' for once, and slipping a letter from a 'concerned citizen' about foreign broadcasts interrupting the local news to the top of his files... Not the most original thing ever, but Dunsel was not likely to figure it out. He was too happy with 'his' wonderful idea. The fox chuckled to himself, remembering Eric's excitement as he asked for a few signatures... Now, all there was left to do was wait, to see what happens.
Governor's Office
Provisional Governor Eric Dunsel smoothed his tie down, though there was no need. He slowly reached for the phone in his office, hesitating for only a moment. He picked it up... "Hello. This is the Governor. I want to send a courier to Tinis..."
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Post by aatuylva on Apr 10, 2010 20:40:06 GMT -5
Haven Air Staging Platform Wira stood on the hilltop, her fur whipping around her from the helicopter blades. Her black fur was pocketed with white burn scars, her fierce, orange eyes looked across the landscape of her beloved home.
She thought the Governor had gone mad, opening the borders. Especially without proper intelligence gathering first.
But orders are orders.
She looks at the stripped down police chopper. It's armor, weapons, and even the searchlights were taken off so it could carry more fuel. It was nothing more now than a flying target.
She nods to the two armored InSec officers as they got onto the dark green helicopter with the diplomat. She wished the young fox well, but who knows what they'll encounter, and watched with a grim silence as the chopper took off, heading for Tinisian airspace, broadcasting friendly signals on the radio bands. "May the Gods watch over them..."
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 10, 2010 21:07:51 GMT -5
In orbit the commonwealth was watching, it's polar orbit satellites were observing run by the air-force rather than CAS (the commonwealths space agency put them up there but didn't ask). The Air-force started to plan angle more runs, of the high altitude hypersonic spy plane* as it moved into action.
*Not a typo strict speaking the are angle twos. The commonwealth use the singular when refer to them as they don't have that many, like blackbird runs.
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Post by aatuylva on Apr 10, 2010 21:59:57 GMT -5
Accallia, Parade Grounds
Michael Stidham was not happy. Most assuredly not. He stood before his assembled soldiers, the men and women of the Aatuylvan Defense Corps, and suppressed a snarl.
Everything was going wrong. The militias were on high alert because someone leaked that the borders were opening, raiders were trying to shut down the roads again, and someone stole his hat. He was going to murder whoever stole his hat.
All of his divisional commanders were informed of the action, and his personal guard in Accallia were present and accounted for. Now or never...
"All right you lot. Your commanders have told you what to expect. I want every single armored carrier we have polished, painted, and made parade proper. We will be drilling in those horrid dress uniforms you all seem to like, and if even one of the tankettes has a single spec of dirt on it, we will do everything, all over again. Now get to it!!"
He smiled as his men responded quickly. As much as they may hate each other, he makes sure they hate him more. Kept them going. As they attempted to juggle the duties with rushing to get into their dress tunics, Stidham chuckled to himself.
Gods he hated C.O.s like him.
He stops a moment, looking down. His hat. Someone had thrown it to the ground and stamped on it. He'll be forced to wear that ridiculous dress uniform now too. He really was going to kill whoever took his hat. He picked it up, dusted it off, and proceeded into his headquarters building, a drab, square, brown building that contrasted with all of the old architecture around it.
Whatever the answer was from Tinis, the Governor wanted to make sure the main staging ground was left open for any visitors that got wind of the borders opening. Bunch of scavs. Looking for deals or exploits. At least, that's what he'd do in their position.
Walking down the hallways, he frowned as he imagined having to put on that tight, black tunic, with its silly sword. And that godawful hat with the stupid feather. He hated that feather. So much.
He tried to remember what had happened, when he lost his hat...
Then he did.
He threw it to the ground and stamped on it.
Fancy that.
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 11, 2010 1:56:58 GMT -5
"Something odd sir," said an aid to the First Speaker. "I mean, sorry to disturb you. But we seem to have an unexpected visitor of sorts."
The fox looked up from his bubble bath. "More aliens?"
"No no, a little closer to home. And no its not the Faritsune Boulders basketball team either. A representative from Aatuylva is due to land in Shik within the hour."
"Wait what? Are you serious?"
"Totally sir. The Deputy Secretary already has someone on their way to meet them at the airport. Ambassador Guw I believe."
First Speaker Lenord seemed lost in thought for a moment. He lifted a paw, now covered in suds. He blew it at the aid. "I want to know what the paranoid people of Aatuylva wish to say. I can't say I ever expected them to want to talk to outsiders during my term. But… huh, I have no idea what to expect on this one."
The aid nodded. "I shall keep you posted sir."
As the aid scampered, the First Speaker sunk into the tub to ponder what this might mean.
[OOC: For those wondering, Aatuylva will be on the map just to the east of Shikeishuu as they have requested. Would you like to RP the full meeting of the emissaries or should the message be forwarded to the Tinisian government?
Also Cal, I was a little confused by your sentence about planning angle runs but them also moving into action. I'm also confused why the flight of a single air craft out of Aatuylva towards TInis has Cal on high alert.]
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Post by aatuylva on Apr 11, 2010 12:17:43 GMT -5
[[OOC: Why not?]]
Arys jumped at yet another creaking sound as the gears and machinations of the craft were slowing down. They never should have done this. It was a bad idea. And the helicopter was almost out of fuel.
"We've almost arrived sir. I think I see a welcoming party too." The InSec pilot turned to him, flashing a smile.
"Just land us before we drop out of the sk-sky!"
Such an unprecedented act...Arys turned to look at the two guards that were thrust upon him. One, a stoic faced human, from the Defense Corps, the other, one of Wira's InSec wolves. He didn't know their names. Didn't want to. He desperately wondered what he was going to say, what these others would think of his unwanted bodyguards. This was nothing like he was used to.
The helicopter slowly approached the landing pad, its rotors slowing down...
It's frame was barely intact, with the metal plating removed in order to add in extra fuel tanks, leaving it open and practically at the mercy of everything. Arys pondered how dreadful it would have been if it had rained on the way here...
He took one last look at the machine, and sighed, stepping out onto strange land...
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Post by Kingdoms of Cal on Apr 11, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Supreme Air Lord* Ja sat behind her desk, in front of her stood Trie Dranina an, the air lord in charge of intelligence.
"This nation, what are there capabilities?" Ja asked. "Er...we are still analysing the re-con." replied Dranina replied nervously. "Well let me see what you have got?" Dranina produced the low res satellite imagery, the commonwealth had picked up the transmission, not the helicopter**. Ja looked at them and fumed "Is this really all you've got! You couldn't see a missile silo on this, for all we know they have fields of them!" and threw the pictures at Dranina. "But we have been busy in the north, what with Anean and the Hive mind we didn't expect aatuylva to do anything." Dranina replied, his tail down. "When was the last time we did a high res of that area? How many months?" Ja shouted, her tail was quivering and the room was beginning to take on a some what unpleasant odour. "Erm..." "Come on spit it out!" "Five years, it is a long..." "Five years...Five f**king years!" Ja put her head in her paws and sighed "In the ancestors name, for all we know they may have fields of ICBMS. Get more angles up there so at least when defender inca asks make sure I can confirm if they have ICBMs silos or not.
Now get the f**k out of my sight!"
Dranina left at a rush, and was on his secure com (smart phone like thing). He ordered three more angles to the north and a full high res sweep by them, none of the spy satellites would not be making another pass for a day or so. The angles could do what spy satellites couldn't, they could get the re-con of anywhere fast, with out having to wait for one to come past.
Ja in the meantime was hoping that Dranina did his job as she knew a reply of "dunno" would go down like a lead balloon with Inca as he would have to tell the defence sectary who would have to tell the PM. No one would be happy with that response. --- Things were in even more disarray in the foreign office as they had discovered that all they knew of aatuylva was written on two pages and had been produced by a summer student. They were going to look bad, the commonwealth ambassador to tinis wasn't much help. The foreign sectary would not be happy and PM Salato even less so.
Ambassador Dame Dianne Druine was tasked with getting what he could on this little known nation.
He sent a message to the tinisian sectary of state (I think that's what you call your foreign sectary, I will correct if wrong.)
"Greetings
We couldn't help but notice that a nation to the south, aatuylva, has made contact with you we ask, if you would be kind enough, if you would be willing to share your intelligence on this nation with as. We of course will do like wise.
We would also ask, if possible and they allow, to meet with their envoy. How ever we will not take offence if this is not possible
Yours Dame Dianne Druine
Ps you still up for the poker game on friday?"
Dianne hoped that the tinisians did know that the commonwealth knew next to nothing of aatuylva.
--- *Air lord is a unisex term in the commonwealth ** If you beleive that the commonwealth does not keep an eye on singals sent to it's friends I have some swamp land prime real estate to see you
OOC: The commonwealth is not going to high alert, just a lot of people have realised how bad they will look if they don't pull there finger out.
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Post by aatuylva on Apr 11, 2010 15:43:23 GMT -5
Accallia, Council Hall
The grand hall once held leaders of old, and was the place where the confederacy was born. Today it was to be the home of a trial. The small red fox frowned as he put on his ceremonial robes. White with gold inlay, it was far too fancy for even his tastes.
"I do hope you're happy with what you've done, Arkus."
The fox turned and looked at his old friend and fellow councilman, Cedric. His graying hair still held some of the blonde of his youth, and his bright eyes still held the intelligence which had guided Aatuylva long before Arkus was even born. The old human greeted his friend with an embrace.
"Cedric! You've somehow managed to get even more wrinkled."
"Ha! Your wit won't be able to help you in there, my friend. Dugald has it in for you this time."
"I'll be fine. What of Eric?"
"Oh, there will be no blame placed on him. They're all convinced you pressured him into it anyway."
Arkus sighed. "Well, I suppose its time to head in and face them..."
He and the old man walked into the council chamber, to the sight of six other white robed figures sitting on a raised platform.
"Cedric. I take it you will side with Arkus on this matter?"
The deep voice of Dugald of Haven was unmistakable. Arkus held his head low. If the council was with him...
"I, Cedric of Accallia, pledge to defend my colleague Arkus of Majiin. We have been in isolation for too long. We sit here, in our staterooms, veritable palaces, while the world changes around us. We cannot grow stronger, or hope to prosper as long as we stay within these mountains. We-"
"That is quite enough. We know very well that you side with the Ryvuuli."
Arkus' ears twitched. No one's used that term for a long time.
"I was not aware that the Technocracy left the Confederacy, Dugald." Arkus looked up, looking into the councilman's dark eyes. "Perhaps something changed while I was getting dressed?"
The tall robed figure looked down for a moment. "No. They have not pulled out."
"Then you shall address me by my proper name Dugald."
"Arkus. You have forced our borders to be opened. There will be those watching, turning from other matters, to look at us. We have not associated with outsiders for so long for a reason, brother. They are dangerous. What if they wish to take our lands from us? Or to use our peoples? We do not wish to be involved in their petty wars or conflicts."
Cedric spoke up, his voice cracking, "So instead you wish us to stagnate here? With our internal conflicts and arguments? Once our people dreamed of the stars and sea, but now, we sit here, in our own tomb!"
Dugald sat down. One of the others spoke up, female. Arkus did not know her name.
"I agree with Cedric. The people of Arvor will side with this action." "As will the people of Chromi."
That voice surprised Arkus. Al was even more stubborn than Cedric. Things were looking up.
"Do any others agree with this decision?" Dugald was shaking. If Arkus could see his face, he was pretty sure it would be red with rage. All the better. Three more 'ayes' resounded from the council, leaving Dugald as the only one against. He stood up once more.
"So be it. Arkus of Majiin, you are still on this council, and the decision stands. May the Gods save us all if this goes wrong."
Arkus breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that his plan worked. Aatuylva was going to reenter the world. For better or for worse.
InSec Main Office
Today was not a good day. It was as if Stidham was trying to ruin things. Which, all things considered, was entirely possible. The horrible troll of a man was itching for a fight. With anyone. Which explained why he was in Wira's office, yelling up a storm about funding.
"I need those helicopters for patrols, d*mn you! I've nearly round up those little b*st*rds near the pass! Two more weeks and they aren't a problem any more!"
"You said that three weeks ago! While your men were lounging around, lording it over the civilians! This is an InSec matter, and you can go back to polishing the back of you eyelids, for all I care! We are taking those helis!"
Wira's claws dug into the too small chair they had put in her office. She hated this man with a passion. It was like he knew whenever she was having a migraine...and when he started whining...
"Listen here! I will not have you crippling the mobility of my forces while we are goin-"
"Go back to polishing your toys, Commander! I have a writ order from the Governor, and at least three members of the council. Just make sure you look pretty for any guests, and I'll handle the hijacker problem!"
Stidham stormed out of the office, uttering strings of curses all the way.
Gods she hoped he would get shot. Or break his leg. Something, anything to get him to shut up.
[[OOC: Edited for a numerical error.]]
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 11, 2010 16:28:00 GMT -5
Guw inspected her claws for just a moment. One of them was missing the tip. It had gotten caught in her bag when she was jumping off the train. Only a few hours before she, a chipmunk, had been on leave and ready to enjoy a day at the beach. But now she was in an even more remote part of the country watching an unusually designed helicopter coming in for landing. There were guards there of course, but also a couple random aids. She knew none of them but one had handed her a couple folders. Briefing materials mostly about the nation of origin the visitors were coming from. Guw didn't know much about Aatuylva other than the basics of course. An isolationist nation with some sort of vague sort of city state apparatus. The dossiers didn't shed much more light. A few proper names for places and some history.
The helicopter landed. Guw stopped forward slightly. "Now darlings, please keep the meat heads with their weapons in ceremonial stances only. No incidents." She glance around for a moment. The rest of the airport had come to a halt. It was never very busy but all the same no planes were even taxi-ing for the main runway. No luggage carts by the terminal were being loaded or unloaded. She began to feel a little guilty about asking for things to be shut down for their landing.
Guw understood though why she had been plucked from her vacation for the assignment. She was one of the few people in the diplomatic wing of the state department whom had bothered to study the Aatuylvan language during their enrichment training.
The helicopter landed and the occupants began to exit. Guw stood for a moment at the lead of the Tinisans. Once all of them were within view she took a couple steps forward and announced in her best Aatuylvan, "Welcome to the Union of Tinis. We welcome you new visitors as friends." To the native speakers it was almost painful to hear her butcher some of the words, but Guw got the point across.
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From: The Desk of the Secretary of State To: Dame Dianne Druine Subject: Aatuylva
I must apologize but the secretary is out of the office today. This message is from Deputy Secretary Voki.
I'm surprised at the speed at which word spreads. But yes, at present they are on the ground and are meeting with a representative. As for intel, I'm afraid that I don't have the authority to pass on anything our intel services might have on Aatuylva but I can say that we've not had any direct contact with them for a number of years, and what contact was had previously was pretty much to the effect of 'go home outsiders, you're not welcome here'. Some say that Tinis was isolationist from the 70s up until around ten years ago, but we never had permanently closed boarders.
If it makes you feel better, I've never heard anything out right negative about them in intel briefings. But I think they've only ever been mentioned twice since I've had this job. If Commander Krel thought they were a problem I suspect I'd of heard more about them. All the same, what is the Cali interest in a land locked cluster of cities who avoid outsiders?
For the request to visit with the envoy (assuming it is, we're still not 100% sure of it. Could be someone seeking asylum) we'll have to see how the visit goes. But we'll forward the request to them if all is on the level.
-Dep. Sec. Voki
PS: I'll forward your inquiry to the secretary with respect to poker. Normally I'd ask to tag along but Friday is my bridge night.
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Post by aatuylva on Apr 11, 2010 16:37:34 GMT -5
Arys winced as he heard the message. Suppose its for the best though, he had no idea how to speak Tinisian, or whatever they called their language, and hoped desperately that they could understand him well enough...
"I am Arbitor Arys. I come on behalf of the Provisional Governor of the Aatuylvan Confederacy, in order to ask upon your kindness and hospitality, so that we may become friends and allies."
Arys rattled off the memorized speech quite readily, and hoped that he didn't accidentally say something offensive. No telling what they heard. He also presented the handwritten scroll Dunsel had insisted he bring. Not like it would be of any use. It was written in Aatuylvan...
He almost bowed his head to be recognized, but then remembered that they might not do that here. Instead he nodded to his two tagalongs to stand at ease, as he was sure that the two tall men, in their combat armor, even without their usual weapons, looked quite intimidating. They did to him at least...
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 11, 2010 16:53:28 GMT -5
Guw eyed the two guards for a moment as she took the scroll. She unfurled it and glanced at its contents. She understood a few phrases but the rest would take some effort to remember how to read the language properly.
"Well met Arbiter. I am Ambassador Guw, here to greet you and to welcome. You and your associates shall be treated fairly and with great hospitality. The Union of Tinis is a nation that honors and respects nations that wish us friendly relations. And I am happy to know that is your wish. Would you be interested in leaving the tarmac for a place to speak comfortably? Your, uh…" Guw looked at the human and the wolf again. "Aids are more than welcome as well. I must admit, I know very little of your homeland and thus do not know what protocols to follow. I fear you might be in the same position. So we will have to do this as we go."
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Post by aatuylva on Apr 11, 2010 17:02:50 GMT -5
"Thank you, Ambassador." Arys was quite pleased. His 'protectors' hadn't killed each other on foreign soil. He might just get out of this without any embarrassing incidents.
"It would be..most gracious of you to allow us inside. Preferably before any undue weather hits." He pulls his coat closer to himself. As much as things were going well, these people unsettled him. Then again, lots of things did.
"As for protocols, well. That can be handled later, by more well-versed people than I. After you Ambassador."
"Only thing left to do now is to pray that I don't mess this up..."
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 11, 2010 17:25:07 GMT -5
"This way," said Guw motioning towards one of the terminal buildings. Hearing the language for the first time in years was making her cringe at how she had pronounced some of the words already. Even more so that it wasn't her teachers whom probably had horrible accents as well in it.
The few Tinisian guards marched on before the diplomat, the aids, and the visitors. But when they came to the building the Tinisian guards flanked the door and did not follow. The interior was well lit but very obviously a service corridor. "I must apologize that this is not a fancy facility. Its just an airport. But there are meeting rooms." Guw lead them through several very similar wide hallways with the occasional cart covered in baggage pushed to the side. The formal guards were left behind and the only 'security' about seemed to be semi-confused baggage screeners whom were posted at wrong turns. No sense in letting everyone get lost in the airport basement.
But soon enough they were scaling some stairs and were in an office like part of the building. Around some cubicles and they were to the meeting room.
"Feel free to have a seat. We should be left alone for the time being," Guw took a seat near near the middle of the table's length, her back to the window. The view outside showed a little of the mountain base and the hills as well as some of the city and the inland sea.
As her aids took their seat to either side and began to shuffle papers, Guw leaned back a little and said bluntly. "So, you're nation has pushed out all outsiders for decades. What is going on with that and is your presence here a change in policy? We are, at a loss, as to what your appearance here means. Is your nation under threat and you need assistance? Are you seeking to flee it and this is some sort of complex method to do so? I mean, what is going on?"
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Post by aatuylva on Apr 11, 2010 17:34:12 GMT -5
Arys tried to not look at some of the things around him too hard. He was seeing what was obviously common technology, but some of it...looked very new to him.
"Such beauty. I've never seen the sea before..." Obviously this wasn't the real one...according to what little maps Aatuylva had of the outside world, the ocean should be a little farther... But he had still never seen a body of water so large before.
He feels his guards' gaze on the back of his neck as he realizes the meaning of the ambassador's words.
"Pardon? I..uh.."
"Don't stutter. Don't stutter!"
"Aatuylva has...come under the guidance of a new..administration, who wishes to open our nation to new experiences and opportunities."
Arys desperately hoped that didn't sound false, because, truth be told, he didn't really know why he was being told to do this either...
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Post by The Union of Tinis on Apr 11, 2010 18:06:03 GMT -5
Guw was picking up on the wondrous look on the arbiter's face. But she couldn't quite figure what is was about.
"A new administration? I'll be honest in saying we don't know much about your nation. Last we had heard there was a governor and city leaders whom were effectively in charge. Is that not the case any more? Has there been a take over of some sort?" Guw was about to ask another question but stopped herself. "Maybe... maybe it would be best to start from the beginning. Why has Aatuylva stood on its own for so long?"
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