NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This takes place about a week after their wedding (hthttp://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=56116&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0).

IC:
Kurgan sat in the darkened basement. Basement or at least that's what he called his room, considering most of the populace lived in these underground dociles. The only light he had was coming from an old desk lamp, half buried under the clutter

Hunched over his desk, piled with various diagrams, pieces of wiring, metal, and an old can of Coke, he toiled endlessly, pouring over diagrams, inserting wires here and their, all while mumbling to himself.
"They're ruining us"
"They're corrupting our, corrupting my people"
"Filthy outsiders, inhuman scourges, piles of crap"
He sets down a soldering iron and leans back in his chair, casting a harsh glance at a picture of Maica'telcontar perforated with marks from darts, and a single knife holding it firmly in place.

"You, it's your fault."
"Mingling your filthy species with ours, letting in these, these alien dogs to cheapen our country"
"I HATE YOU"

The soldering iron flies through the air, knocking a painting off the wall.
"Look what you made me do"

He walks over and picks up the painting, holding it to the light, looking at the barn in the center of the painting and then the pen-scratch in the corner AH
He glares at the picture on his wall once more.
"Soon, soon I will rid this country of you vermin and glorified toasters, and restore it to it's greatness, soon..."
He tosses the painting on the couch, picks up the soldering iron and returns to his desk, resuming work.

"Yes, very soon..."

Knock Knock Knock
Kurgan bolted awake, Shit I fell asleep.
He stood up, looking for a cover, and after finding his jacket tosses it onto his desk. He grabs a pistol from his dinning table, and proceeds to the next room, pistol stuffed in the back of his pants to answer the door.
"Who is it?"
"John"
"John who?"
"John Smith. I'm here about your service problem."

Kurgan relaxes a little, moving his hand away from his gun. He unlocks the door and ushers in the man waiting outside.
"A pleasure to see you Jack."
"The pleasure is mine commrade, but must we always use codes and whatnot."
"Of course, our work is sensitive, no one else must know."
"Still Kurgan, it's rather bothersome"
"Shut up and help me clean"

The two set to work, clearing out Kurgan's dinning room, setting up some portable terminals and flag stand. Soon more people come knocking on the door, and Kurgan disapears into his bedroom, while Jack ushers in a few people. Everyone sits at the table, chating about the news of the wedding of Barry and SHODAN with an obvious disdain for such happenings.

Kurgan eventually returns, a simple black uniform on with an emblem of a red tristar engulfed in blue flames on his arm. With him he brings a flag with the same emblem on it, posting it, then turning to the people gathered about the table.
"The time is comming near brothers and sisters. The time to rid ourselves of these unclean species that pollute our culture."
"We must plan, formulate what actions we must take to see our cause through."

OOC: Watching with interest.

:tag:

The words flow from Kurgan's mouth, dripping like poison, "This elf, this, this abomination that calls itself OUR president has gone too far."
He hits a key on his remote and a newspaper headline apeard behind him.
"He's been socializing, waltzing around with this, this abomination of a machine, known as Omicron Blu. It is as bad as that toaster SHODAN and that Barry."
Jack adds in, "These outsiders, elves, AI's, Sakkrans, these abomination of nature have been allowed in OUR country too long.
"And this," Kurgan adds, "This is the last straw, we must act, send the government the message that we will not allow outsiders to taint our fair society."
He hits another key, and a display of the Razor Back and various diagrams appear.
"Thanks to Janice here, who works at the docks, we have detailed blueprints and access to this worm's ship."

He pauses, preparing his thunder. "WE MUST STRIKE. WE MUST SEND A MESSAGE THAT WE, THE BLUE FLAME ARE HERE TO TAKE BACK WHAT IS OURS"

Eventually the firey meeting came to a close, and slowly the group snuck back out. Kurgan ushered out Janice last, Hmmm, I think I'll get some of that sometime
He walked back to his dinning room and picked up a large metal package, carrying it to his desk. Damn this thing is heavy
He sets it down rather gently for a metal box, and brings out a piece of paper from his pocket. He leans over the lid of the metal box, reaching for a small keypad, quickly punching in the code from the paper, then sits back. Inside the large metal crate were six Mark-11-K2 warheads and a few computer parts from the missiles.
Jack Albert Simons, how the hell did you get these.

With that he pushes his current work aside and hoists on of the warheads to the table. He pulls out a small hand tool and begins to remove the protective sheath from the warhead. These should prove handy

An hour later Kurgan leans back from the desk, stretching his cramped muscles and attempting to unknot his back. The warhead lays open, protective sheath placed to one side, and the inner workings lay bare, detonator and shaped charge removed. He slides the junk to the side, pushing papers of the desk.
Reaching under his desk he procures another, smaller metallic box. He flips the top open and places the charge in come clamps. He wires the detonator to a small PDA, permanently soldered to the outside of the box. Simple sensors, transmitter, receivers, and timers are turned on through the PDA.
After testing the connections he reaches for a small spray can filled with aerosol foam. He sprays it in the box, watching as it hardens, preventing tampering with the bomb itself.

Tossing a glance up to the clock he sees the time, 11:35 pm, and groans.
Shit, an hour and forty five minutes and I only have one done.
He glances at the clock again, and then across the darkened room towards his bedroom.
I can always fight the evils of these, aliens, but I need my shut eye.
He places the completed bomb in a crate marked for spare part delivery to a ship yard, and locks both crates.

Kurgan stumbles into bed, dropping from exhaustion. "We'll have what we want soon..." And with that he falls asleep.

(oh what the hell..bump)

[OOC: enjoying this]

Kurgan awakes to that damned annoying alarm clock. He rolls out of bed, seemingly more reluctant to continue than he was at the meeting last night. He strolls out to his kitchen, hitting a key on his computer on his way. He grabs some coffee and sits down to read his mail.
"Eviction warning?"
"Two weeks left to pay overdue fees?"
"God damned government taking my damned money."
He picks up a dart and throws it at his makeshift dart board, missing, imbedding it in the faux wall.
He stood, and moved over to his work desk. The night before he spent about an hour disassembling a warhead, only to find out he was taking it apart the wrong damn way.
Grabbing a makeshift tool, he unscrews the nose cap of the war head, places a long screw driver down, inside the cone, and proceeds to attempt to force the bottom cover of the cone shaped assembly.
After what seems to be too long, the cover pops off, horribly dented and disfigured.
Using a screw driver he unscrews four holding screws allowing him to slide the rest of the cover off. I hate these things

By lunch time he had assembled the final five bombs, placing them into two separate metal crates. Now came the hard part.
Kurgan tossed on an over coat and hat, odd considering he was living in a large underground network. Picking up the two crates he makes his way to a nearby tram station, cursing under his breath the entire way. Things weigh a smegging ton.

He sat down on the tram, nervous about the trip. It was risky, the space ports were the last stop, and these trams were scanned for explosives. A few particles of the wrong material and BANG!, SEC-3 bots imported from Rhea where on your ass faster than you could swear. But he didn't have any other way, the local taxi service hired all kinds of creatures, something he detested. Fortunately for him, the foam also acted to seal away such particles, in theory.

A half-elf sat next to him, looking up at his elfish mother and human father. Sweat rolled down his forehead, Stupid filthy trams, stupid filthy elves.... The lights flashed over to red, sirens pierced the air, and the tram ground to a halt. OH SHIT. NOT NOW
A SEC-3 bot unfolded itself from its holding recess and stomped down the walkway towards Kurgan. Kurgan winced, and then watched at the SEC-3 bot stomped past him. What in the hell?
The SEC-3 bot cornered an even more worried man who dropped his case, which broke open spilling a few vials of Zyme.
Kurgan relaxed a little, Ha, druggies.

Eventually Kurgan made his way, tired and beat from the heavy crates to the space port.

Janice meets him outside, leading him though a service door to an awaiting freighter. They placed the crates in a corner and discussed the final plans.

Blue Flame had somehow managed to get Janice placed in a position where she could work on the President's ship, and she was a valuable tool.

They bid each other luck, and Kurgan trotted back to the tram, while Janice waited for the freighter to leave.

Kurgan made his way back to the tram station, glad to be rid of the bombs. Janice can handle the bombs now, I just wanna lay down, it's tough work fighting for the future of your kind.

It had been luck really, getting Janice and Rick spots on the space docks, in a position to work on their target's ship.

Janice was a good mechanic, but one couldn't just get cleared to work on such ships. After a long struggle and nearly exposing themselves, Janice got hired, exactly why, nobody in Blue Flame knew . Jack thought she slept her way in, yet Kurgan couldn't accept that.

Rick, now Rick was a stroke of luck. They needed someone on the dock inspection staff to help Janice. Unfortunatly for them, the job was already taken. It looked as if they would need to scratch that plan and buy a ship to attack with, when the inspector died in car accident in Saratoga. Lack of help and a need to get a new inspector meant that Rick got the job within days.
Yes, it was a sign. Fortune was smiling on them and their goals

The freighter lifts off of the pad, and Janice plops down in a seat.
"Hey Janice, how's it going?"
Janice curses internally, Damned elf leave me alone
"So Janice, did you hear about our president's latest activites, I hear he's getting hooked up with that Angelean lady, Omicron something. Maica, ha, whata pimp." The elf says, hitting Janice's shoulder.
She tries, altough not altogether successful, to not look disgusted at the elf, and through clenched teeth,
"Oh wonderful. Our FEARLESS leader is hooking up with yet another FINE non-human."

She gets out of her seat and stomps to the back, the elvish worker simply shrugging to the next worker. "What's with her?"

*tag*

Rick meets her promptly after the ship docks with the shipyards located around Iapetus.
"How was the trip Jan", Rick started out,

"Damned chattery coworkers."

"Oh, sorry I asked. Are those it?" He motions to two crate's she's holding.
She simply nods, looking about nervously. Rick scoops up one crate, lessening the load, and together they make haste to a dark alcove in one of the maintainance bays.
"They should be safe here," Rick motions to a large pipes emerging from a bulkhead. "It's always dark here, and there is a drainage ditch for condensations under the pipes that we could fit the boxes into.

Janice stands, looking about for anyone coming, while Rick tries, with mrroe than a few swearwords to fit the crates into hiding. After a struggle against the Perma-crete floor and the steel piping, Rick finally wins and gets the crates into hiding, quickly standing and lighting a cigarette to look normal.

"When does the package arrive?" He mumbles, barely audible.
She shrugs, "When ever they say it will."

The bombs sat there for an eternity it seemed.
After the first month Kurgan became suspicious that the government might know of their plans. In a panic he dissolved Blue Flame, fearing being tracked down.
Yet, the months still passed, and the bombs would have sat there, unnoticed, unused if it weren't for a news flash.
Kurgan couldn't believe what he was hearing, That elfish scum is taking a toaster whore, and worse, she's with child.

As the members each heard the news, they gathered once more, hoping to finish what they had started.
Janice worked extra shifts, waiting to sabatoge Maica's vessel, whilst Kurgan prepared a speech that Jack would put on the airwaves, in the event of their success.

Then Janice got word, Maica was to be coming. A small nursery for the demon child he spawned was to be built, and Janice knew that the nursery was her window of opportunity. It was one she would not miss, Blue Flame depended on it.

Elsewhere...

Maica opens the bulkhead leading to his suite, Dancia in one arm.
"Hey, buddy ya awake?" Dancia yawns, wide blue eyes drinking in the various surroundings.
Maica passes a few crew members, working on power conduits. They look up from their toil, grimy and sweaty as hell, but looking generally happy to see the small child. Maica stands and chats with them as they take turns coddling the small child. Now this is what a President should do, stand and talk with his citizens.
He finally makes his way to the suite, pushing open the door to his private suite aboard his ship. Omicron sits on a chair, looking rather confused, she see's Maica and pipes up.
"Someone told me that all mothers should knit something for their child. For the life of me I can't knit this without knowing how."
Maica smiles, "Hey, no using augs, it shouldn't be perfect."
He looks about, noting the small, but lavish crib.
"You know, I think this place needs a nursery. For extended trips. I bet they could fix one up real quick if we stop over at Iapetus space-docks."

Blu sighs and puts the blasted knitting away. [internal] Damned if I will ever figure out this wretched artform.

She smiles, looking over at her husband and child, a warm glow filling her body. She extends her arms towards Maica, and he gingerly places the baby in them before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on her lips.

She unclasps the front of her corset, and allows Danica to get at one of her heavy breasts. The baby begins feeding, and Blu holds her close. She smiles again, looking up at Maica.

Yes. A nursery would be excellent. Danica will get older, and she will need a room of her own. Not that I mind her being in here with Us, of course... But when she gets older, that might be a little inappropriate. She grins and gives her husband a sly wink.

(bump, waiting for wedding thread to conclude)

Maica grins and winks back.
It had been a hard, but ultimately happy year. The announcement of his intentions caused quite the ruckus and political turmoil in Berserker. Old Miss Hayes, the head of public relations literally passed out, and some party heads were about to blow their top. Yet Maica stuck to his guns, it had always been that way he thought, and it had never failed him.
After the first few months of initial shock wore off, and people saw that Maica was still running things like he had, even opposing some Angelean propositions, things settled down.

Danica was born, and the headlines were actually favorable. Child of a new age! or his personal favorite Danica, Sweet Child of Ours

"Well dear, suppose I should head back to the bridge and turn this old boat around."

ooc: Bers, feel damn special. I chose to post my 1000th post in this thread.

ic:

Blu nods, a soft smile curling her lips. She gently disengages the now-sleeping Danica from her right nipple, and softly sets her in the middle of the bed. I will join you on the bridge, Maica... I spend too much time in here these days.

She covers herself back up and lifts into the air to float over to take his hand in hers.

The Razor Back soon glides near to Iapetus. Asthey draw near, they can see the lesser known Iapetus ring. The Principality had slowly built a large orbital shipyard and the headquarters of the TDF around Iapetus, and we're quite pleased with the resulting ring/station.
Named Knives it had produced many a fine ship, including the large Flagship, Knive's Edge.
Maica hailed the docking command and soon the Razor Back found itself entering the red glow of a docking bay, settling down onto some deck clamps, and powering down.
Maica, Omi, and Danica left the ship, heading for Starwinds office, looking for accomidations, as the modifications would take most of the "day."

Meanwhile:
Jack Simons strood down the darkened streets of Sokol, Scolopendra, noting the lack of cars at the late hour.
The TramStation was few blocks away, and he had worked late and just wanted to sleep.
The thin air of the crater city was evident, and it it chilled him to the bone.
So fucking cold, damned... *Clack*What's that
He stops looking about, seeing no one, Imagining things...
"Mr. Simons," He looks up and at the dark alley to his left.
A deep voice floats from the alley.
"We had an agreement Mr. Simons, security is important Simons, don't you agree?"
Simons' mind reeled, I recognize that voice, why? Then it dawned on him The Shadow Man...

It had been a year earlier, Simons and his co conspirators were readying plans to rid Titan of outsiders, and Simons had been tasked with obtaining supplies.
Being a business man, he sought some of his less-desirable contacts.
Nothing came up, no one wanted in, and all looked lost.
Until the Shadow Man came.

On a night very much like this, a man approached him, sticking to the shadows, not wanting to be seen. He had been watching Blue Flame, he had said. He said they had similar goals.
And so, on a night much like this one, Simons had struck a deal with the devil, and gained the equipment he desired, but at what cost....

"Mr. Simons," He snapped out of his memories, the voice continued, "Mr. Simons, we agreed you would remain hidden."

"But I am hidden, no one knows of Blue Flame" He pleaded to the devil in the shadows.

"Oh Mr. Simons, was that speech to S.I.N. hidden?"

Simons groaned, Oh shit, I forgot about that damned reporter

"Mr. Simons, we're disappointed with you."

"Please I can..." Plink Plink Plink

Jack Simons never finished that sentence, three rounds from a silenced pistol saw to that, and in the morning he would be written off as a victim of violent mugging, a wealthy business man who got his wallet stolen.

It was night, or rather, it was the period of time where the majority of people slept.

Janice stood in front of the Razor Back. It was an impressive ship she admitted to herself, but it was still tainted in her mind's eye. Tainted by an elf and his sub race family.

She tightened her grip on the equipment cart holding the deadly packages, and nodded to a sleepy guard watching the loading ramp.
Showtime

She pushes the overweight cart, up the ramp, half afraid she'll be found out, half afraid she may succeed.

Once inside, she accesses various bulkhead panels. One in the forward cabin, another near the magazine for an LRM, and yet more, scattered throughout the ship.

As she readied the final package, footsteps approached from behind. She slowly reached down her leg, feeling for a small knife stashed in her boot.

"Hey"

She turns, seeing Rick, and letting out a sigh of relief.
"You're an asshole for scaring me like that."

Rick smiles, "We're about to, well, you know. That makes us both assholes."

She smiles, "Soon," closes the hatch and the two leave the vessel, punching out of third shift.

Rick looks down a long hall.
"We should probably catch the next shuttle out of here."

---Later---
Maica awakes to a virtual sun projected on a virtual window. Omicron looks up from the end of the bed, cradling Danica.

The room smells vaguely of fine tea and incense, which Maica inhales and savors.
"Come Omicron, we must hurry if we're going to make our trip on time."

After a quick shower, and a short vid-conference to arrange for him being away, the family heads down to the craft bay, where the Razor Back awaits.
Starwind meets them halfway, excorting them along the halls, chatting with various young warriors, all eager to see the new wonder.

They board the Razor Back and unceremoniously leave.
"Well dear" Maica says while looking at Omicron's deep blue eyes, "Lets get this show on the road."

Blu nods at Maica and briefly touches minds with the construct/AI ship system.

> Initiate launch sequence. Take us into space.
## ACKNOWLEDGED. LAUNCH SEQUENCE INITIATED##

Blu disconnects and shakes her head. [Semi-Internal] Maica, you really need to upgrade your ship's AI... Its voice is too damn loud, and her emotion matrix is really kind of droll...

"What can I say, I like hands on flying. Getting my hands dirty so to speak."
He grabs the control stick and gives it a deft twitch to the right, causing the ship to gracefully barrelroll to it's right.
"Hmmm, that always was more fun without dampening."
He grins, "Once a pilot, always a pilot. Or as a great man once said, 'Once man experiences flight, he will never be content on the ground, for his head will always be amongst the clouds.'"

Blu grins. Maica, you should feel what it is like to actually BE the ship. Flying it first person is quite an experience... Automata AK1 tried it, and B249 cannot fly the Magician anymore without him at least piggy-backing into the system.

She smiles and floats over behind him to gently rub his shoulders.

As the couple enjoy the cockpit, little Danica sleeps in her new room, monitored by watchful parents over a monitor.

Unbeknownst to all, a chain of events was about to occur.
"She's so beautiful Omicron. Just like her mother."
Maica smiles, and decks below him, to the front of the ship, it begins.

A small timer reachers it's end value, sending a pulse of electricity through a radio transmitter, coursing through a few feet of wire and encountering a det. cap. As electrons flow through the det. cap, molecules break apart and rearrange. Faster and faster they move, gaining energy till enough had been built up to cause a similar cascade in the explosive.

As the molecules in the explosive break apart and rearrange, they violently expand, filling any void they find and pummeling anything close by.

The ship shudders. Once, twice, three times as three of the devices detonate.
The monitor shows smoke pouring into Danica's room, and the couple stare in horror for a moment. Just starting to react when things go from bad to worse.

The explosion breached a magazine, and soon found itself sustained by even greater forces.
The ship shuddered again before groaning and snapping the hull gave way, as if a wooden ship were smashed upon the rocks.
The monitor blanked out, and as horror filled Maica's mind, his feet carried him through the shuddering ship, down to the level Danica was on and in a dead out sprint to her room.

What he saw, would haunt him, as he came face to face with his fears. Peering through an emergency bulkhead, looking into the dark vaccum of space, seeing a gaping maw where once a sleeping child once lay.

"No, no, no, NO!!!"

A scream pierced the whisper of the Mainframe, and Blu stiffened, her face registering abject agony. No...!

She is right behind Maica as he runs to see the child, but she already knew what happened. She could see through her child's eyes as the flames engulf the cabin, only to be quenched as the ship breaks, opening the cabins to the airless void of deep space.

NOOOO! Her mind shrieks at her. This incident adding to the growing agony within. Why them? They just wanted peace... They just wanted to love... And Danica. She was as innocent as they can be.

Suddenly, Blu's heart turns cold, and her brilliant blue eyes fade to an almost opaque black, their swirling depths lost in the inky darkness that consumes her from the inside out... Help is coming, Maica... Her voice is cold, emotionless.

True to her word, and less than five minutes later, the Semblance of Reason slides up alongside the remnants of the Razor Back.

Semblance of Reason pulls up to the scarred and broken Razor Back. It hangs in space, manuvering thrusters firing sporadically, less from damage, and more from no one at the helm. The once bright engines sit dead, and the reactor strains to power the ship though the few remaining power conduits.
Maica stumbles back to the bridge, mind ablaze with questions.
What went wrong? How could this happen? Am I responsible? Why?

Blu clenches her jaw and gently touches Maica's shoulders. Maica, we need to see if anyone else is alive on the Razor. If so, we need to get them to the Reason and leave.

We cannot do anything floating dead in space.

The Reason, as if on cue, slides even closer to the torn Razor, its carefully manipulated gravitic fields keeping the two ships from crashing together.

::Tag::

The crew, those still capable that is, begin to stumble onto the Reason. Maica and soem others help those unable to walk themselves.

His mind races, trying to figure out what went wrong, not noticing the loud claxons.
He looks at Omi, helping still more, chocking back tears.
"We, we need to call for help.""

Blu looks at her husband, the emptiness within denying her the tears that want to flood from her eyes. [Comunication{Maica}] Danica.... DANICA!!!!!

Inside her, emotions run wild, and she fights to control them for only a moment before she is forced to cancel the emotional subroutines. She reaches out and gently grabs Maica. Come on, beloved, we have to go. A MotherShip is on it's way here to gather up what remnants We can find, but if we remain on the Razorback, you will die... I cannot lose both of you in the same attack.

Her eyes turn cold, and her grip becomes one of iron. Do not worry, Maica... We will destroy those that are responsible for this...

Elsewhere, Kurgan, Janice and Rick sat on a transport shuttle coasting through the gate network towards earth. Their ultimate goal, the breeding ground for hate, a home of evil itself, Arda. But for now they were content, sipping wine and musing just how their dirty deed would unfold.

Kurgans watch beeps, and he looks at the others. "I suppose we shall know soon enough, for our deed is now done."

It was a strangely beautiful sight...

The transport carrying the survivors slipped into its mooring at Iapetus.
Upon hearing the news, and of the impending arrival, the stations activities ceased to be. People solemly made their way to the docks to pay their respects. In and outside of the station, people stopped and watched the transport and the shattered RazorBack approach.

A million salutes, two million tears.

The ship docked, safely inside, and lowered its boarding ramp.

It seemed to hang open for an eternity, refusing to issue forth that which it beared. But slowly, solemly the crew came out. Those that couldn't walk were carried. And the few that were dying were hurried off in an attempt to save them but given the utmost respect

True to form and his sense of duty, Maica departed first, eyes still blurred with tears. He glanced around, noting all the lowered safety helmets, salutes raised. He forced himself to attention, fighting his urge to simply fall down, and returned their salute.

He pivoted, looking at the RazorBack seeing its shattered hull clearly for the first time.

Technicians settled upon the torn ship, searching for clues.

As Maica sat with Omi, morning, a general cry came up, something mysterious had been found, not once but thrice.

Bombs, the ship had been sabotaged.

Maica and Omi stared at the officer reporting to them the details.

Starwind attempted to consul Maica, and demanded of the officer, "Who?" "Why?" "How?"

But Maica clenched his fists and his thoughts turned dark. It does not matter who, why or how. All that matters is that they pay. I will extract my pain and sorrow from whoever is responsible, and cast them into the deepest pits of hell!

A few months later:
No, don't put her in there. Can't you see the fire, the fire, OH GOD THE FIRE...
*gasp*
Maica bolts awake, sweat rolling down his brow. He stares at Omi, his beautiful Omi.
He had been having the same night terror since the incident. Looking down at his arms he could make out their silouettes, largers than normal, the result of his non-stop PT. Reaching up he touched a small scar running down his cheek, the result of combat training, and a run in with a knobbed pistol grip.

Another scar ran across his left arm, given to him by Omi after he lost his mind in a sparring session. He couldn't remember what happened, but as Omi described it, he had lost all sense of what was real. His were a blank stare and he attacked her with unrelenting force. Fearing for he life, she struck him deep in the shoulder with her katana, jolting him from his rage.

He went to the bathroom and splashed water on his face. What's with me?

Omicron felt Maica stirring beside her, and could do nothing but watch as Maica climbed from their bed and walked into the bathroom.

There was nothing she could have done to save their child, and now... there was nothing she could do to save her beautiful husband. She sighs softly and climbs out of bed to walk over to stand behind her husband. She kisses his right shoulder and encircles his waist.

Still not sleeping...?

<tag with much interest>

CHAPTER 2: Broken Loyalties

"...And I shall not deviate from that which is good for this nation. Rest assured, my loyalty lies with you."

Maica sighs and drops the crisp new speech on his desk. It just wasn't working.

The nation was in a quiet uproar, the people in various states of worry, wondering if Maica would abuse his position to seek those who wronged him.
Maica wished he could tell them that. He wanted to keep his faith with them, uphold the oath he swore by, but he couldn't.

For as much as he desired to be a great leader through this tragedy, he couldn't. His thoughts fell more and more towards revenge. He wanted to seek out those, the objects of his hate, his loathing and crush them under-foot. His heart burned at the prospect of seeing the life drain from their bodies as he visited his wrath upon them.

He was slipping, losing control. Twice his secretary entered the office to find him staring at a letter opening her had stabbed into the oak desk.
Another time he became so consumed with anger he gripped his crystal glass until it shattered in his hand, not noticing the blood or pain as he continued to squeeze the shards.

No, I can't do this anymore.
He glared at the speech, screw these damn writers, I'm through with this shit

bump to save for tommorrow

Blu wandered down the hall towards Maica's office, a dazed sort of expression on her face. Her child, her blessed and beautiful child, was gone from her, and her beloved husband was hurting beyond what she could do to heal.

She sighs softly, and lifts a slender hand to her face, her delicate fingertips tracing the hard leather curve of her mask. Only Maica had seen her without it, and only once... And now it served to provide a shield between her and the accusing looks cast by the members of Maica's cabinet.

They blaimed her for this... she knew it. They blaimed her for seducing their leader and leading him away from the path of "righteousness", as if she could have done so even if she had tried.

So much pain... so much distrust...

Finally, she comes to the door leading to his office, and she takes a deep breath before lifting her hand to touch the warm surface of the door. A single tear slides down her cheek, images of her torn husband filtering through her mind. With a heart heavy with pain, she gently pushes open the door and walks into his secretary's office.

Ms. Thorain, please tell my husband that I am here...

*Bump*
OOC: Sorry Angelus, it will be a while before I have time to post a proper response, I still want to do this RP alot, but I've got two weeks of utter hell right now, so, yay, later.

ooc:

That's ok, my friend. I just wanted to get a post in there to not only carryon the storyline, but to save the thread from deletion.

Take your time, I'm not going anywhere...

bump because of stupid finals

wish me luck on thermo.

OOC: Actually did pretty well on finals. Yay!!!
Game on.

IC:
Ms. Thorain allows Blu into the office, a solem nod to her as she passes.
Maica looks up upon her entry, doing his best to smile. "Shut the door hun."

As soon as she shut the door Maica grasps a pile of papers on his desk, tossing it on the couch next to her.

"They have this speech for me. The populace wants to be reassured."
He pauses, weighing what he will say next. "I'm not going to read it, I'm resigning."

He then hands her a folder. Thumbing through it she can see reports on multiple people. "I'm going after these bastards, and I want you to come with."

"Will you?"

ooc:

Congratulations, my friend.


ic:

Blu looks at him, an undescribeable expression written on her face. My dear Maica... I would follow you to the ends of the universe, you know this.

She looks down and reads the prepared speach, slowly shaking her head in frustration. This is unacceptable, of course... But do you really have to resign?

Maica nods in the affirmative. "Can't hunt these bastards down and be president at the same time. My political opponents in the Councils would make an issue about misusing government funds. I'd be impeached and thrown in jail before I could give much chase."

He stands up and kisses her on the forehead, "If you'll excuse me dear, i have some people to contact."

bumb till i feel more creative

--<Transmission Type: Encrypted Intelligence Memorandum>--
-<Sender: Advisor Janus Garbo, SIS FSS>-
-<Destination: President Maica'telcontar, Berserker Intelligence>-
--<Subject: It's Ten at Night; Do you know where your VP is?>--

Just thought you might like to know that we've sighted your vice president out at a Kaenei auction spending far past his means. Observational data is hacked to this transmission.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/janus_garbo.gifAdvisor Janus Garbo
Intelligence Section
Federated Segments of Scolopendra

The mystery man [Berserker VP] twirls about and points to a camera, certain the Cadet is watching. He mouths something, perhaps a curse word or two, or was it a dare.
The move was a little careless, as a tatoo can be seen slightly on his right wrist and hand, the head of a serpent dragon, blood red in color.

"14.7 Million"

"15.2"

"15.4"

As the mystery man raises his left hand to bid again, his phone rings.
"15.7"

He answers the call. <UNINTELLIGIBLE>

The man closes the phone, "Goddamnit", and storms off.
--<End Transmission>--

--<Transmission Type: Encrypted Intelligence Memorandum>--
-<Sender: Advisor Janus Garbo, SIS FSS>-
-<Destination: President Maica'telcontar, Berserker Intelligence>-
--<Subject: It's Ten at Night; Do you know where your VP is?>--

Just thought you might like to know that we've sighted your vice president out at a Kaenei auction spending far past his means. Observational data is hacked to this transmission.

http://www.weirdozone.0catch.com/projects/nationstates/scolopendra/janus_garbo.gifAdvisor Janus Garbo
Intelligence Section
Federated Segments of Scolopendra

The mystery man [Berserker VP] twirls about and points to a camera, certain the Cadet is watching. He mouths something, perhaps a curse word or two, or was it a dare.
The move was a little careless, as a tatoo can be seen slightly on his right wrist and hand, the head of a serpent dragon, blood red in color.

"14.7 Million"

"15.2"

"15.4"

As the mystery man raises his left hand to bid again, his phone rings.
"15.7"

He answers the call. <UNINTELLIGIBLE>

The man closes the phone, "Goddamnit", and storms off.
--<End Transmission>--
Following regular procedures, the intel memo is first routed through Berserker Intel.
A 2nd Lt. answers the call.
"Thank you Sir, we'll send this up through the ranks right away."
The jovial young professional pops up and informs the head of the division, forwarding the info.
.......
"Thank you Lt...", trailing off in question.
The young Lt. pipes up "Jenston sir."

"Jenston, good work Jenston."

Lt. Jenston marches back to his work station and the director closes his office door and flips open his cellphone, the auto dialer springing to action.

"We've got another problem."