NationStates Jolt Archive

The helicopter swayed violently in the gale force winds, and it was all he could do to brace his arms against the side of his seat to keep from being bounced against the window.

The headseat pressed against his ears with the pressure of being several meters underwater, and the man took the chance and shifted his arms from bracing himself to adjusting the earphones untill they were a bit more comfortable. Static broke out across the headset as he did this:

" *********Sorry bout the rough ride General, but you were in a hurry to get back.****we seem to have caught the tail of that hurricane that was supposed to have dissipated by now. I think we should*******"

General Phillip Plank squinted his eyes in frustration and pressed the headset harder to his ears, it was impossible to make out what was static and what was actuall words. "Say again Captain."

"We've run into the hurricane********* I say we should turn about, find someplace to land and wait it out."

The inside of the small helicopter was sepperated by a plexiglass window, which General Plank was now pounding on. The pilot turned his head for a second to see the General vehemently shaking his head no.

"We are to stay on course, it is of the utmost importance that I get back to Jiggady as soon as possible. This wind isnt that bad yet."

As if nature disagreed with that statement, a cross current of wind suddenly picked the helicopter up and slammed it back down nearly causing the engines to stall out. The Captain turned to look back at General Plank however, Plank gave him a harsh look to tell the pilot to keep going on.

Plank took a glance out the window, he could barely make out what was below but it appeared that they were still over land. However, his attention was quickly drawn up to the sky around them, which was a sickly color of red and black. If he was a God going man he would have been sure that the color of the sky symbolized the comming of the apocolypse. But General Plank believed in no God, he believed in nothing except the here and now, that desitny was not choosen but rather made by each individual man. And he was about to make his own desitny, he was going to build a legacy for the future upon the bodies of those who would stand in his way.

Suddenly the helicopter shook again, and Plank could see the pilot desperatly trying to keep control. The back end of the small machine rose up untill they were looking straight down at the ground. That was when the engines gave out, that was when everything went black for the General.

more in a bit

"Where the hell is General Plank, I thought you told him to return two days ago?" jiggady, the Supreme Chief of State of Jiggady, rose up from his chair as several of his advisors entered his office.

The young, irritable, leader sat back down in the leather chair and picked up the fox that had scrambled from his lap when he jumped up. Stroking the tame animal he looked at the assembled group of officials until one had the courage to speak up.

"We have had no word from General Plank since his last communication, that was three days ago. He was supposed to have returned home before however, he kept prolonging his departure. The last time we talked I told him he was required to return within two days or I would have his rank." General Claudius Maximus, who was in charge of the military, camly spoke up first betraying no emotion as usuall.

"Well now I shall have his rank, I dont care how much he may have distinguished himself in the past. Didnt we send him with someone else on this diplomatic mission?" jiggady lit a cigar and commanded the conversation.

"Yes we did sir," said Chief Foriegn Minister Ann Marie Bonny. "We sent along an official from the foriegn ministry department, umm let me see, a Miss. Claudia Boston."

"How about her, are her wherabouts confirmed?"

"No, Mr. Chief of State, all communications went through the General." Again replied General Maximus. "And if I may say sir, Plank didnt seem to be himself. He was very irritated at our decision of not sending military aid to Armed Democrates. He said we were disregarding his own opinions as a general on this matter..." Maximus was cut off by jiggady

"Oh did he now, he thinks that he should be the one making the decisions of our government." jiggady said sarcasticlly. He looked about at the others in the room who had yet to say anything, Minister of State Xander shifted uncomfortably in his seat and another member of the foriegn ministry stood in one corner.

jiggady thought about this current situation, it had previously seemed like nothing of consequence. They had recieved an invitation from some small new nation that wished to talk about alliances. jiggady was unable to go as well as General Maximus thus the duty fell to General Plank and he had been flown out with a foriegn minister for diplomacy talks. They had then recieved information on the situation and jiggady and General Maximus decided that it was not in their best intrest to get involved in foriegn military affairs. However, acording to Maximus it seems like General Plank was unhappy with their decision and was thus late in his departure, with no word of where he was currently.

"We do know that they took off right?"

"Yes sir, the helicopter pilot radioed in that they were leaving, that was yesterday."

jiggady digested this information but was still unsure of what conclusions to draw

"Sir if you dont mind my opinion, maybe we should reconsider sending military aid." For the first time the minor foriegn minister spoke up. That specific department was filled with well over a hundred foriegn ministers, most of whom jiggady at least knew yet he couldnt put his finger on this fellow's name. "I mean, if the General was so adiment in his opinion then maybe we should take more stock in it, after all he was the one there, he saw firsthand what type of assistence they needed. This is the perfect opportunity to start flexing our military muscles, let the world know who we are and what we are willing to fight for."

"Mr. Foriegn Minister." jiggady started.

"Jackson." The other man interupted.

"Yes, Mr. Foriegn Minister Jackson," jiggady started with irritation. "All the generals duty was to travel to Armed Democrates find out what their situation was and report back to us. As far as Im concerned his opinion is horseshit. Unless you think his opinion is of more weight than my own?"

"No, thats not what I'm saying. But maybe if you werent so concerned with our image to the rest of the world you might realize the benefits of forming military alliances." Jackson continued, unfazed.

"Maybe if you learned your place, you would realize when to speak up and when not to." jiggady spat back with venome in his voice. He had been growing to lax in asserting his authority, Mr. Jackson and General Plank had taken liberties with this and jiggady realized it was time to drop the hammer on any of those who thought they could disobey him.

He kept the minor foriegn minister engaged in conversation for the next three minutes as he felt around in a desk drawer with his left hand. His hands quickly wrapped around the but of the glock pistol that he kept inside, and jiggady allowed himself a small smile. Jackson was now standing only a couple inches away on the other side of the desk, going on about expanding their nation through their military. Something however didnt feel right, he let go of the Glock and reached further back until he felt the hardwood but of the flintlock pistol he kept. The gun, which he kept in perfect working condition, was supposedly one of his grandfathers from over two hundred years ago. jiggady had it remodeled back to its old intimidating form, yes this was the perfect weapon to display his authority.

"And if we actively sought out more land, we would solve the overpopulation problem that is closing in on us." Jackson leaned over the desk in some stance of authority and jiggady was ready to bring the minor official down from his pertch.

"What we need is less people to feed." jiggady stood up as he spoke and raised the pistol that he pulled from the drawer. He waited a few seconds, to smile and to see the shoked look on the other mans face.

A loud crack filled the office and there was a burst of smoke that temporarially obstructed the view of the others in the room. Jackson could only manage a gurgled cry as his chest exploded. Blood flew everywhere and the back of his chest opened up and several organs slurped down on the floor, from the force of the gunshot that was only inches from his fragile body. There was an overwhelming silence in the room as the gathered officials looked back at jiggady with wide eyes. However, that quickly passed as shock over the events that unfolded in mere seconds, they knew jiggady was volitile and they knew that Jackson was pushing him and got what he deserved.

"I want General Plank found!!" jiggady yelled out and the room cleared.

OOC: Is this before or after you gained control of the peninsula and it's islands???

IC:
A man in the livery of the House of Crawford waited for a meeting with the great Jiggady. He was acting as a personal messanger from the Klatchian Interm Privy Council.

A dense murky fog had decided to settle in for the night around the military base known as Outpost Number 5, the instalation that was the basis for the troops and units under the command of General Phillip Plank.

The forest instalation served as the focal point of Planks Command, a place more secluded from the rest of Jiggady where he could train and order his troops with less interferance from the government.

McCloud shivered and pulled his overcoat closer against his body, to ward off the chill of the fall night. The fog was a terrible distraction for the guard who already had to contend with the pitch black night sky at 1 a.m. He gave up on the night vision gogles and relied on the handheld radar he had, which was going crazy detecting small animal life. "Even the movie 'The Fog' didnt have this much fog." McCloud muttered to himself.

He stopped his patrole over the steel walkway that hung over the doors to the base and peered out to where he thought the road was. The clanking of boots on steel brought his attention away and saw Major General Hackett materalize out of the fog.

"Report soldier?" Said the Major General, who had command of the base in the absence of General Plank.

"Nothing sir, this goddamn fog is impossible to see through."

"Keep at it, the General reported in a few days ago. He said he was comming back but he should have arrived by now." Hackett said nearly choking on the soupy fog. He had recieved word from the General to begin mobilizing the troops but had not explained the cryptic message.

Just then two white,yellow lights began bouncing off in the horizon. The lights on the fog produced an erie glow effect as if the whole forest was light up by spotlights. Hackett could deffinetly tell that the lights were moving and he knew that a vehicle approached, hopefully carrying the General. "Lets get down to the post."

Five minutes later Hackett and McCloud stood at the outer perimiter fence with the guards already stationed there. The lights had dissapeared momentarially as the car drove through the winding dirt road however, the again quickly appeared as the truck pulled up to the fence and stopped. Each of them held hands to their eyes to block the blinding light as the Major General strolled over to the drivers door while the rest of the troops flanked the truck. Sticking a flashlight inside the open window, Hackett returned the favor of blinding those inside: "What business have you here?"

The driver held out his badge of authorization: "Chief Warrent Officer Williams. I'm escorting Lieutenant General Frank Riley to the outpost."

Hackett shinned the light to the man ridding shotgun who turned to face him and hand over his badge. Taking the laminated paper Hackett frowned, he knew most of the higher ranking officers in the Jiggady military and knew that Riley was one of General Maximus' underlings. "If this is an inspection, I wasnt notified. Or are you bringing news or orders Lieutenant General?"

The older man looked down his nose at Hackett, "I am bringing new orders. I am now to replace General Plank as commander of this instalation, orders of Supreme General Maximus and the Chief of State. It appears that General Plank has gone missing and the chief of state wants this base restructured." Riley made sure to leak contempt into his voice, what he wasnt telling the major general was that those orders included eliminating Planks closest officers.

"Of course Lieutenant General we will see to your every order. Now if you would just follow us into the outpost." Hackett clicked off the flashlight and sauntered to the jeep parked next to the security building, McCloud and another man hopped in as well and they started into the compound with the truck following. Hackett picked up the hand radio and called in over their secure line: "Hackett to communications, Major Stewart?"

"Yes?"

"We have some guests, prepare for contingency plan Omega Five, over." McCloud looked at him questioningly however, Hackett knew what he was doing. General Plank had instilled in him the orders tin the even anyone ever came from the home base to take controle of their outpost.

"I understand sir." Stewart replied, a slight chuckle in his voice.

Within minutes both vehicles were parked in the compound and Hackett again got on the radio, this time over the open channel. "Lieutenant General Riley? If you dont mind, General Plank has a little ceremony that he likes to do when we have visiting officers, a little demonstration of our readiness."

"Very well Hackett, but make it fast." Riley replied in annoyance over the radio from the truck, he had ten elite marines in the back of the truck hidding and waiting to get a jump on Planks officers.

Hackett smiled and waved off towards the fog. In response a loud mechanical noise started rumbling towards them. And out of the fog one of the Sabra Battle Tanks they had, rolled into the parade grounds where the two vehicles were already parked. Riley never even considered what was comming as the gun on the tank erupted and spewed flame and smoke in their direction. The shell impacted with the truck in an instant, leaving it nothing but a firey pile of twisted metal.

The ends of Hackett's mouth turned up in a vile smile, their hand was now played he only wondered where the hell Plank was.

OOC: After that. I am going to say that this outpost is one of our first instalations into the new land. Also I will reply again later, I have to get ready for class now.

The door to jiggady's office opened and filing out of the room the gathered officials went off carrying out the duties ordered of them. They all glanced at the man sitting in the outer lounge but didnt pay much attention to him.

The secretary sitting at the desk in the lounge looked up from her papers: "The Chief of State will see you now." She looked back down to her papers and sighed in the cool breeze of the fan that kept her sane in the warm plantation house on jiggady's personal estate.

The man walked into the office and gazed about the room. Several others were still here, mostly the butler staff that seemed to be cleaning the walls and mopping the floor from some sticky red substance. Standing directly behind jiggady was a tall man in a suit whose hair was permed up into an afro. He stared back at the official with a black piercing gaze while one of his hands permenantly rested on the inside of the black suit coat.

"Please, please sit down. Dont mind my staff they are just tidying up after an ahhh unfortunate incident earlier. You are here from the? Mr.? Ahh forgive me would you also like a cigar?

The choper continued its downward spiral towards the earth, spinning like a top and falling like a rock. In the front viewport General Plank could see the ground benieth growing ever closer, brown land, mountians, rivers all things he thought he would be seeing for the last time.

Time seemed to slow down almost to a complete stop for Plank as his eyes grew wide, totally encompasing the mountian range directly below the plumiting helicopter. The first thought in his mind was that 'this couldnt possibly be happening.' Sure, he had just fallen asleep during the long helicoper ride back to Jiggady, and was having a nightmare because of all the stress he was under. Any minute now the helicopter would either right itself or he would wake up and be embarassed at thinking the dream was real. Yupp, any time now... General Plank thought

When it finally became obvious that this wasnt a dream, a new emotion filled General Plank. His hands tightened around the seat cushing, knuckels turning white and blood starting to seep from under his fingernails. This shouldnt be happening to him, whose fault was this the pilots, the weathermans. Yes, he was in this situation because of them, he was going to die because of them. "Goddamn you, I'm not supposed to die because of you!"

He had never belived in God, never found any reason to believe in anything accept himself and a gun. He had the ability to shape his own destiny no matter what hokey higher power decided. As the seconds seemed to tick away Plank foundhimself almost saying a prayer, later on it would make him feel foolish and weak, but right now Plank would have clasped his hands together if he wasnt so afriad. "God, let me live. Please let me live, when I accomplish what I need to, I will set up a nation totally devoted to you. Oh God I will do this, just let me live."

Loud beeping from the cockpit distracted Plank as he looked back up to see the pilot furiously pressing buttons and twisting the yoke to attempt to pull out of the dive. He was going to die, I am going to die, Plank thought of the pilot and himself. Images flashed in his head, pictures of himself in conquest leading his army to victories against faceless enemies images of the future that he would now never attain. Plank became saddened and felt an empty hole inside of him, a hole that will never be filled with what could be. A tear came to his eye as he saw his wife and two girls. Living without him, alone scared, his body wretched with feelings of remorse.

The choper continued falling, Plank could swear that he could make out objects on the mountians they were getting that close it seemed. He really didnt know anymore, they were falling, they were going to die and suddenly it didnt bother him. Plank looked around the cockpit of the helicopter with new sensations, he became more aware of himself in his environment and knew that he was about to die. Yet it no longer bothered him, he was no longer afraid of the impending, inevitable crash into some nameless mountian side he suddenly had clarity. In fact they were still aways off from actually crashing, but crash they would, and he wouldnt be bothered by that fact. He was not a failure, his goals may go unfinished by himself however, he had his officers in his units who were loyal to him and would carry out his cause. They would succeed, for him. Plank smiled and raised his hands so that he no longer was bracing himself, he had nothing to fear; wherever he was about to go he would look down and watch his men in their marches of victory.

A new noise infultrated these sounds, a noise that he hadnt heard so far in their fatal fall towards the earths floor. For a second Plank could swear that it was the engines kicking back in. Either way he didnt care, Phillip Plank raised his hands and prepared for whatever would come, he again blacked out.

He stands at attention, he knows the smell of gun powder and blood. Jiggady is very much like Otto the First, well Otto would have castrated the bugger and fed him his own balls to make a point...but similar results. I wonder if they used lincrusta walpaper, easier to clean off the splattered blood.

"Ah yes, I'm Sir Edward Banes...I've had to give up smoking, the new wife doesn't like it much. I've been asked to help arange a matter of utmost import to the new Consul, the Landgravine of Hubris. As you may not be aware, with some of the recent unplesentness we are attempting to set up a spot inspection of nations military estabishments to...well identify possible weaknesses in the Joint Defense Force Stratagy. Everyone has both strengths and weaknesses, that need to be better understood in both the equipment pecurment as well as the intial stages of orginization. I'm here to request that you allow us to do that inspection, we understand the nature of States rights, and don't wish to cause any ill will, and are hoping for a complete picture of your nation's denfensive infastructure."

jiggady, eyed the foriegn diplomate with interest and intrigue. The man looked about the room as if trying to decuce something about his personality or as if he could guess what had happened. If he was able to guess what happened, jiggady saw that he hid his emotions well that or it was something he was used to.

If that was the case then jiggady decided he liked this Sir Edward Banes. "Ah yes, yes, yes," jiggady went on while stroking his pet fox. "I seem to remember sending delegates for the discussions on the privy council and joint defense forces. I have yet to recive a full report on the subject but your being here eases my thoughts. I am glad that all our nations were able to agree on the construction of the defense forces.

"As you may or may not know our nations military is entirely made up to be a national defense force, to the agreement of most and the disdain of few. We have so far kept excellent status and readiness of our military forces and have even begun to set up bases in our new lands. While we do feel that our military is in top conditioning, we will allow international inspection teams to check over for themselves. It will be easy to arrange tours of our military instalations here in central Jiggady. If only you were a few hours earlier in arriving we just sent out a military team to take over our outpost in our new lands. We lost contact with the General stationed there and have decided to send a new officer corps to take over because we have such a substantial amount of units stationed there."

jiggady tried not to betray to much emotion, however, he was not good at these types of meetings and was unsure if he gave away to much information as to the unstability with Outpost Number Five. Damn that General Plank, where ever he was; jiggady only hopped that with sending new officers to take over would go smoothly.

BUMP

== Bump ==

Also trying to figure out how I can get involved if possible. Jiggady is quite far from Vrak. Hmmm.

OOC: sorry for the long time responding on this...lost track of the damn thing, but then needed to work on the constitution

They lost a General? Is that who's brain is splattered, with a black power gun? Edward Banes was not the kind of man who went sticking his nose around in other peoples buisness. But then it appeared that several very bad messes had fallen in his lap over his lifetime. So perhaps he should get a feel for what was up in the outposts.

"Well, this may sound rather brash of me, but I'd prefer to actually see a change in command situtation. Those tend to be times of change and stress....seeing how your officers and troops respond to change is important, also how they deal with unexpected foriegn officers. Under the new Joint Defense Force plans a good deal of all our militaries will be meeting and training together....and all I need really is a set of orders allowing my inspection. " He smiled, wondering Banes you idiot what the hell are you doing, walking into the middle of their mess...your job damn it.

OOC: Orginally this was going to be an invite onto the Privy Concil but then Jiggady himself is too young. (needs to be twenty eight)

Major General Hackett stood on the metal walkway over the great doors into military outpost number 5. Behind him he could here the scurrying of troops as the men prepared for action, tanks were mobilized and preped, troops were standing at attention, and aircraft waited for the signal to launch.

Silently Hackett cursed, they were ready according to General Planks orders yet where in the name of Hell was he? What were they supposed to do? Hackett was far from actually worried, they had already commited treason by killing the Liutenant General who was supposed to take command of this instalation and it was only a matter of time until the rest of the Jiggady army came in full force.

Just then a whinning sound could be heard over the dense pocket of trees, and Hackett eagerly turned his head and strained his ears. Deffinetly a chopper, and Hackett quickly surmised that this was either their salvation or their demise comming. The thought of readying the anti aircraft guns had occured to him however, this was the sound of only one chopper advancing on their position and he was willing to take the risk that it couldnt feasibly do much damage to them.

He waited, and waited. McCloud, whom he had recently promoted stood nearby with binoculars feavourishly scanning the treetops for sight of their incomming friend or foe.

It had come from the north, a single Heliocopter. From Hacketts perspective it looked like a heavily modified civilian aircraft much like one a private citizen would own. Obviously though this was no private citizen as it had been afixed with multiple machine gun emplacements as well as a rocket launcher. Hacketts heart lept for a second, could this possibly be Plank? If it was, than his superior and good friend had quite a story to tell as the chopped was horribly dented from some type of recent activity.

"Make a clearing for landing, and stand down your arms. All units into parade formation our General has returned!" Hackett yelled down to the men on the parade grounds with utter joy that he hadnt felt in years.

The crippled aircraft gingerly and with great painstaiking care set down onto the paved grounds to a resounding cheer from the mass of gathered troops. General Phillip Plank steped out of the chopper as if he were royalty, a perfect smile on his face and waveing proudly to his men, although his uniform was noticably worn. Plank strode through the grounds and into the main complex where he took his customery seat in the briefing room.

Without even having to be called all the members of the officer corps filed into the large map room, all with a new sense of vigour in seeing their beloved general to whom they were all willing to commit treason for. Hackett sat down last and immediatly began spouting questions.

"Where in the name of God have you been General, we have been growing worried especially after your cryptic message to suddently get activated?"

"Hackett my old friend, I have been through hell and back and have come out more determined that ever before. If hell couldnt take me and my chopper down than no one will, this course of action is destiny for all of us, a destiny that cannot fail. Yes we are preparing for activity, activity that will surely label us as traitors to the state however, we are not going to where I first thought. A much better situation has come up, this civil war just beyond our boundaries two hundred miles away. Upon confirmation from the Dyelli Bebyi Tzar Henry we will move into action to secure his position in this civil war.

I know that this action will bring down General Maximus upon us but I say let him come. That damned Roman Pacifist has made us stand idle too long, always denying me my right to fully act as a general. Once we help establish Henry as the leader of Bebyi we will remain and then strike back taking these underdefended lands from Jiggady in a glorious and undefeatable campaign."

Hackett sat by listening to the General in awe, it did occure to him that Plank seemed noticably changed. Something that had happened to him has convinced him that he was undefeatable, and whether this was the ravings of a man who had gone mad Hackett didnt care. It was obviously enough to stir up the rest of the men and that was good enough for him. Hackett proceeded to relay Plank the situation with the general who had attempted to take control of the outpost however, Plank was unfazed. "Let them come" he said.

Hackett stood up from his chair: "Three cheers for General Plank, who will lead us to certian victory against all those who have sought to keep us down." The room erupted in a chorus of cheers and Huzzas and Plank sat back in his chair contented.